Killzone 3 Review

Here it is, Sony's big shooter which will apparently set the standard for FPS shooters to follow. Introducing Move support and of course 3D, Sony have been pushing Killzone 3 down gamings throat for quite a while now, and as it arrives and astounds me in many ways, I cant help but feel that Guerilla games have forgotten what Killzone was all about, instead aiming for a game to fit in comfortably with other FPS' this generation.


In 2009 I was a little naive boy who knew nothing about the wonders of gaming. I had just been given a PS3 and I was one of those people who would buy a game because it looked 'cool' or had lightsabers (darn you Force Unleashed!), so when I saw all the adverts and trailers for a game called Killzone 2, I was intrigued. To cut a long story short, Killzone 2 introduced me into as I like to call 'real' gaming, so Killzone 3 was a huge prospect for me.


Single Player
Here it is. Killzone 3 sits in my Playstation, tempting me in like a beautiful but evil siren. Talking of beauty, the first point I will make and clarify is that Killzone 3 is the best looking game ever to exist. The ruined landscapes stretch for miles and the character animations are almost uncanny. Whilst the last game was heavily criticised for the same old urban, grey settings, Killzone 3 really puts the PS3 to strain with lovely colourful jungles and gorgeous blinding white snowy mountains. Although graphics aren't everything in a game, Killzone 3 is made a all round better experience due to the wonderful scenery and graphics, especially when the same standards are transferred over to multiplayer.


I will admit it, the story is, excuse my French, absolute bull. Some great voice work from Malcom McDowell (Clockwork Orange) and the one and only hard man Ray Winstone are violently dignity-raped by a crap narrative. Some may see it as tongue-in-cheek but to me, it seemed way to serious for my liking. You play as Tomas "Sev" Sevchenko, an empty protagonist with as much personality as a rock. Followed by Mr F-Bomb Rico, you follow the pair through the recently destroyed planet of Helghan. With some reviews you struggle to summarise the plot and not give anything away, but the story is so weak that it doesn't really matter here.


 However, for all the story's down falls, there are some brilliant set pieces and stand out moments that will be in some Top Ten lists by the end of the year. Ranging from an assault on an oil rig or a fight against a huge walking MAWLR, Killzone 3 is more of a compilation of awesome set pieces than an actual involving journey. This feeling is only increased because every time you are meet with a new cut scene, the screen fades into black, completely drawing you out of the experience. However, as soon as the action starts again you are thrown straight back into the intense battles, shame they only last for a maximum of 20 mins before you are unwillingly dragged into another tedious cut scene. Sometimes, I wished I could just leave the cut scenes and just play, but sadly you cant. Overall though, the gameplay and pacing is above par, it is possibly the most intense FPS I have ever played as you are pulled into each level thanks to the outstanding atmosphere and are surrounded by the chilling gargles and glowing red eyes of the Helghast. Add the intense gun battles to full surround sound and a dark room, and you have yourself an unmatchable experience.

The guns on range are pretty good too. You have the classic ISA rifle and then the Shotgun, but the real star is the new Laser Cannon. This gun shoots out weird balls of green energy, making your enemies explode, hilarious. Also, the introduction of the new brutal melee kills means that each time your go for a hand to hand fight, a new animation will appear, usually involving a knife to the face or Kratos thumbs to the eyes. These are great and really satisfying to pull off. Moreover, the inclusion of jet packs for one level seems more like a cheap gimmick, much like the exo-skeletons and ice truck thing. The atmosphere here is top notch as well, at some points you truly believe these people are stuck on a strange planet with no means of escape, but sadly Guerilla haven't used this to create an involving story. Still, the guns and atmosphere are amazing.



But, for all its action and beauty, Killzone just seems to lack something. I don't know exactly what it is, but it just doesn't seem unique any more. Maybe that's because of the new lighter controls. Condemned by most people, Killzone 2 had an incredible sense of weight behind it, setting it apart from the quick fire COD and creating a more involved experience; at least that's what I thought! Guerilla have tweaked the weight considerable and whilst still being heavy, the controls make Killzone 3 feel more like the average shooter, losing part of its original identity. This can also be related to the short campaign as well and awful story. I finished the campaign in 5 hours, a time that is well below satisfactory from the Killzone franchise.



In the end, Killzone 3 is into exactly a let down, but a too-average shooter. Yes the battles are intense and the gameplay is pitched perfectly, but that's not all what a game is. The game has lost its original charm, instead collapsing in to the peer pressure from bigger, similar franchises out there. In spite of the huge push behind it from Sony, Killzone is seeming to slip by quietly as all the fans dig in, but the public by pass it as they wait for the new instalment of CoD. I love it, some people don't, it is a very Marmite game now, and although it hurts me to say it, if you really enjoyed Killzone 2, you may not enjoy Killzone 3, not one for the fans. It just goes to show that by making everything bigger and flasher doesn't always make a game better


Multiplayer
You may be wondering why I have split this review up into two different sections, but like most shooters on the market, it is a very separated game. With a short campaign that delivers in excitement, but not story, Killzone 3 follows the trend which is sadly plaguing this generation. However, saying that, Killzone 3's online mode is near fantastic and certainly able to stand up to the big daddies.


Many people complained about the levelling up system is Killzone 2, and I agreed, it was very slow and the amount of freedom it offered was extremely closed, fortunately, Guerilla have listened to the fans and have delivered a stellar experience with enough choice for chopping and changing that it should satisfy the most OCD players out there. Following in the steps of Battlefield, Killzone introduces the class system. Players can choose between the classic classes; medic, engineer, marksman etc. each offering their own unique abilities. I my self am a medic. Even from this one class I have been able to switch my load-out and buy perks with my upgrade points (like a money system each time you level up) which really add depth to the initial outline of online.


You thought the fights in Cod or Battlefield were intense? Wait till Killzone. I have found myself being outnumbered by millions (slight exaggeration) of enemies or surround by grenades and random explosions, Killzone really gets your heart racing. There is a great balance between all the classes and there is a very steady growth within the community, teams work together most of the time. The gameplay is mainly similar to the campaign bar the lack of cover, but great moves like the brutal melee kills still linger online. Running up to a sniper and giving them a face full of sharpened steel is one of the most satisfying feelings in any online game ever. The graphics are great and I haven't encountered any lag yet, so the online component is certainly strong. 



Overall, whilst the campaign may be a bit short lived, Killzone 3 makes up for it with an incredible online counterpart that will add legs to the game. A wonderful package that, in terms of graphics, is next gen stuff. Killzone 3 is an intense, crazy, manic shooter that deserves a play, even if you are a Halo whore!

7/10