Killzone 2 demo on PSN – Impressions
The Kilzone 2 demo, most people’s first chance to see what all of the very extensive fuss is about, has been released. Does it sell the game well? Does the game live up to the hype? Is this the game the PS3 has been waiting for?
At around 4pm today, the long-awaited and massively over hyped Killzone 2 demo arrived on the Playstation Network as a 1200Mb download from the Playstation Store. Unfortunately, due to a tacky and bizarre deal with GameStop, Americans who haven’t pre-ordered the game are going to have to wait a little longer to sample Killzone 2. Europe FTW!
The demo lets you play the first two sections of the first mission. Alpha Squad arrives over the Helghan capital, Pyrrhus, and battle their way along the Corinth River. The so-called tutorial which has been mentioned as part of the demo is nothing more than on-screen prompts the first time you need to use each button.
One thing immediately strikes you – the graphics. They are without doubt the best I have seen on any home console. Better than Metal Gear Solid 4, Gears of War 2, Resident Evil 5, and any other game you’d like to throw my way. The videos don’t do Killzone 2’s looks justice.
Everything looks to have had the utmost care and attention lavished on it. Reload and watch what looks like a real-life gun be manhandled on screen; switch to first-person aim and see the world through the green sights of your rifle; shoot a Helghast in the head and watch him tumble to the ground in satisfying fashion. I defy anyone to not be impressed by the graphics on display here.
But how does it play? Well, cover plays a more important role than any game I’ve played barring maybe Gears of War 2. The cover system is well-implemented, with you being able to attach yourself to a wall or any piece of debris big enough to shield you from incoming fire. You then pop up, take aim, and unleash hell on the scum you’ve been sent to decimate. It’s very satisfying.
The controls are nicely laid out, and will be completely intuitive for anyone who has played a modern FPS. The one annoyance was the fact that after reloading you don’t automatically switch to aiming even if you were doing so before loading another clip. That really is a small cross to bear when the action is otherwise spot-on.
The demo is very short, taking around 15 minutes to complete. And I admit to dying a couple of times the first time through. But you get used to the tactics required to survive and prosper very quickly and I’ll probably have trouble now going back to Resistance 2.
Killzone 2 could be a system seller, especially if word of mouth reviews are positive and the PS3 gets a price cut in the near future. I’ll be buying the game on the strength of the demo but let’s not forget that this is still just a first-person shooter and won’t appeal to everyone. It’s not a perfect game that everyone will want to own but on the strength of the demo, I think the 9 to 9.5 out of 10 reviews have it spot on.
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31 Responses to “Killzone 2 demo on PSN – Impressions”
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February 5th, 2009
I can’t get any impressions because it’s crawling along at a ludicrously slow download speed…
You’d have thought Sony would have learnt from the Home beta fiasco to have more servers ready….
February 5th, 2009
So it sounds like the demo is single player only? Damn you GameStop! I was hoping that my $10 preorder would have gotten me a little online action. Oh well, it still sounds like the demo is amazing.
February 5th, 2009
Hahaha lock_down unlucky
I need to get used to the controls, they feel heavy and lifelike. The graphics are, yes amazing. The story is a little confusing, i need to brush up on my killzone history, and i’m confused as to why the helghast have British accents…
February 5th, 2009
Oh what, the Helghast are voiced by Brits? They’re not Scouse are they…?
“Oi, lahhh, what ya doin lahhh? Shoot da fuckaa…grab da fuckinn hubcaps as well will ya lahhh…”
February 5th, 2009
They had British accents in the other games as well.
February 5th, 2009
Barnabe – that would be why then, i’ve never played any other KZ game.
lock_down: There would be no point setting KZ2 on the helghast planet, we could just set it in merseyside. You have to battle the scousers to save your car,house and even wife from being nicked and sold.
February 5th, 2009
Bourne, you’re onto something there…
“ScouseZone 3″…..
February 5th, 2009
Haha Scousers. Us Cornish would make great Helghast if we weren’t too busy selling our neighbours dog or shagging our cousins.
Oh I got a brand new combine ‘arvester and I’ll give you the key.
oggy oggy oggy… OI OI OI!
Glad it is getting praise. I still have 2000 words left to write (I had to delete a paragraph) before I download it.
February 5th, 2009
Where is kev?
“European pre-orders for the highly anticipated title (Kill Zone 2) have already surpassed 1.1 million units. “The 1.1m pre-orders are for Europe only and that’s [as] of last week” Sonysaid after the figure was reported in today’s Guardian.”
February 5th, 2009
Also, lol those girl gamers at gamenook (the advertisement at the top of the page) look like they are not of legal age. Are you trying to get us in trouble?
February 5th, 2009
The 4th along the top row in that gamernook advert looks like a dude pretending to be a girl.
“Hair across the eyes…nobody will suss me”.
February 5th, 2009
Royzy she’s my gf..
February 5th, 2009
You’ve got poor taste then Bourne….
Anyway, it’s personality that counts…
February 5th, 2009
So KZ2 is about bringing back Brookside? Thats what I’m getting from this talkback.
JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 5th, 2009
Yeah, let’s incorporate Brookside into Killzone.
Jennifer Ellison can be a boss battle, and Sinbad can make a cameo.
February 5th, 2009
I’m more of an eastenders guy, danielle is hot.
February 5th, 2009
lock_down,
I’m just a “bloody yank” but for some reason your first post about Scouse had me cracking up…
-Arvis
February 5th, 2009
I was a Hollyoaks guy until Nicole left. The show was ruined then.
February 5th, 2009
I would’nt beat Miss Ellison!! I’d let her beat me (off)……… *b-dum TISHHHHH*
But still, I’d love to see Sinbad with that black guy appearing in KZ2.
So anyway… do we need to create EU accounts to get the demo or will NA accounts work too?
February 5th, 2009
We don’t pay for a tv license (just capped the aerial or whatever so they dont think we plug it in from time to time), so I’m afraid I’ve ‘missed out’ on these soaps for years.
Last time I watched Eastenders, Roy died. Hey?! Maybe that is why I stopped watching it – they killed my character.
February 5th, 2009
FUCK!!! and once again… I get boned… and not in a good way… should have just stayed at home… now I gotta create a fake account…
February 5th, 2009
another good demo to download will be mlb 09 the show i think u can download it today
February 5th, 2009
YEAH!!!
euromanlyman…. whose real name is Major Nelson… and lives in London Royzy Avenue is downloading the fucking Killzone 2 demo…
I still didnt get that fucking beta… Im still waiting Dave…
February 5th, 2009
we should create a clan… but not a “Gamerblorge” clan…
need a better and original name…
how bout “darkydark and the beat boys” ???
or… “The darkwhite SEXPERIENCE”
seriously… arent these awesome??
vote bitches…
February 5th, 2009
also Arvis will be my personal bitch/healer… I call dibs on him… all you other peep’s jerb is to protect me so I can haz some killz… in my zone…
February 5th, 2009
giantbomb.com/news/killzone-2-lets-talk-multiplayer/900/?linktags=home,home-topspot
decent article… you haz readz it…
February 5th, 2009
OK… Just finished the demo. It’s short, but fucking amazing. Asides from the jaw dropping graphics, the game play/controls are tight and extremely satisfying. The simple cover system works incredibly well and adds a lot to the game play. From the 10 min demo I would say this game is going to smoke COD like a Saturday morning blunt.
Our clan should be “Ivan and the PSPs”.
February 6th, 2009
just simply create another user on ur ps3 make another account stating from the UNITED KINGDOM just have a different email and bs you way through the process and u have the demo on the ps store downloading right now!!!
February 6th, 2009
FUCKING HELL! NO!!!!
it will just be filled with topics on Rocket Power and other Nickelodeon cartoons…
euromanlyman deserves better…
February 6th, 2009
CMON PEEPS!!!
GIMME SOME NAMES!!!
you too Mike and Dave… just because you work for Sony doesnt mean you cant hang around with us peasants… *damn where that smiley??*
how bout… erm…
February 7th, 2009
“9 to 9.5 out of 10″ huh? Yeah right……..we are talking one of the biggest games on ps3 here, not like warhawk( which is amazing)……if it doesnt get a 10 out of 10, im going shit right on my driveway…..thats bullshit….9 to 9.5 out of 10 my ass…