Killzone 2 Review

• Let's just get this out from the start – Killzone 2 is an amazing game. It's outstanding, brilliant and arguably the best first-person shooter on PlayStation 3. 

• Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment
• Developed by: Guerrilla Games / SCEE
• Genre: First-Person Shooter
• Number of Players: 1-32
• Release Date:
  Europe: February 27, 2009
• PEGI: 18+

The rock solid gameplay, that has been given such tender and thoughtful care by the developers, on both single and multiplayer, is somewhat over shadowed by the gorgeous and ridiculously good graphics, that are not only the most visually impressive on PS3 - they’re better than any other. But Killzone 2 is more than an impressive tech demo, and it shows in leaps and bounds as it delivers a brilliant action experience, from the moment you start, right through to the end.

The single-player campaign that kicks off  during an assault on Helghan is a perfect demonstration, as you’re thrown into blazing gunfire, and you quickly learn the Helghast army mean business.

Running in to rush them will almost certainly grant you a short and fast death, whereas taking them out from afar can compromise your position. This is a shooter that requires you to find a balance between the two, heading to the next part of cover when it‘s safe, if only to ensure you live long enough to figure out just who’s shooting you. And whilst it might sound frustrating, it’s actually a fresh experience, that brings with it a feeling of adrenaline. This makes Killzone 2 a lot more like Gears of War 2 rather than Call of Duty, in a sense that cover is just as important as pushing forward to take out new enemies.

But just to mix things up, cover is also less forgiving than most - finding yourself behind a vehicle or brick wall wont provide you with bullet proof shelter. With enemy bullets able to pierce through flimsy wooden structures and the like.

Killzone 2 is undoubtedly a joy to watch, just as much as it is to play, for technically it’s visuals are peerless, and the attention that has been paid to every aspect of the game; from lighting, texture and dynamic effects that all pull together to make for a fantastic and believable, yet incredibly hostile environment right through to the incredible sound effects of gun fire, fallen enemies and flying mortar's, all add to the brilliant and thoroughly immersive experience.

But it's not without its problems. The set-pieces, although terrific, are shallow and one-dimensional compared to the likes of Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty 4, and the pace that takes you on a frantic action trip never changes.
It doesn't necessarily ruin the game, but players will reach certain stages, expecting a change of tempo, a break if it were, only to find more gun-ho action.

As stated earlier, the Helghast AI is highly impressive, and is most certainly an element that topples GoW2 and CoD4, where you can predict the enemies next move. However, the Helghast in Killzone 2 will act much more intelligently, using cover and moving around to constantly keep you on your toes. A great example is their clever use of awareness, for if they know you've got a bead on the position, they'll crawl to another safe place, throw in a grenade and they'll run out in the open, with the thinking that they'd rather take a bullet as a posed to being blown to pieces.
But they attack with inteligence too, throwing in grenades in attempt to flush you out, blind firing and only charging in as a last resort. It's a refreshing experience that only the AI in F.E.A.R. 2 can rival.


It's an element that sadly doesn't carry onto your AI team-mates, who act idiotically, charging into gun fire, then slumping to the ground after taking too much damage, requiring us to rush out and revive them, which proves constantly annoying at the least.


Thankfully, the multiplayer AI is a nice return to the impressive enemy type of the single-player campaign. Bots act scarily human-like, whether you're fighting with or against them.
There has been a lot of work put into the multiplayer by developer Guerrilla, and with more advanced unit classes only being unlocked the more you play there's a genuine reason to invest hours into the multiplayer.

Killzone 2 is an impressive, explosive shooter, and it remains constant and exhilarating through out its eight-hour play time.
Sure, the clumsy AI team-mates prove a chore, but the intelligent enemy AI far over shadows them, and you know what, it's not perfect - But it's arguably the best FPS on the PS3- no, in fact, it's is the best FPS on PS3. 

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin Review [PS3]

Firing up thirty minutes before its predecessor's explosive finale, F.E.A.R. 2 takes the same masterfully-paced mixture of teeth-gritting balls-out action and insidious horror that made the original such a great game in 2006. It's a combination that theoretically shouldn't go together, but hell, it works so damn beautifully. 

                                                     

• Published by: Warner Bros. Interactive
• Developed by: Monolith Productions
• Genre: First-Person Shooter/Horror
• Release Date: 
• Europe: February 13, 2009
• RRP: GBP £49.99
• PEGI: 18
• Also Available On: Xbox 360, PC

Even though it might not have the same impact as it’s predecessor, F.E.A.R. 2 betters it in every way. The most obvious is the colour palette it chooses; leaving the drab grey office block horror behind, F.E.A.R.2 has some beautiful environments, that although are scary as hell, look brilliant, and make the ten-hour campaign a joy to look at (providing  you haven’t hid behind the sofa).

Alma Was Always Getting A's

Gameplay wise, F.E.A.R.’s much approved fighting mechanics return, with the stella A.I. bringing genuinely smart and challenging opponents to the field, from standard military fare to gross scientific abominations, all add to the story and gameplay with their own personality convincing intelligence. 


Soldiers will expertly use environments for cover, knocking things down to hide behind, flanking you out into the open. Once you loose your guard, it’s oh so easy to find you have a gun poking at the back of your head as the A.I works together as a unit.
With a little brainwork, you can figure out how to escape a situation, enemies who aren’t aware of your presence can be taken out swiftly, followed by their team who rush to help.


But it’s the games less human foes that bring the reality home. Horrid creatures that crawl along walls will then just bolt at you, attaching themselves to your torso and scratching at you, which sounds OK in theory, but it ruins the intelligence the rest of the game carries, as you almost instantly know how to tackle another situation with the critters.

Click For Full Gallery

Click For Full Gallery

Luckily, F.E.A.R.2 brings lots of meaty weapons for you to dispose of your enemies with, ensuring FPS fans are satisfied. They’re well balanced, so strategy plays a big part in what weapons you choose to optimise you’re limited inventory slots.
Melee combat is not as frequent as the predecessor and the new cover system is clunky at best. But all is forgiven with the introduction of the new Mech sequences, which allow you to enter giant tank like Mech robots, ensuring your trip across the enemy heaving streets is both fun and pro-active. 


But there’s more to F.E.A.R.2 than just all out shooting, the quiet, atmospheric moments are undoubtedly it’s strong suit. It may not be as shocking as F.E.A.R. but it certainly gives you a fright.
Along with the updated graphics engine, your newly overhauled HUD system lets you know when something eerie is coming. As Alma's abilities grow, your HUD reacts to strange interference in increasingly intrusive ways – from minor unsettling interference to balls-out hallucinations – 
the minute your HUD goes, you start to feel unnerved. 
And that’s the key there, the tension is brilliant, for sometimes nothing happens, and just as you settle, some weird ghost pops up, or a train falls through the roof.

Click For Full Gallery

Although the mix of frantic action and tension building atmosphere seem at odds with each other, it works dramatically well, and the omnipresent feeling of Alma or her minions, really takes it’s toll on whether or not you really want to go down that corridor…


Multiplayer ditches the scares and quick reaction time of the campaign, and instead relies on the likes of a standard fare of death match inspired outings and team based games. The inclusion of the Mech suits is the standout mode, Armoured Front being the most fun.
As it is, much like  the single-player game, Project Origin's multiplayer mode is solidly-produced, and fantastically enjoyable but plagued with the feeling of over-familiarity.

F.E.A.R. 2 is a brilliant and polished title, that delivers everything it sets out to promise, but certain problems prevent it being a much better game.
The enemy soldier A.I are brilliant and scarily intelligent, but the games in-human fodder are quite disappointing.
Yes, there’s over familiarity and text book horror locations (hospital, science lab, subway station), but it doesn’t stop F.E.A.R. 2 being enjoyable. And that’s what it is through out - consistently enjoyable and incredibly competent.