Review: Killzone 2 – the best looking game this generation part 1
Killzone 2 is a game that has been hyped since day one at E3 where it was first revealed. The game turned heads when the target trailer was first shown with jaw dropping graphics. Sony ended up receiving some flak after it was revealed that the trailer was a target render. However, the question still remains – was Guerrilla Games able to hit the bar set by the target render?
As soon as I received the press copy of the game, I quickly destroyed the wrapping to shove the disc into the PS3. Ever since starting the game, I have been putting in three to five hours per session. One of the first scenes shown in the beginning is the awesome speech made by the Helghan leader, Scolar Visari. The excellent performance of the character, Visari was voiced by the Emmy Award winning actor Brian Cox.
Story
The story revolves around the retaliation against the Helghast after the atrocious attack against the human (ISA) colonized planet, Vekta. After the Helghast onslaught, the ISA forces have decided to take the fight to the Helghast home world, Helghan.
The game starts you off as Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko, inside one of the massive ISA battleships waking up. You then make your way down to the deck where the troops are getting ready to be deployed. On a side note: I believe that if Guerrilla Games ever wanted to make a Mass Effect-esque RPG, they could do so with the wealth of environments and backdrops like the ISA battleships and planets.
The story is surprisingly deep, with enough lore to create an entire universe out of. The Helghast are a mysterious race of people whose ancestors were humans, but evolved into something else due to the harsh environment of the Helghan planet. According to emperor Visari, the Helghan planet has made the Helghast people more strong and resistant.
The game really makes you realize that war is gritty and chaotic. In the battlefield you will form attachments to characters in the similar way you became attached to Captain Price in Call of Duty 4. Your men will rely on you as you will in turn rely on them to get through the game.
Controls
Killzone 2 has one of the most solid controls seen in a FPS. The guns actually seem to have different weight/physics to them, which makes aiming extremely realistic. Some guns will swing/sway heavily as expected while others will “feel” light. Any question of lag from the demo is non-existent in the final build of the game.
I did have to configure the controls so that the iron-sight (zoom) was engaged when holding onto L1. It seems that some habits are hard to break after 200 hours of COD4. The realistic weight added to the controls also helps set the gameplay style. I found myself playing the game in a very methodical Gears of War style, by taking cover behind various objects and leaning or peaking to take out the enemies.
The cover system is absolutely fantastic. This has got to be the best cover system used in a FPS, not that there are many to compare. The character latches onto any object by holding onto L2. When the character reaches the end of the object, he will lean over sideways to fire a shot. There seems to be practically no issues while running and latching onto cover. When the character leans forward he will stand up to shoot as well.
The game seems to adapt to your playing style, if you are more of a run-and-gun type of gamer, the enemies seem to hide less and run out into the open to engage you. However, if you are a methodical gamer, utilizing the cover system to the max, enemies will behave differently by utilizing cover themselves.
Visuals/Design
The game has been hailed by many as one of the best looking games of this generation. I will take it one step further and say that it is definitely the best looking game on any console to date. The lighting, textures, and art design are absolutely top notch.
Killzone 2 Lighting example
The game utilizes hi-res textures almost everywhere (approximately 2GB worth of hi-res large sized textures per level). You can literally walk up to any object and see that the bumpy textures remain sharp with very little pixelation. Even awesome looking games like Gears of War 2, which I dubbed as one of the best shooters of 2008, suffers from pixelation when getting a little too close to the camera due to high compression.
What is pixelation? Example of close-up pixelation in other games
The feeling of exhilaration is enhanced as the air-lift carries you and your men down to the surreal hostile Helghan planet, with dark clouds and lightning swirling all around you.
The design of the volatile Helghan planet truly earns its namesake, as it looks like something straight out of a nightmare. Gamers will notice little things such as how the wooden boxes break apart and how pieces of the cement pillars crumble off. Most of the environments are destructible with the capability to leverage an entire building with a rail gun.
The game also has some of the most interesting boss fights in recent memory. Most FPS do not have true boss battles but will have mini-bosses that can be killed just as quickly. However, Killzone 2 has boss battles which rival those found in the Metal Gear Solid series. Those familiar with the series will undoubtedly know what I am talking about.
Unfortunately because the servers were not up, I was not able to extensively play the online portion of the game. I was able to put in a good amount of online time during the beta, but it just wouldn’t be fair to score the online portion based off the beta. I will write a part 2 review focusing primarily on the deep online modes going into the badge system.
Wrap-up
According to the dictionary, a kill zone is defined as an area of heavy casualties in a military conflict or war. This is also known as the killing zone. True to its name, Killzone 2 succeeds in creating the intense visceral experience of war, where you find yourself in the middle of an intense firefight. During the battle, many of your men will be dying left and right against an onslaught of enemies.
I applaud Guerrilla Games for not only meeting the target render, but for surpassing it on many levels. Details such as the sweat glistening off Rico’s forehead, terrific lighting and detailed textures like on the floor of the air-lift, all show that Guerrilla Games went through the game with a fine tooth comb to make it better than the target render.
Killzone 2 not only raises the bar with the visuals, but also creates a new genre of cover-based FPS. Since the game managed to show the world that a FPS can have a cover system, I predict that there will be more FPS games with a cover system intact. I highly recommend all gamers to go out and buy Killzone 2, it definitely is one of the top games that is a must own. Make sure to keep an eye out for my review of the online portion of the game.
Single Player campaign:
Score
5/5
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62 Responses to “Review: Killzone 2 – the best looking game this generation part 1”
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February 25th, 2009
ugh… this is going to get ugly…
I want no part of it…
February 25th, 2009
Theres no doubt that this is the best looking console game. I think they surpassed the target render.
February 25th, 2009
yeah, give killzone the credit for showing the world that a “FPS can have a cover system” why dont you. its gears of war that showed the world that you can have a cover system, which guerrilla have pretty much ripped off.
oh well, at least ps3 owners now actually have a game to play.
February 25th, 2009
Glad you are enjoying yourself already Mike, perhaps throw your PSN ID this way so we can help you review the online part when the game is released?
Are you able to tell us what sort of online matchmaking options there are, from the menus? Will it be easy to get into games with people you know? And does it have matchmaking? Tell us more…tell us more…
p.s.- I don’t think that lighting example is a very good example.
February 25th, 2009
Mike, you’ve made me so happy. Logging onto the site this morning, was like waking up on Christmas morning. I’ll be picking it up on Friday, but I’ll be stuck at my girl friends house over the weekend.
DWH, did you ever come up with a clan name?
February 25th, 2009
hype Hype HYPE!!!
Watched GTA Episodes and Killzone go head to head last night on tv but GTA had all the primetime spots.
February 25th, 2009
from what Mike thinks, this looks to be the system seller it was hyped to be…
now…let’s all sit back and watch the ps3 fly off the shelves….
February 25th, 2009
Play.com just sent me my pre-order bonus code.
I think it is a PS3 theme.
February 25th, 2009
I received an email from Amazon telling me that they bumped the status of my order to “release day delivery”…. Thats cool. So I’ll have mine by Friday!
February 25th, 2009
” form attachments to characters in the similar way you became attached to Captain Price in Call of Duty 4″
I sure hope not! i hated Captain price, infact the entire SP in COD4 blew, for me peronsally.
Anyways i’m so hyped by this game, it’s ridiculous….
February 25th, 2009
All I remember about Price was he had a big moustache. And could lift you up with bare hands to tell you that “…we… ARE… LEAVING!”
Gotta say, this LE Killzone 2 theme I just received for pre-ordering is crap. Wasn’t worth turning my PS3 on to install. It’s like a Soviet-propaganda theme. The one on the store is better.
What theme are people using? I’m using the Wipeout Ship Scroll one. Tis niice. Might make my own at some point, I downloaded the program for it.
Anyway…killzone…killzone…killzone…KILLZONE.
February 25th, 2009
I’m using a Tomb Raider Underworld Theme. I like it because it’s not too obtrusive to the rest of the screen like some of the other themes.
February 25th, 2009
Mike, to what extent does KZ2 have destructible environments?
February 25th, 2009
From what I’ve seen, it looks like most structures can be damaged, but not totally destroyed.
I’m using the Pixel Junk Eden theme. I like the coloring and the pattern, but I’m over due for a change.
February 25th, 2009
I am not into war games but i may buy this one.
I hope there will be a demo. If not I will rent it to see before I buy it.
I use the pirate theme. Most of them have crapy background images and make it hard to read the menu and see the icons.
February 25th, 2009
The demo will be out soon, or you can create a EU account and get it today.
February 25th, 2009
Yeh some themes make stuff hard to read. And the older one have symbols missing too, for like trophies and such.
Check out this video. We need this nutcase on Blorge. I could hardly bare it, but I recommend watching it all.
youtube.com/watch?v=t21uEh8AJ4g&feature=related
He is like one of those preachers who push on you on the floor to remove Satan or whatever.
He has a follow up video to that too. Equally as embarrassing for PS3 fans everywhere.
February 25th, 2009
That was a Great Review Mike!
Very down to Earth and all.
February 25th, 2009
I say a follow up, he has loads. Loads about Gear of War 2 as well.
youtube.com/user/ELPRESADOR
This guy needs to go vent his anger somewhere.
February 25th, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcZVlOPcbjU&feature=channel_page
February 25th, 2009
I don’t like shooters, but those screenshots look INSANE. Definitely the most impressive console graphics since Gears2 and MGS4.
Incidentally, I’m using the Fallout 3 theme. I would be using the SF4 theme, but the sound effects are annoying as anything.
-Arvis
February 25th, 2009
The motorstorm theme sounds were really annoying. A car revving each time you change menu icon. Who’s great idea was that.
There was a theme (probably of many) with a woman moaning each time you moved in the menu. There are loads of sites with custom made ones, mostly crap tho.
February 25th, 2009
ok… ok… I try to get out… but you just pull me back in…
Clan name…
NegativeGamer
simple… why?? I cant explain now… but Ill give you guys an invite as soon as I make it…
Arvis… you should gamefly k2… so we all can play a match… I checked out with Roy… we only have a 5 hour difference… THIS WEEKEND BABY!!!
WOOOT!!!
February 25th, 2009
ELPRESADOR:
Is funny as hell also he speak the true.
Mike Ferro:
Your review is perfect A+
Today i paid for my GameStop pre-order the $55 since i paid $5 first. I will be getting at the GameStop mid night launch. KILLZONE 2 is perfect no flaw. Xbox 360 fanboy buy a PS3 if you want to play must have cool hot games like us PlayStation owner have. Sony is spoiling us with the best gaming console and the best games.
Add Me PSN ID: Ivan-
February 25th, 2009
DWH,
I will not be playing K2. Fallout 3 is already testing my conscience. I didn’t know the language was so bad…
-Arvis
February 25th, 2009
Not to mention those pesky flying eyeballs?
February 25th, 2009
YES!!! Ivan is back… now all we need is kev and CAD and ITS FANBOY THREESOME!!!
WOOOT!!!
damn you arvis… CMON… play it…
February 25th, 2009
did you get the collectors edition for street fighter 4??
February 25th, 2009
@dj604,
No, if you want to give credit to the first game to implement cover-system then that would be Kill Switch.
The fact is, everyone said a cover system for a fps was not possible, KZ2 shows otherwise – props need to go to the deserving parties.
@Royzy,
Yes, there is a matchmaking option that throws you into games with people of similar ranking if the option is set.
You can also find matches and filter according to specific criteria.
The KZ2 menu has:
- WarZone which include the online modes
- Skirmish – play with bots/quick match
- Killzone.com forum/PS3 specific portal (which I thought was cool with info on maps and forum access via PS3)
@Kev,
As far as what I think about it moving PS3s you can read my thoughts here: http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/01/31/is-killzone-2-a-ps3-seller/
@Bourne,
Its hard to say, most columns, some buildings, most items/boxes/crates are destructible.
Static walls, corridors, pipes are not destructible.
Loading screens are pretty cool as well, they are 3D images so if you tilt your DS3 controller the image will move around like you are in a 3D IMAX movie where objects in the front move at different speeds with objects in the back. Very cool stuff.
February 25th, 2009
“The fact is, everyone said a cover system for a fps was not possible, KZ2 shows otherwise -”
uh…Ghost Recon had that years ago..
for a gaming site, you sure don’t know much about gaming…
February 25th, 2009
how can you say it’s the best looking game when it doesn’t have foliage that other games have?
you sure are easily sold on all things sony, mike.
February 25th, 2009
SW,
Yeah, if Jesus saw me playing a game with flying eyeballs I would feel so guilty. Thank you for your understanding.
And I see Kev has utilized the classic “No Foliage = Doesn’t Count” card. A classic debate strategy, to be sure. A lot of old classic games got left off many a Top 10 list ONLY because they had no foliage. Really, I don’t know what Guerilla was thinking. They should have known that their game would get NO recognition if it didn’t have foliage…
-Arvis
February 25th, 2009
“how can you say it’s the best looking game when it doesn’t have foliage that other games have?”
Are you saying for it to be the best looking game, it has to have trees and bushes?
Only really Crysis or perhaps Uncharted spring to mind when considering foliage.
February 25th, 2009
wait wait…
did Gears of War have foliage…
ahh dammit… here we go again…
February 25th, 2009
@kev,
I think your missing the point for some odd reason… I didn’t say KZ2 was the first FPS to ever use a cover system or there is some technical limitation barring other games from using it.
the cover system in GRAW is practically un-usable while in first person mode (your staring at a wall), hence the third person option.
Even devs for Raindow Six didn’t want to touch it with a 10ft pole. They continue to bring you out into 3rd person to make it work (usuable).
speaking of GRAW, can’t wait for GRAW3! I’m a big fan of the tactical rhythm of the game.
BTW- Go play KZ2, you will be impressed as well.
February 25th, 2009
Hmm… Metacritic score has now fallen to 91. It’s a great game, but according to the average of major review sites, it’s not as good as Gears 2.
I will be playing it over the weekend at my brother in law’s. Stay tuned for my ‘haven’t bought into the hype’ review next week.
February 25th, 2009
HARRYY!!!
oy you ass… gimme your PSN nick… we will all play togather… we need the time difference as well…
WOOT FOR THE WEEKEND!!!
February 25th, 2009
Killzone 2 doesn’t have TEH PHYSICKZ LYK FORZA.
February 25th, 2009
DWH, sure, i’ll grab my brother in law’s when i speak to him next. Where are you anyway?
February 25th, 2009
well… Im in New York… greatest country in the world… eastern (-5:00) times zone
Arvis is on my time zone…
Roy is 5 hours ahead of me… and.. Im guessing the same for bourne… barnabe and others I dont know
now do the math… CHOP CHOP !!!
February 25th, 2009
Well it’s 1:40pm here on Thursday, and it’s 9:40pm there on Wednesday. I’ll probably be playing it around 5pm on Sunday, which would be your 1am your time.
February 25th, 2009
ok… 1am on Saturday??? now gimme the PSN and your credit card number and your bank account… and I will get my Nigerian Prince brother to send you 15 million dollars…
February 25th, 2009
There’s nothing left on my credit card! But you can pay it off for me if you like?
February 25th, 2009
i get mine in 2 hours time, 5pm thursday which is about…10pm wednesday your time?
February 26th, 2009
Killzone 2 will never be outdone the game cannot be rival, well maybe a little by Resistance 2 the only game. I got LittleBigPlanet from eBay a couple hours ago.
My Games… Add Me all you. I don’t have Xbox Live my brother uses my Xbox 360 xXDarkCrusherXx he’s a true Xbox fanboy.
He has Xbox Live add him so he can crush you on Gears.
PSN ID: Ivan-
Gamertag: Ivan PSP
1. Resistance: Fall of Man
2. Resistance 2
3. Warhawk
4. Killzone 2
5. LittleBigPlanet
1. Gears of War
2. Gears of War 2
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
February 26th, 2009
Best looking, matter of opinion.
Best selling, no chance.
February 26th, 2009
Zoom in all you want Mike because no one plays a game zoomed in so who cares. Gears still looks better and has more atmosphere. I posted an article before about what one Game Developer thought about the Graphics so it seems you need another does of it.
“I don’t mean to discredit Guerilla Games, but they took the easy route. Killzone 2 looks this good because it is easier to make this type of game look good. It is a game with very little organic and natural figures. I bet they have at least one in there, but for the most part, the game has no trees. The game also lacks vegetation and features very little landscape. Why is this important? Simple, organic content is very hard to make look good and takes a lot of power. Trees in particular require a lot of power to render properly.”
” Count how much organic matter you see. Count the number of round edges. Not many, huh? This looks good, but it is just plain geometry. Geometry is very easy to render and take up very little space in memory. Also, notice the similar color scheme. The same textures are being used over and over, and although they look different, it is a result of them stacking multiple textures on top of each other.”
“If killzone 2 were running on its engine on the PS3 and the exact same game on Epic’s engine on the Xbox 360, I have no doubt that Killzone 2 would look better on the PS3. However, the difference would not be by much. Due to its smaller OS, the Xbox 360 has more memory available to it than Killzone 2. Killzone 2 on the PS3 would probably have a bit more going on on the screen at the same time but the Xbox 360 version would have higher resolution textures. GoWII on the PS3 however would be identical to the Xbox 360 version with slightly blurrier textures. Granted, Killzone 2 on the 360 would probably take up 2 discs unless procedural synthesis was used (which would require all the art to be remade from scratch). With procedural synthesis, developers can fit Gigabytes of information in a few hundred megabytes. There is a 96KB game(.kkrieger) that fits 200MB of data into it due to its use of procedural synthesis.”
“Yes, Killzone 2 does have a very advanced engine and it does make great use of the Cell processor, however, it mainly looks the way it does because of the art style. Not only did it take the safe path, but it also (in my opinion) selected a superior color palette. Based on what I saw from the demo and other Xbox 360 games, I think that it *can* be done on the Xbox 360, it would just take as long as the PS3 version. If they use procedural synthesis, it would take longer. If they don’t, it would have to ship on multiple DVDs. I know this won’t end the Killzone 2 exaggeration. The game looks very good and is my pick for best looking game out there, but it is not as drastic as people make it out to be.”
http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=59585
February 26th, 2009
It must be strange living in the Xbot-poor eyesight fantasy land.
blu ray doesn’t look any different from DVD and Killzone 2 isn’t the best looking console game.
You might try and ask for a second opinion before taking that “girl” home from the pub this weekend
February 26th, 2009
After reading your aticle I would swear you are a novice at games. All the things you talk about seem as if you have never seen these things for the first time like Lighting and Sweat and Shadows and textures and destructable environments and cover system for a first person shooter. Mike you are a Noob. Know lets hope your Playstation guys don’t catch PlayStation palmar hidradenitis.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090225.wlgaming25/BNStory/lifeMain/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail
February 26th, 2009
phranc – of course it doesn’t occur to you that this is the ONLY site saying its the best looking game this gen…..
dozens of sites… and one says it’s so…so it must be so…. *sigh*
and the ps3 fanboys wonder why noone can take them seriously as gamers….
February 26th, 2009
mike – then who is this “everyone” who said it wasn’t doable?
arvis – i’m only echoing the sentiments of industry personnel who recognize the short cuts that Guerrilla made to hit their “wow”-factor
kaz does the same with GT games. he makes the cars look “photorealistic” then doens’t allow the cars to become deformable.
guerrilla used a bunch of redundant textures on blocks and the ps3 fanboys think it’s the greatest thing to hit the planet…. bearing in mind they haven’t played any 360 games with sharper textures…
it’s a good looking game..but the best? nah…
February 26th, 2009
I guess I’ll have to wait until later to provide you links that make you look like a fool (or maybe CarlB can do that now). Most entertainment sites are blocked at work for me.
February 26th, 2009
phranc – just make them non-playstation sites. we already know what those fanboys think. they could put mud in a box and they would give it a AAA rating…. *sigh*
February 26th, 2009
didn’t they all state that LBP was the best looking game of this gen (im not reffering tot his site) though i must say, when playing killzone 2 on my HD-TV… the intro bit… wow my brother (hes 24) thought he was watching a real news cast… as good as the game looks, it distracts you alot with everything being so dark, it looks awesome yes, but unlike mgs4 your not out in the bright sun in the open.
mentioning mgs4, it has quite alot of trees in it that look good… so kev… your agreeing with us by saying that
MGS4 IZ TEH SHIET!!!
February 27th, 2009
ok. gamespot says groundbreaking visuals
1up says unparalleled graphics.
from MEGamers
“Killzone 2’s secret ingredient is the fluidity in gameplay that we have come to enjoy more than its graphical prowess or jaw-dropping visuals. And that’s what games have always been about… We’re surprised to see Killzone 2 blows our expectations out of the water with a memorable SP campaign and a stellar MP component. To put it short, this game makes “Gears of War 2″ look like a high school attempt at gaming and that is a HUGE compliment!”
February 27th, 2009
DWH, NegativeGamer works for me. I’m on EST also (Philly).
February 27th, 2009
CAD,
“I don’t mean to discredit Guerilla Games….”
-Really? Are you sure about that?
February 27th, 2009
CAD.
That was an interesting post made by a “game developer”
I like this part.
“The game looks very good and is my pick for best looking game out there, but it is not as drastic as people make it out to be.”
February 27th, 2009
phranc – nice try, but still no claim that it’s the best looking game of this generation like Mike said…..
keep searching….
February 27th, 2009
If at first you don’t succeed…play semantics games.
March 5th, 2009
phranc – that you be you, and the term is “creative paraphrasing”
for instance:
Reviwer: “it’s a beautiful game”
you and the other sony idiots: “reviewers called it the most beautiful game he has ever seen”…
mike and dave are prime examples why the internet will never be taken seriously as source of accurate information.
March 24th, 2009
Part 2?