Killzone 2

Killzone 2 is the next best thing on the PS3 since sliced bread (available on the Playstation Store for $3.95 a loaf). This is the PS3 exclusive title that should convince people who have yet to plunk down the cash to pick up a PS3 to go ahead and do so. It’s the best FPS for the system hands down and offers the most robust and intricate online multiplayer mode in any game I have ever played.

From the opening sequence to the final show down, you know you’re playing something special. This game plays just as good as it looks. Enemy AI is extremely realistic and the backgrounds and environment are also among the best I have seen in any game to date. The multiplayer aspect is deep enough to have you signing back in to see how much you can achieve or rank up. It’s one of those games that come around every once in a while that is so close to the complete package, you can’t pass it up.

Killzone 2 pits your ISA faction (good guys) against the ruthless Helghast (bad dudes) on their home turf. When word that Helghast spirits and dedication have been broken, the ISA decide to strap on their road jerseys and hit em where they hurt. Turns out that’s farthest from the truth and the Helghast aren’t ready to let any stinkin’ ISA scum just take the place over. You play as sergeant first class Tomas Sevchenco. Along for the ride are your Alpha Squad mates Rico Velesquez, Dante Garza and Shawn Natko. You’re dumped right into enemy territory with the task of taking out Scolar Visari who rules the Helgan Empire with an iron fist.

If you decide to play this game on the veteran difficulty setting you will not be let down. At times your patience is tested but the overall experience is worth it. The enemy AI is incredible. They rarely give you the opportunity to just spray them up as they are always firing at you from behind cover and constantly change up their positioning and strategies. You feel as though you are fighting a truly worthy opponent which makes it that much more satisfying when they are taken down. There is always a sense of urgency and you rarely have any time to stop and relax. You always have to push forward fending off onslaughts of enemy waves trying to push you back. At times you'll find yourself in some intense firefights that can last 20+ minutes

At times the cover system can be a little ‘sticky’ for lack of a better word. I found myself trying to peek out to the side and then end up being stuck or not being able to fire my weapon. The solution was to ‘detach’ from your cover and then quickly get back into cover. A minor annoyance seeing as how you’re trying to get something done and have to adjust to what is clearly a mechanical bug that should have been tweaked out. Along with that I found that empty shell casings from my weapon would appear floating on top of the piece of cover I was using that just took a point or two away from the otherwise perfect graphical presentation in the game. Another glitch would be certain load times when accessing a new check point. I’ve seen them last anywhere from a half second pause to a full out 7 seconds. 7 seconds doesn’t sound like much but it’s enough to make you think that the system has frozen up or that the game has become locked freaking you out a bit. It’s just enough to change your attitude from “Man this game is kicking so much ass!” to “WTF..........”

With that being said, everything else is just so damn good. The weapons feel a bit 'heavy' but they also feel great at the same time. There’s a bit of an adjustment period but once you get the feel for things, you’re off and running. You can tell just by firing how much power you’re dishing out and watching the Helghans get littered with bullets is pretty bad ass. There are 10 levels in Killzone 2 and they vary just enough to keep things fresh along the way. Different landscapes and scenarios keep you on your toes and just itching to see what’s coming up next. The story isn’t exactly the focal point which is forgivable given the intense battles you get into along the way. The single player alone is enough to keep you happy but if you’re a fan of online multiplayer action, this is where you’ll get your money’s worth.

Killzone 2 boasts one of the most impressive and detailed multiplayer options to date. You rank up by collecting points and gain access to different character types, weapons and abilities. Points are obtained by collecting kills, revivals or game type specific accomplishments such as planting C4. You gain ribbons by achieving certain goals such as healing 5 downed soldiers per game in 8 different games. This which will in effect increase your point total next time you heal someone after gaining that achievement. This is a cleaver way to get you to play different character types to provide more options to level up faster as the rankings require more points each time. Satisfy the OCD in you by checking out every stat imaginable at the end of your games. You can literally analyze every facet of your game and look to improve certain categories that you may be slacking in. Go to Killzone.com and review actual game progression and check every other stat including your clan or squad results.

Killzone 2 is a thrill from start to finish offering some of the best FPS moments in recent history. Everything from level design, graphics, AI and multiplayer, Killzone 2 delivers on all levels. A must buy for any PS3 owner and is worth every single penny.

The Bad:

• Pretty flaky cover system. Seems buggy and not fully developed at times.
• Load times can interrupt action so bad that it really stands out
• Not much of a story to get involved in. You never really care about what’s going

The Good:

• Extremely detailed environments giving the impression of a war torn world
• Enemy AI is top notch and posses a real challenge
• Intense battle sequences push you to the limits
• The best multiplayer action for the system keeps you coming back for more