Killzone

By Kristan Reed Published 9 September, 2004

We put the much-hyped 'Halo-beater' through its paces. Does Guerrilla's sci-fi shooter live up to expectations? Find out inside, and see some new screenshots too.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

There must be a good reason why Sony has, until now, stayed well clear of producing a first person shooter in the last ten years. Maybe it believed, like a lot of other publishers, that it was a PC genre that didn't really work well enough on a joypad, or that commercially they just weren't as big a draw. Certainly that was true enough in the days of the PSone, when excellent attempts like Argonaut's Alien Resurrection were roundly ignored, and even the brave conversion of Quake II flopped. What probably changed the Sony development chiefs' minds was when the likes of Halo and Medal of Honor: Frontline came along and sold millions. Money changes everything. It came as little surprise, then, to hear that Sony had signed up a game that promised to be a 'Halo beater'. Some claim.

After months of whispers and press-generated hype, Killzone finds itself in the unwelcome position of having a lot to prove. This isn't necessarily what Sony wanted, but at the same time it can hardly feel uncomfortable that its first all-new title for a while happens to be generating the sort of excitement reserved for sequels or new offerings from established developers. Curiously, Dutch team Guerrilla (formerly known as Lost Boys) doesn't have a memorable track record, and in fact (via another team) recently released the roundly-cussed Shellshock. So why exactly is everyone getting so excited? Because Sony has finally gotten round to releasing an FPS, or because of the excitable (and baseless, at the time they were originally uttered) 'Halo-beater' claims? Lord knows. If someone, whether it's members of the press or the marketing team, relentlessly hypes something up, eventually people start believing it. Is it time to start believing? That's what we intend to find out...

Fire at Will? Which one's Will?

'Killzone' Screenshot 1

Killzone isn't your average shooter. You know, the ones where you blast your way through a never ending procession of drones in an experience that, for all its grandeur and pretensions, ends up feeling about as close to a real-life firefight as a duck shoot at a fairground. Up they pop: blam. Three lemmings at 2 o'clock: Cher-Ching. Some at 11:45: keep it simple! This, for many of us, sums up the Medal of Honor school of game design, where most enemies are no more than a vague distraction, mere cannon fodder to make us feel like heroes. But once you've played a few of these games, the thrill begins to diminish. The same old game mechanics keep re-appearing. By the 30th samey shooter, you want to shake the copycat game designers into some kind of life. To a large extent, Guerrilla evidently feels the same; Killzone wants to change the way we approach a firefight.

In most games in this genre, it's an excuse to be utterly gung-ho. Charging in, all guns blazing, at 40 miles per hour (because, apparently, that's how fast we run in relative terms in these games) and generally behaving like a pissed off Charles Bronson on an amphetamine drip. With 14 guns strapped to our rippling torso. This approach got us through the novelty years when the genre was fresh and the technology was ripping along at a startling pace, but now we crave a fresh approach. A more considered set of AI routines. Enemies that don't just leap out begging to be killed. Killzone does exactly that.

In the 12 missions that we've played so far, Killzone makes you sweat more or less every step of the way. Try and play Killzone the way you're used to playing an FPS and you'll last about five seconds flat before being dumped back to the start of your checkpoint. The differentiator in Killzone is without question its AI - a set of enemies that work together, take up different positions, take cover and generally make life very difficult for you. It's a system that Guerrilla has reportedly had to tone down because it was "too good", so you'll always have the advantage. Killzone is never impossible - that wouldn't make it a fun game either - but somewhere within the game is a very good balance of tough playability that forces you into a very different mindset when approaching every clutch of enemies.

Battle zone

'Killzone' Screenshot 2

Essentially where the Halo comparisons come in is Killzone's adherence to the "thirty seconds of fun over and over" principle. That's probably the neatest way to sum up what's going on with Guerrilla's game, in that what you're tasked with is very samey, very repetitive, but that each micro-battle can be a joyous challenge in its own right. The storyline cuts in every now and then, but it's very much bolted on. You won't especially care and so far the narrative hasn't really engaged us in any memorable way. What you will be gripped by are the battles. Outdoor trench warfare in near future cityscapes, indoor office battles in ruined, collapsing complexes, outdoor park battles. It's seat of the pants stuff, sneaking past cover points and breaking the necks of the unwary, sprinting between gunfire and hiding behind trees, cooking grenades and tossing exploding death into a pack, sniping distant aggressors across ruined tower blocks, shotgun-blasting unsuspecting sentries as they walk around the corner, and watching in admiration as they react differently to all the little tricks you try and pull.

The masked Helghast aggressors that give you such a hard time and that face throughout the game are apparently "an invading militaristic separatist faction... set out to decimate the ISA forces [that's you] and colonize the planet". The 'planet' being the "nearby colony of Vecta, one of the interplanetary colonies that humans have established outside of Earth". It certainly looks like Earth. There's no reason to suspect, without this prior knowledge, to believe it's set anywhere else, but there you go. What's more interesting than the rather wafer thin premise is that battles which would last a few seconds in other games go on for five minutes or more in Killzone. There may only be a handful of enemies to dispatch in each segment you come across, but by god do they make you work your little tusch off to survive the onslaught. So deadly is their aim, and so attuned is their response time to your arrival, you'll be lucky to loose off more than a few well-placed rounds before you're scuttling off to find cover so that your (very Halo-esque) health recharges.

Ultimately, from our six or so hours of solid play, it's the intensity of the firefights, this single factor that has intrigued us, and incentivises us to continue onwards into its eleven distinct areas, and find out what the differences are between the four different characters that you can play as, as the game unfolds.

Limitations

'Killzone' Screenshot 3

Take away this one crucial factor and, actually, Killzone doesn't seem all that different, special or exciting. Harsh? Not at all. Yes, the graphics look very presentable in the screenshots, but actually in the 'flesh' don't really have the wow factor you might have been anticipating. It's a very gritty, grainy, dark approach that's by no means unattractive (and in some respects suit the premise), but it won't have your eyes bulging out of your head wondering how they managed to drag such trickery out of the PS2. There's little in the way of lighting effects, very little in terms of physics routines (enemies slump down dead convincingly, panes of glass crack and smash and the odd water cooler gets knocked asunder, but that's about it), texture detail isn't up to a great deal, the outdoor foliage could be better and the frame rate appears to be around the 30 mark. On top of that, so far we've seen just one enemy in the opening three sections of the game over 12 levels - and unless there's a bit more variation, we're slightly concerned as to how the single-player facet of the game will hold our interest.

The press blurb talks of some 27 weapons to get to grips with. So far we've seen a mere fraction of that. By default you're armed with a fairly hopeless pistol (which you'll never ever use), and two slots for a machinegun and shotgun (which can be swapped out later when you find others lying around), the latter two of which also come equipped with an immensely crucial and powerful secondary fire. Grenades come at a premium as you'd expect, as does the occasional appearance of sniper rifles, but of course, what the enemy leaves lying around tends to end up being your weapons of choice, and so far they're proving to be a chunky selection that never seem quite as powerful as you want them to be. Either that, or those Helghast really are quite hard bastards to shift - especially when they keep such effective cover much of the time, as well as being bloody good shots.

Online multiplayer is, of course, one of the key facets of the package, but is still being worked on in the run up to its release, and is the reason the game has been held back by a few weeks. Suffice to say we know precious little about it at the moment apart from the fact that it supports 12 players simultaneously, with voice chat and comms in both team-based and competitive flavours. Apart from a few unfinished cut-scenes, what we've played so far is a decent chunk of the (finished) single player game. With any luck we'll have licked the (extensive) single-player campaign by the time the multiplayer is ready to go, and we can give you the definitive lowdown on the game then.

Shut up about Halo will ya?

It's a contentious statement to call Killzone a Halo-beater, and lazily trivialises what it has to offer. For a start Killzone feels nothing like it. It's infinitely tougher than Halo, or any other console FPS we've ever played for that matter. In many respects it has more in common with the uber hardcore Rainbow Six 'death is just a shot away' principle than a by the numbers run-and-gun, but that's not likely to grab the headlines is it? As a hardcore shooter, Killzone is a refreshing addition to the fray, and looks certain to pick up a strong following. It's not an everyman game, though, and some won't take to it's often unforgiving gameplay style. But for those in need of a real challenge, it's definitely one to watch. Just try and ignore the hype until then and find out for yourself nearer the time.

Killzone is released on November 21st, exclusively on PlayStation 2. You can find a bunch of new screenshots here.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lost_soul #1 8 years ago

    Hmm, I reckon a fight's a brewing...

    Round 1!

  • IronGiant #2 8 years ago

    So it's a decent game but not the gaming event some had predicted.. hmmm few titles like that being released about now.

  • roodevleck #3 8 years ago

    "Some at 11:45: keep it simple!"

    Shaun of the Dead?

  • krudster #4 8 years ago

    Guess what Tom watched last night?!

  • Sprak #5 8 years ago

    Suddenly I look forward to this.

  • lost_soul #6 8 years ago

    "Guess what Tom watched last night?!"

    Porn?

  • krudster #7 8 years ago

    Might have? Tom, care to elaborate?

  • UncleLou #8 8 years ago

    Hm, the firefights sound intriguing. But I am too clumsy to control an FPS with the PS2 pads, so I'll most definitely not buy it.

  • speedjack #9 8 years ago

    Not to start a fight - but did anyone really seriously think this will outshine Halo 2 ?


    Still, the screenies look lovely (esp. the textures), so I'm surprised that its all meant to look rather average in the flesh.

    I'm also suspicious that the multiplayer might be a bit duff judging by the silence so far.

    Just how much can you improve by delaying things a couple of weeks ?

  • presh #10 8 years ago

    nobody expected it to 'outshine' Halo 2 or even Halo 1 except the PR department ;-)

    It's a very different game on a different console. I thought it was pretty cool back at E3 - I played this and Burnout 3 more than anything else - but only 2 levels were playable then. The multiplayer sounds good - maybe it's time to network my PS2...

    Comparisons with Halo are a waste of time IMHO - if you wanna play Halo, buy an Xbox.

    And you can do a lot of coding in a couple of weeks - just ask anyone who has worked for a games developer ;-)

  • Stevas mkII #11 8 years ago

    "Incentivises". Nice. Like it.

  • roodevleck #12 8 years ago

    Personally I prefer this game's looks to those of Halo, which looks too plastic and shiny for my taste. Halo 2 doesn't seem very different from the first part.

    As for gameplay, they're quite different games.

    Then again, I'm biased.

  • valli #13 8 years ago

    Nice, interest sparking preview. I really don't care much about online play on this one. Hold on, will the game support mouse + kb via USB?

  • Blerk #14 8 years ago

    Interesting to see that it's actually 'nothing at all like Halo'. Whoever started that bloody 'Halo-beater' garbage, anyway? I'm damn sure it wasn't anyone at the studio.

    Aaaaanyway. Doesn't sound like my kind of thing. Especially the 'infinitely tougher than any other console FPS we've ever played' bit.

  • Machiavel #15 8 years ago

    It's a[n AI] system that Guerrilla has reportedly had to tone down because it was "too good"

    I think that's true of the formation of just about all AI opponent code - easy to make them invincible, then dumb them down to an acceptable 'challenge'. But a nice soundbite from Guerrilla, nonetheless.

  • groovychainsaw #16 8 years ago

    Sounds good to me - not worried bout multiplayer, and it sounds similar to all the bits in halo on legendary to me... Might get it - but im having too much fun playing burnout 3 at the moment, which may well be my favourite racing game of all time (mind you, ive only played it for an hour)
    /realises drifting off topic
    /goes back to work
    /dreams of playing burnout 3 this evening...

  • mcmonkeyplc #17 8 years ago

    Ok now will you PS2 fanboys please shut up about it being better than halo, you now have the ammunition to call it better than rainbow six.

    Go, be gone with the halo lovin.

  • Dizzy #18 8 years ago

    Better than rainbow six?????

    /gets shotgun

    Seriously, Killzone always sound mediocre at best and downright crap at worst. I don't understand where all that "better than Halo" shit came from. Maybe from the "let's pull another The Runaway" Sony PR department?

  • UncleLou #19 8 years ago

    The Runaway? That was an ok point and click adventure, but hardly a Sony game.

    /refuses to understand that you actually meant The Getaway

  • Dizzy #20 8 years ago

    >The Runaway

    Oops... typo... :)

    Yes.. of course The Getaway

  • krudster #21 8 years ago

    Is there a banned word list around here or something?

  • Blerk #22 8 years ago

    Sublime. You're not allowed to say that.

  • lost_soul #23 8 years ago

    Synergy is also not allowed. Unless you're talking about CM Synergy, then it's allowed.

  • pjmaybe #24 8 years ago

    Of course if this gets 9/10 there'll be a bloodbath!

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #25 8 years ago

    What about "immersive"?

    Can i use that?

  • bzzct #26 8 years ago

    If we're gonna talk about dodgy words I'm surprised no-one has complained about

    "Because Sony has finally gotten round to releasing an FPS"

    (checks name of site to see if it's changed to USgamer since yesterday)

  • Khab #27 8 years ago

    If it supports mouse+keyboard I'll be buying this and the ethernet adapter just so I can kill all the PS2 fanboys who'll no doubt be hailing this as the second coming.

    Oh, and Halo isn't as good as Halo anyway.

  • smelliot #28 8 years ago

    As much as I like FPS games on PC, I'll never buy a console one. Even Timesplitters, the god of console shooters, feels clumsy.

  • gamingdave #29 8 years ago

    f**K Halo, is it as good as Goldeneye?

  • prettyboytim #30 8 years ago

    'incentivises'?
    'INCENTIVISES'?

    Bad, BAD Kristan!

  • MartinJ #31 8 years ago

    Hmm...too many games : )....what am I saying?
    PES4 for the Xbox....
    GT4 for the Ps2 (yes I have the GT Force Pro Wheel)
    Forza Motorsports (might be good)
    Kill Zone Ps2
    Halo 2 Ps2
    Battle for midle earth PC
    Rome total War Pc
    Wat Time Command PC
    Singstar Party PS2

  • krudster #32 8 years ago

    I'm sorry for any offense caused by the word incentive. I never realised it was a banned phrase, and I shall strike it henceforth from my vocabulary.

    /told

  • bungalooBunny #33 8 years ago

    This screenies don't look nearly as good as the ones they showed a year ago on Edge mag. It looks like they blurred the textures, prolly the previous resolution was too ambitious for the PS2?

    Anyway, all this sounds too 'Getaway' for me, ie, the usual Sony hype for an average game with little or nothing new to offer.

  • Freek #34 8 years ago

    Of course if this gets 9/10 there'll be a bloodbath!


    So,um, better then Halo then?

    /coat

  • BLACKSHEEP #35 8 years ago

    Halo 2 Ps2?

    Do I get a prize, MartinJ?

  • 3william56 #36 8 years ago

    "Halo isn't as good as Halo"

    - LOL! Never a truer word typed.

    God forbid we have an original and more realistic take on an FPS, rather than a by-the-numbers brainless run, gun and gobble healthpacks-a-thon.
    Colour me intrigued.

  • mash the x button #37 8 years ago

    Is there a FPS out there where if you get hit, you die - straight back to the beginning of the game?

  • Stevas mkII #38 8 years ago

    You didn't actually offend anyone with the word 'incentive', dude.
    No, chances are, if you DID offend anyone, it was with 'incentivises'.
    Not me, though.
    Hey, I LIKE made up words. I make words up all the time.
    And that was a fucking good one.

  • Thamuhacha #39 8 years ago

    Neo-logisms ... if I remember A-Level English.

    God I am bored today. Good job us industry types can play games at work. And I don't even have to write about it afterwards.

  • tiddles #40 8 years ago

    It's hardly a neologism... more an Americanism:

    Dictionary definition

    As such, Kruds has spelt it wrong ;)

  • Stevas mkII #41 8 years ago

    Disclaimer: Stevas reserves the right to edit or withdraw his last comment, if it turns out that this - quite frankly - ridiculous word wasn't made up by the dude in question, and he happens to have access to a more recent (and ever sillier) dictionary.

  • Stevas mkII #42 8 years ago

    Disclaimer No2: SODDING AMERICANISMS DO NOT COUNT. Messing with the English language is a crime punishable by the appointment of a complete moron as the country-in-question's leader. Oh. Right. That's okay, then.

  • Thamuhacha #43 8 years ago

    >It's hardly a neologism... more an Americanism

    I didn't mean "incentivizes" necessarily, but Stevas was talking about made up words in general.

    But he seems to think that using "dude" is acceptable. So I am not listening to him.

  • IronGiant #44 8 years ago

    errrr, can anyone translate that?
    Killzone won't decide anything at all.. the so called battle is over as the PS2 is so far ahead saleswise. The real battle is with the next gen.

  • Tippytappy #45 8 years ago

    Played through 12 levels?

    The latest code only contains 4 - Helghast Assault, Vecta Evacuates, New Allies and Strange Company. And Killzone supports 16 players online with full voice comm support, oh and it has ragdoll doll physics. :p

    "texture detail isn't up to a great deal"

    Eh? The game looks the mutts nuts, playing it on a 14inch portable???

  • cubbymoore #46 8 years ago

    yeah i've yet to see my ps2 trying to kill my xbox yet, even though he's a vicious little bastard!

  • IronGiant #47 8 years ago

    As good as Goldeneye is it's nowhere near the game that Half Life is.. by a huge margain, just my opinion.

  • AtomicBanana #48 8 years ago

    Good point! Goldeneye beats the shit out of Halo and then some. Funny how the phrase 'Goldeneye-beater' has never come about since Goldeneye is the best FPS ever by a fair margin.

    ------------

    Goldeneye was shocking terrible back then, and it's a *joke* now. Calling any recent fps a goldeneye beater is laughable.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/04 @ 12:36

  • Tippytappy #49 8 years ago

    Here are some screens of the demo

    http: //img37.exs.cx/img37/3307/Killzonecomp.jpg

    some more at Killzone-game

  • krudster #50 8 years ago

    12 levels, yes!

    Each 'world' has four levels in it. I played through three of the game's worlds, thus playing 12 levels in total, no?

    As for playing it on a 14" TV, errr, no. I don't want to be boastful, but its a *lot* bigger than that. Trust me, this beast of a screen shows up games for exactly what they are - it's the smaller TVs that make everything look better than it is.

  • SteveB #51 7 years ago

    I've played the demo on OPS2M. The AI is all over the place. 1 minute the enemy is flanking around you intelligently, the next they are standing a few yards away from you, oblivious to your presence.

    Hopefully this will be sorted in final release (not too confident) because the rest of the game seems very enjoyable. The graphics are good, controls are tight and I really like the games setting and atmosphere.

    Special mention has to be made of the sound, which is best described as 'meaty'. Crank up the volume and the fire fights sound like 'that' scene from Heat !

    Anyone else played the demo ? EG people how does the demo compare to the beta you played ?

  • tyTY #52 7 years ago

    Better than Halo, maybe, better than Halo 2, no probly not, great game no matter what, defenatly.

  • tyTY #53 7 years ago

    Killzone VS. Halo2 who will win?

  • Dom's ass #54 7 years ago

    lol, killzone beats halo like True Grime beat GTA