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Please rate this review: Killzone 2
To Be or Not to be Like Everyone Else.
HIGH: The multiplayer
LOW: The battery in my controller going dead while playing the multiplayer
WTF Everything about the game other than the multiplayer.
Killzone 2 was one of the most hyped games to be released on the Playstation 3. It first debuted at E3 2005 when Sony ( along with Killzone's developer Guerrilla games ) showed a brief trailer showcasing superb visuals unmatched by anything seen in video games. Since then more and more footage of the game was released and the hype built up to a point where one could not mention the name Playstation anywhere near a gaming community without the name Killzone 2 coming up. The game finally released in February 2009 and was revealed to be ( in my personal opinion ) a big disappointment.
This statement may come as a surprise to anyone on my PSN friends list as Killzone 2 has undoubtedly appeared next to my name more so than any other game since its release. This fact I cannot deny for I have become quite addicted to the online multiplayer. The game's use of the badge and ribbon perk system delivers a highly enjoyable RPG like experience that I find far more entertaining than other multiplayers. While most of the mainstream shooters today offer some kind of perk system for their online component, I find this one to be the most intriguing since its perk system has its own perk system.
The system is simple enough, get experience for completing objectives, move up in rank when enough experience is gained, unlock a badge with each rank. Each badge carries with it a special ability such as the abilities to set up automated security turrets or disguise oneself as the enemy, but the system really becomes interesting when the concept of ribbons are added. A player is awarded a ribbon when a certain action is completed a certain number of times during a match. When a certain number of the same ribbon is acquired, a new badge or ability is unlocked. Take the Tactician badge for instance. When this badge is first unlocked, the player has the ability to throw spawn grenades that offer his team a new place to spawn. If that spawn point is used ten or more times by teammates, then the player receives the corresponding ribbon. After ten of those ribbons are obtained, the ability to call in air support is unlocked. Once all of a badges abilities are unlocked, they can then be mixed and matched with those of other unlocked badges.
While the online aspect of the game is in fact a match made in heaven for someone who is a big fan of both shooters and RPG level grinding as I am, the problem I have with Killzone 2 is not with the multiplayer, but with the game itself. It's not that Guerrilla didn't deliver on its promises; Killzone 2 does in fact contain visuals very close to matching the E3 trailer, and even sets a new standard for enemy AI to boot. No, my disappointment lies in the fact that Killzone 2 suffers from an identity crisis. Instead of developing a clever story line or inventing a new and exciting gameplay mechanic that sets itself apart from its competitors, Killzone 2 does nothing more than tell the player to go to this spot and blow this up while killing the same enemies over and over. There is a little variation sprinkled here and there where the player will have to man a turret or drive a tank, but these moments are so pointless and out of place that they seem to be nothing more than a petty attempt to match competing games from the genre.
The sad part is that the story surrounding the Killzone series is good enough that it could easily set itself apart from the rest of the pack. It's just to bad that the game doesn't want to tell it. Sure Killzone 2 starts off promising enough with an opening cinematic featuring a motivating speech from the enemy's leader before letting the player know that he is part of a squad that is being sent to capture said leader. The game even goes so far to show that there is a bond between the squad mates, but then seems to lose its train of thought as soon as the first mission begins. What little bit of story presented afterwards is barely enough to string the missions together, let alone keep the player interested. There are a few cinematics in the later half of the game that I'm sure would have had a big emotional impact if only the game would have properly developed the characters or plot. Because of the lack of story telling chops, these cutscene's only offer a two to three minute break from the tedious gameplay and nothing more.
The lack of story telling combined with worn-out and tedious gameplay left me with the impression that Killzone 2 tries to assume the identity of its competitors but fails to come anywhere close. Every moment I spent in the campaign was met with nothing but boredom and frustration, but at least it has a superb multiplayer.
6/10
Disclosures: This game was obtained via [retail store] and reviewed on the [Playstation 3]. Approximately 12 hours of play was devoted to single-player modes (completed 1 times) and over 100 hours of play to multiplayer modes.
Parents: The game is rated “m” for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and gore, Intense Violence, and Stong Language. The blood and violence is nothing more than your average shooter, but really strong language is used. Not for young children.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing: The game has subtitles for all dialog. With the exception of a few profanities from the enemy, nothing will be missed.
Last edited by coyls3; 11-04-2009 at 08:04 PM.
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Linear Mode
