Helghan’s fire burns bright
First person shooters are the meat and potatoes of the gaming industry. So, do gamers have room for another? Considering that Killzone 2 looks like dessert and plays like an 800g fillet steak, I reckon folks will be flocking to the stores bowl in hand for just a little more murder.
Killzone 2 has rattled the Richter scale of gaming hype since a contentious trailer was released at the E3 conference back in 2005. Critics and competitors immediately cried foul, claiming that the game couldn’t possibly look that good, and accused Sony and its Dutch developer, Guerilla Games, of trying to pass off pre-rendered graphics as actual in-game footage.
Since journalists have been playing the pre-release version of Killzone 2, though, those rattles have become roars, and Sony’s E3 misdemeanour has been largely vindicated. Critics almost universally claim Killzone 2 to be the most visually stunning game ever seen on a console.
The sheer intensity of the graphics are hard to ignore, even though there is little time in the heat of battle to gaze over the lush textures and intimate physics that bring the brutal planet of Helghan to life. The character models are unnervingly realistic, the structures on Helghan gorgeously battered and decayed, and in the heat of battle with smoke and dust filling the atmosphere, it’s still possible to see a breeze pass through and disturb some airborne debris.
The iconic Helghast, an evil hybrid of Nazi soldiers and the Storm Troopers from Star Wars, thankfully have bright red glowing eyes, making them easy enough to spot even through the fog of battle.
Engaging your enemy is an entirely different matter. Killzone 2 employs deliciously sophisticated enemy artificial intelligence, making run-and-gun game play the shortest route to suicide. To survive a fight, tactical game play and fighting from cover is key. Enemies will constantly attempt to flank your position while dictating your moves with grenades and suppressive fire.
While there are some minor issues, including load delays between check points, a somewhat vague cover system and unnecessary segments that require the use of the PlayStation’s Sixaxis controller, Kill zone 2 is easily the classiest first-person shooter I’ve played in years. Fast-paced, challenging and gorgeously realistic, it’s everything a video game should be.
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