Killzone 2 beta

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/931/931780p1.html

Ah Killzone 2... what won't you do to try and fool us, you little minx. First you feed us that CG trailer and try to subtly pass it off as real footage. Pfft. What did you take us for?

Then, once the little CG rouse was up, you tried to claim that, despite the fact your trailer wasn't actually in-game footage, that the final game would actually run and play like said trailer. Ooh, we'll believe it when we see it Mister Sony man.

And now you've thrown this beta our way – surely yet another wily piece of propaganda, you trickster dickster! Sure, we're pushing buttons, wiggling analogue sticks - and stuff is happening on screen as a result – but this isn't the actual game, surely! There's no way a console game can look this good, right - what sort of foul wizardry is this?

This can't be real. It simply can't be. Sony and Guerrilla Games couldn't have created an end result that (almost) matches the infamous target footage revealed at E3 all those years ago. Could they?

Well, unless our dainty little peepers are deceiving us, the answer to that question is 'yes'. Guerrilla Games have made an absolute red hot go of trying to match up to the incredible CG footage shown in 2005. Because undoubtedly, when you first hop into the small scale beta currently doing the rounds, the first thing you notice (and by notice we mean the synapse connected to your retina splinters into a thousand microscopic pieces) is Killzone 2's mighty visual prowess.



Bob was too drunk to stand, let alone hold a gun. While Christian willingly defended him against the Helghast, he couldn't help but be disappointed.
Yes, the game firmly adheres to the now out of vogue palette of gritty greys and such like, but really, technically, no first person shooter we've played can compete on an even keel. The texture work is crisp and detailed, and the player animations (of both yourself in the first person and everyone else on the map) are a true revelation, immediately giving Killzone 2 a high production feel from the outset.

But it's in the details that Killzone 2 truly accelerates towards greatness. Everything, from the detailed reload animations, to the grease and grime smeared across the sights when you click into the scope, succeeds in convincing you that, despite the sci-fi setting, you're taking part in a dusty, old fashioned videogame war.

The environments are equally convincing. Every acre of the three beta maps, down to the last square inch, is filled with the kind of care and attention lacking in most titles. No proverbial stone has been left unturned. There's no tangible, gameplay-affecting, destruction as such, but blasting away at certain pillars will cause them to crumble 'Matrix' style adding to the intense atmospherics, giving you the very real feeling that the next bullet could be lodged in your brain.

It's a real achievement, and one that is extended to the map layouts themselves. Despite featuring similar aesthetics, each of the three maps works differently in terms of game dynamics. In our not-so-humble opinion, the tightly knit Radec Academy was the real standout. Despite featuring less flash than the outdoorsy-hence-prettier Salamun Market and Blood Gracht, Radec's intricately designed interior recalled some of the better, smaller, maps seen in CoD 4 and Halo – think Halo 2's Lockout cage fighting CoD 4's Showdown to the absolute death and you won't be too far off the mark.

Combining an open central area with tight corridor sections on either side, Radec Academy is a kinda symmetrical map that simultaneously allows for competitive shootouts in broad space, and the kind of cat and mouse antics that allow players to really attempt to outwit each other. It's an endlessly rewarding map that seems flexible in terms of the different game types featured in Killzone 2.

Killing stuff is always more fun with friends. Erm, guys?
But that's not to say that other maps featured in the beta can't compete, quite the opposite. The Killzone 2 beta has smartly chosen three different maps that play to the varying strengths of the multiplayer. If Radec Academy proves that Killzone 2 can handle small scale skirmishes, then Salamun Market is the pretty one - the buxom, short skirt-wielding map that showcases Killzone 2's potential for epic 32-player encounters. Salamun will no doubt be 'hearted' by those who prefer their action on a larger scale, and enjoy the strategic element of objective based game-types.

However, as a result of Killzone 2's 'Warzone' mode (the only mode available in the beta), each and every map must be malleable and adjustable to all gametypes. Due mainly to the fact that 'Warzone' is a constantly streaming flow of different game types rolling seamlessly into another – for the first five minutes you'll merely be blasting each other's internal organs, but seconds later you could be setting off charges, defending a single member of your team, or even charging around willy nilly sporting nifty propaganda radios in an adapted version of capture the flag.

'Warzone' is essentially a gametype that makes absolute mincemeat of your free time. As the rolling gametypes flow one into the next, it's almost too easy to drift towards the tight rhythmic beat of Killzone 2's drum and forget about the outside world. Mark our words – plenty of marriages, relationships, university projects, etc, will no doubt fall victim to the 'one more round' lure of Killzone 2's multiplayer.

As for the overall feel of Killzone 2's online experience? Well, it's comparable to Call of Duty 4: Post-Modern Warfare – almost as if Infinity Ward's masterpiece decided to man up, inject some 'roids direct to the vein, and hit the gym hard, before coming back a little more sluggish, but infinitely more beefy and buff.

What are they shooting at? A) Sexy girls with sexy guns. B) Helghast. C) A rainbow unicorn parade.
You see, despite the fact that Killzone 2 feels a great deal slower than the rapid CoD 4, it's definitely more meaty – as in Modern Warfare, enemies will fall thick and fast with a single burst of gun-fire, but Killzone 2's weapons feel as though they pack more of a punch. They're incredibly fun to fire, to the extent that you're content to pass off the shonky balance and inconsistent aiming of the game's weaponry as a necessary sacrifice.

While we're pretty confident that fans of the more 'realistic' Call of Duty 4 will take to Killzone 2 like the proverbial duck to water, we're unsure how fans of precise, technical shooters like Halo will adapt. We thoroughly enjoyed the realistic handling of Killzone 2's weapons of mass destruction, swaying recklessly as we struggled to make the shots, but we have a sneaky feeling that those used to a steady reticule will possibly get frustrated in this regard. It could be a very clear case of gamers either loving or hating the feel of Killzone 2.

That being said, it's hard to see how anyone could deny the sheer technical achievement of the game. No online shooter in the console market could possible claim to look better than Killzone 2, or feature more atmosphere and eye for detail. We get the distinct impression that Sony, after the guffawing of the gaming community post-E3 2005, demanded that Killzone 2 match up to that infamous CG trailer - regardless of the development time or expense. What we're seeing and playing today is the end result of that self-righteous rage, and we absolutely love it. We reckon you'll be pleasantly surprised by just how well Killzone 2 looks and plays. Haters be damned – you'd all best be prepared to chow down on a hefty serving of humble pie on this one...
 
http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=7064

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Sony Corp.'s Killzone 2 beta test version is mind-blowing fun based on an initial test of the latest online-only multiplayer build.
The multiplayer build can yield 32-players simultaneous play in various modes, including Body Count, Assassination, Search and Retrieve, Capture and Hold, and Search and Destroy.

For maximum variety, games can rotate through all game modes without in-between lobby sessions.

Also, seven solider classes allow for various team strategy play. Classes include Rifleman for the best firepower, Engineer to repair and utilize items like turrets, Medic to heal teammates, Scout to camouflage and infiltrate enemy lines, Tactician to toss smoke grenade spawn points, Assault to wear extra armor, and Saboteur to mimic an enemy soldier.

The squad-based shooter relishes enemy encounters with plenty of cross-paths and spawn points that guarantee constant conflict. Bullets and bodies fly constantly due to a snappy four-second respawn time and the ability to choose from several respawn points.

A small problem area is reloads and grenade tosses. Typically, one clip of the assault rifle is plenty to allow for some missed shots. But the current reload time is slow enough that players have little chance to survive in-between.

The same stands for grenades. The grenade toss animation takes too long to be effective during close encounters.
 
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While the game provides a radar to show teammate and enemy location, the various elevations in each structure still prompts an element of surprise upon enemy contact.

Killzone 2 excels in level design by providing straight-forward building construction inside and out. Players can head through hallways, upstairs, downstairs, in trenches, and have nab a basic knowledge of the area very quickly.

The graphics engine will silence PS3 skeptics. Killzone 2 is the definitive showcase title that demonstrates significant console horsepower. The gritty texture and animation on player builds, firepower, and each atmosphere is a war-torn CG render come to life. In fact, it's hard to concentrate on kills when you have to stop and stare at the scenery.

Killzone 2 is off to a great start. In addition to a solid single-player showing at E3, the multiplayer process is so smooth and efficient that it should be ready to roast come Feb. 2009.
 
http://videogamemedia.com/articles/previews/1855

Undoubtedly, the most hyped game for the Playstation 3 since its unveiling is Killzone 2. Often dubbed as ‘Sony’s Halo Killer’, Killzone 2 is a military first-person-shooter developed by Guerrilla Games, published by SCEA, and boasts ultra realistic visuals and special effects that include full screen anti-aliasing, motion blur, internal lens reflections, and depth-based color grading to push Killzone 2’s visuals above the competition’s.

First announced at E3 2005, an awesome-looking and controversial video showed soldiers landing in a warzone and fighting the mechanical looking evil Helghast soldiers. As it turned out, the graphics in the video did not depict real time gameplay, rather “video done to PS3 spec…running in-game assets”. The title was shown publically several times since then, and so far it has managed to live up to expectations. Thanks to Sony’s recently released beta that was distributed to a limited number of users, I have logged some solid hands-on time with the online multiplayer game, and Halo be damned, Killzone 2 is going to blow away the competition.

Killzone 2’s online multiplayer mode is aptly named ‘Warzone’, and like Team Fortress it’s class based so you can choose between classes like Medic, Scout, Assault, Tactician, and more allowing players to choose a style that fits them most by choosing two and combining them. You can choose between chaotic, all hell breaking loose 32 player matches, or the more toned down and civilized 16 player matches. In each, you can create squads of four players that communicate via Bluetooth headsets, and two squads can join up to create 8 member teams. In addition, there are over 40 ribbons that you can earn by performing certain objectives, nailing headshots, getting over 10% of the required kills, etc. There is clan support and tournament support, with ‘valor points’ serving as currency and a 64 player limit for each clan, and there is a ‘friend rankings' feature to see how your friends match up against you.

Now, on to the beta. After a quick download and install (the beta size is surprisingly small), I was ready to roll. The title screen cycles through several short videos of cool gameplay sequences, offering an appetizer of what you’ll enjoy. Something a simple as a slow-mo video of an explosion with large boulders drifting down from the air looks spectacular, and another clip showed a Helghast soldier standing over a cliff and unloading his machine gun into an unsuspecting ISA soldier who flips around like a fish out of water with each bullet. An especially lively and taut soundtrack of marching music accompanied the videos.

The quality of the graphics is noticeable and after only playing for a few minutes, it became clear to me that Killzone 2 is in a league of its own. The lighting and mood is dark, and the environments are gritty and realistic. The character models are big and beefy- similar to Gears of War’s brawny heroes- and the Helghast soldiers look downright scary with their Darth Vader like masks and glowing red eyes. Your rifle looks very realistic and it weaves and bobs as you move. Hit the reload button, and you’ll be treated to a very smooth animation sequence as your soldier pops in another clip and slams it in. As I ran behind other players, I was impressed by the full range of motions of fellow soldiers- often overlooked by online FPS games.

Killzone 2 has the best jumping mechanic of any FPS I’ve played- hit the X button to catapult in the air and over objects. I must say that it’s refreshing to be able to jump up stairs or over obstacles to fight strategically, as most FPS games have you pinned down and if there is a jump button, it is mostly useless. You can crouch by pressing and holding L2, which allows you to take cover or crawl under certain structures. Holding the R2 button allows you to ‘cook grenades’ and releasing the button will throw them. There are destructible environments, but I haven’t seen the full execution of this feature within the three maps that I’ve played, other than being able to shoot concrete off of walls to see the bare structure underneath.

As you play, new objectives come up within the same map without a break; your commander will bark orders and tell you what your next objective is. I thought this feature was brilliant and keeps the flow and intensity of the match going while adding variety to the gameplay. For example, you could be playing Body Count, where the team with the most kills within a time frame wins, and when time expires your commander will let you know if you won or lost, and immediately announce the next game… say capture the flag. Additional modes include Assassination (or Protect, depending on which side you’re on), and Search and Destroy where the goal is to plant explosives at the enemy’s base.

Once you die, you’ll watch your player writhe on the ground and you’ll have eight seconds to be revived by a medic, or you can respawn from one of the selected respawn points. Before you respawn however, you are brought to a pause screen where you can actually watch a real-time viewpoint of each respawn point, so you can strategically select where and when you want to respawn, or you can change your class or gun before the jump. This is a very helpful feature that allows you to take a quick break if need be, instead of being pushed back into action, and gives you the freedom to change a few things in the meantime.

During my testing, I did not experience one bit of lag, even in intense shootouts with multiple players blasting away in a small vicinity. Of course, that’s not a guarantee that online matches won’t experience any issues once the beta closes and the game is released to the masses, as SOCOM fans know all too much about. The hit detection is dead-on; I took down some bad guys from afar with a few well places spurts of my machine gun. I have high expectations for the Killzone 2 launch in February; if Guerrilla put as much thought and effort into the single player campaign as they did with multiplayer, this title is going to be a blockbuster.
 
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/4120.html

Okay, here's the deal- we are in the Killzone 2 beta and our conclusion thus far is relatively simple and straightforward.

It's this beta that is quickly proving to gamers that Guerilla isn't fooling around. They're not spending a truckload of money to develop and hype a project that will ultimately disappoint. We have determined that in recent interviews, the developers appear to be supremely confident in the quality of their forthcoming FPS...and we now know why. It didn't take long for us to understand exactly why Guerilla was so confident, and why every last PlayStation 3 owner on the planet should be pumped. Hell, we won't discriminate; every video game everywhere should be pumped; the PS3 is a worthy purchase for this one game. Our full beta impressions are forthcoming, but we want more time with this bad boy before we start to gush. Let's just say that if you're not in the beta, you're seriously missing out, and if you are, than you fully comprehend the previous words in this update. We've heard nothing but great things so far, and pretty soon, we'll tell you why it's impossible to find a lot of negative feedback on this beta test.

And one last thing: we currently have something better than the Killzone 2 beta. It's still Killzone 2, but we're not allowed to talk about it until December 4...so we won't. In the meantime, we suggest you keep it here, 'cuz you won't want to miss what we have to say next month. Oh no...no, you won't want to miss that.
 
I think the IGN review said it best - there's going to be an immense number of people (ok, only 4 or so on this site, like doobi, Doh!, M_H etc) who will have to take an ample serving of humble pie. ;) The beta sounds fantastic!
 
any gamer who has seen some of the gameplay footage and still claims this game is not anything to write home about is a FANBOI and not a clever one at that cause dammn i saw the gameplay footage and have never seen anything like it absolutely awesome ,

i dont care if you have an xbox or ps3 if you are a gamer you will give credit where its due ,Guerilla have delivered on their infamous 2005 trailer ....WOW that is all im gonna say
 
Guru, there's a lot more to a game and design than photorealism. I look at KZ2 and I see CoD4 with Space Nazi's. Can you tell me the game is any more than that?
 
guru_pitka said:
any gamer who has seen some of the gameplay footage and still claims this game is not anything to write home about is a FANBOI and not a clever one at that cause dammn i saw the gameplay footage and have never seen anything like it absolutely awesome
Click to expand...
Pot. Kettle. Black

Likewise, any person whose judgment of the game is solely based on trailers is a fanboy of epic proportions.
 
dude without any hesitation it far more than cod4 was and that was my favourite game last year ,

i'll make you one example ,where in cod4 could you take down complete 7 story buildings with enemies inside of it :D which looks spectacular ,seeing is believing boet ,that is all im gonna say ,and to the guys who have said this game will get a 5,6 or 7 out of 10 will eat humble pie cause this is the new benchmark for FPS
 
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