Killzone 2 Multiplayer Beta

All of these modes can be mixed up in Warzone mode, which allows the host to serve up a conveyor belt of challenges all on the same map without having to dip in and out of the lobby between game types. While not particularly innovative, it's still a thoughtful addition and one that keeps the gameplay moving and reasonably varied without spoiling the flow.

And what of the maps? They're good. Great even. With the game modes directing everyone to attack or defend the same objectives, the maps are freed from the typical artificial arena designs that funnel you into the same choke-points over and over. The larger maps strike a solid balance between open ground, claustrophobic interiors and elevated positions which means there's always a multitude of ways to approach any given situation - a facet of the game that is greatly enhanced by shrewd squad play. Radec Academy is the smallest, and most traditional, of the trio. Featuring two buildings divided by an open plaza, with an underground tunnel and opposing spawn points on each side, this is the map that really throws the players at each other most frequently and is best suited to Body Count mode.

Salamun Market and Blood Gracht are much larger, offering sprawling streets and winding alleyways, with plenty of interiors for ducking out of danger or sneaking past enemy forces. The visuals fall into the current trend for bleak browns and greys, but there are enough incidental details to make it a successful aesthetic decision rather than just a lazy one. Climb up to the higher levels and the wind howls and whips around you, sending banners and cloth fluttering angrily. Scenery objects are affected by physics, but this isn't Half-Life 2 and the game wisely doesn't waste time or processing power on letting you hoof empty boxes and cans around the place. The frame rate seems solid and while the occasional laggy player can be seen popping around the map like the witch from Chorlton and the Wheelies , that's clearly a result of their troubled connection rather than any flaw in the game code.

Gameplay is fast and vicious, then, with precious little time between the first bullet hit and your writhing body (which can be revived within ten seconds by a medic) hitting the ground. It's another area where the Rainbow Six comparison feels most comfortable - if you stray into somebody's sights, chances are you're going down. Equally, get someone in your sights, even from a distance, and chances are you'll be able to take them down with little more than a quick volley of shots. There is a recharging health system, but it rarely gets the chance to do its thing because the default weapons are so brutally accurate and devastatingly effective. Ammo and replacement weapons, however, are virtually non-existent. If you prefer the sort of shooter where you can stand in the open and soak up damage, while rifles and rocket launchers are scattered about the place like used bus tickets, then Killzone 2 won't be for you.

This ruthless edge certainly lends itself to the sort of taut and unforgiving gameplay that hardened FPS addicts will favour, but it can also lead to awkward balancing problems since it automatically favours those playing defence. A squad of soldiers behind cover can be all but invincible, at least within the time limits offered for the various game-types and with the default weaponry. Your tactical options drastically improve with more classes to choose from, but there's a tough attack-die-respawn-attack cycle waiting for most new players as they battle their way to a decent rank.

Killzone 2's multiplayer certainly impresses with its technical stability and stark, oppressive atmosphere. Where it perhaps struggles a tad is in its adherence to a savage style of play that has come to seem old fashioned in recent years. This is an online game that demands much from the player, but seemingly will only offer its rewards grudgingly and in small increments. However, there are many who will relish this back-to-basics approach, and for those dedicated players the lack of surprising new twists on the deathmatch formula won't matter one little bit.