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Killzone 2
The Killzone universe returns to gaming
world in Killzone 2 that not only goes beyond the original title but boasts never before seen graphics on the PlayStation 3 and some
great first person shooter gaming moments. Although originally a
PlayStation 2 title, the series also spawned a PSP version about man's
battle deadly and ongoing battle with the notorious Helghast.
Although in the original two titles, mankind
was almost overrun by the Helghast as they attempted to purge this
off-world race of humans from their planet and thanks to Captain Jan
Templar, mankind was saved.
Many years have passed since the invasion
and now mankind has banded together to take the battle to the Helghast
homeworld and thankfully you are not alone as you will be backed up by
your team members Corporal Dante Garza, Sergeant Rico Velasquez and
Corporal Shawn Natko who make up the Alpha Squad. In this installment of
Killzone, you play Sergeant Tomas "Sev" Sevchenko that even at the young
age of 25, he is the perfect soldier.
Features
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Experience realistic, highly atmospheric environments that respond
dynamically to the violent conditions on the planet Helghan.
Witness the devastating effects of Helghan’s climate as it forces
you and your enemies to adapt to new tactics.
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Control an arsenal of new and unique weapons and vehicles, in
addition to trusty Killzone classics like the M82-G and the StA-52
LA.
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Face off against fearsome enemies who have learned to wield the
hostility of Helghan itself against their opponents.
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Between Killzone 2’s unique visual style, the power of PS3, the use
of EDGE tools, and the proprietary technology developed by
Guerrilla, the game promises to impress players with its benchmark
visuals, smooth character animation, detailed, effect-laden
environments, and realtime cutscenes.
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Experience a beautifully lit world brought to life by deferred
rendering technology. Multiple shadows casting light sources bring
out the highly detailed environments and character animations.
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With true next-gen audio the player is further immersed in the
world, supporting 7.1 surround and location-specific audio with wave
tracing. Players will not only notice the difference between indoor
and outdoor but also experience sound and music that are dynamic and
contextual.
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Studio grade special effects will provide unprecedented visual
fidelity. With full screen anti-aliasing, motion blur, internal lens
reflections, and depth-based color grading, players will experience
a picture that is sharp, smooth, and full of detail.
The game begins with a visually impressive
pre-rendered cutscene which looks almost like a Hollywood blockbuster
movie and really sets the tone for this exciting first person shooter
game. As mankind make their way to the home planet Helghast, Helghan,
the scene is reminiscent of Starship Troopers as the planet defenses
attempt to annihilate the forces of Earth's Interplanetary Strategic
Alliance, the ISA. In order to breach the planet, the Alpha Squad must
go into the heart of the Helghast capital to take down the leader of
this world and hopefully ensure peace for generations to come.
Even though the game is your classic first person shooter title, Killzone
2 has some great squad based mechanics and your team-mates act quite
realistically at times. Unfortunately you cannot control your squad
members per se, however they do actually assist you in completing the
mission and don't just stand around and wait until the human player to
engage the enemy. The banter between your squad is great and really
assists in this futuristic story and although it's quite clichéd, it's
actually rather entertaining.
Unlike other futuristic shooters, Killzone 2 is quite realistic and the
game mechanics are extremely accurate in terms of real world physics.
At times you can play some levels as the traditional Doom-esq game like
Arnold Schwarzenegger running around with an Uzi, however this does not
always work as the enemy will generally shoot you down. You really need
to use the gaming environment to your advantage by using it wisely to
take cover and ensure that you are not left in the open.
Thankfully you have access to a wide gamut
of different artillery, ensuring that your job can be completed
satisfactorily. In terms of realism, the targeting system of Killzone 2
can be quite tricky at times due to the way the enemy moves and interact
with the environment as they do not stand still and use cover, run
and also duck as you attempt to engage in them. They will attempt
to flank your character which can be tricky, however if use the cover
wisely, this should not be a problem.
The game design is brilliant and you immediately know from the first
level of the game that you are in for a treat from its vast outdoor
areas to maze like indoor areas. Generally you spend most of
your time running around, you get to control a mech later on which is
thoroughly satisfying as you smash your way through the city,
however you cannot move as fast as your human counterpart. Needless to
say, the attention to detail is brilliant.
In regards to controls, the
control system is perfectly mapped on the DualShock Controller, however
running is little fiddly as you need to push the right analog stick
down, although you will become use to this system.
The game contains a great multiplayer aspect to Killzone 2 that is
reminiscent of the Call of Duty online series as it contains a
variety of different gameplay modes and some great missions ensuring a
great longevity. It's quite satisfying that the developers have put
quite a lot of effort into Killzone 2 online and dare I say it, the
online play was as satisfying if not more entertaining than the
single-player game.
Graphically, this is probably the most
impressive looking first person shooter game on the market at the moment
from its highly detailed background environments that are not just
limited to indoor areas only. The characters are extremely well modeled
and animated which interact with a real-world grace that assists in the
futuristic feel of this worth sequel.
Match that with some great special
effects and lighting plus the insane attention to detail and Killzone 2
is pure eye candy. The soundtrack of the title also goes hand in hand
with the gameplay as do the realistic sound effects and extremely
professional albeit clichéd voice acting.
Although first person shooters are now a dime a dozen in the console
world,
Killzone 2 offers gamers a truly sturdy game with exceptional graphics
and gameplay. The graphics are truly amazing as is the almost perfect
gameplay which compliments a great storyline that will keep you glued to
your PS3 from start to finish. Once you have completed the single-player
mode, it's time to engage in some adrenaline pumping online action as
you take on the world.
Highly Recommended! |
