Loading ...Killzone 3 Review
The madness begins in Guerilla Games' visually striking First Person Shooter.
With the popularity of first person shooters having grown tremendously over the past few years, developers now find themselves hard at work trying to craft the most effective formula for a perfect shooter experience. Guerilla Games, the developer behind Sony’s exclusive action sci-fi based FPS franchise, Killzone, is by all means no exception.
Killzone 3, the most recent game in the series, is a fantastic display of what the PS3 is fully capable of and what an FPS should be. Showcasing stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, the game, is both entertaining and aesthetically pleasing.
The first key to the game's successful formula is its story. Though the plot itself is a bit weak, lacking depth and suspense, it is action packed. In this case, mindless fun isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering the fact that this is an action game and players spend 90% of their time in campaign mode either on foot or in a vehicle spewing thousands of bullets, grenades and rockets. At the same time, there is always good reason behind the explosive results.
The player assumes control of ISA Sergeant 1st Class Tomas Sevchenko, otherwise known as Sev, who is part of Alpha Squad and the returning hero from KZ2. The action picks up almost immediately after the events of KZ2. With a huge portion of the ISA fleet wiped out, it is up to Sev and the rest of Alpha Squad to meet up with the other ISA troops and get the hell off what’s left of the Helghan planet, a move that will neither prove neither easy nor safe. In fact, if you can recall the last few words that bled from the mouth of the leader of the Helghan Empire, Scolar Visari at the end of KZ2, he said, “The madness begins.”. It would be these three words that ring wildly in the ears of Sev as KZ3 meets him and the rest of Alpha Squad with that very same madness.
The gameplay itself is every bit as intense and engaging as one would expect it to be. The player will encounter a variety of different weapons, both new and old. Occasionally players will find themselves behind the wheel or the gears of vehicles that you can use to destroy the enemy and decimate whatever else may get in your way. It’s also helpful to note a couple of changes that have been made to KZ3’s campaign. For instance, rather than having to sacrifice your primary weapon for a heavy gun such as an RPG or Boltgun, you can now have the best of both worlds. This will not only aid you in your quest to complete your objectives, but affords the opportunity to have a little fun along the way. Another potentially beneficial change, is that near most weapon racks there will be a box dedicated solely to ammo, giving any weapons carried at the time a full refill.
While there have been changes to gameplay there has also been a slight change in controls. While they are functionally the same as Killzone 2, they are now much more precise.The movement and camera/aiming controls are absolutely phenomenal. They feel tight and weighted, but not as sluggish and floaty as before. It’s amazing the amount of detail the developers put into the weight of the controls. As you move your character it’s almost as though you can feel his foot make contact with the ground and as he runs you can practically feel the force of the momentum he creates in your controller. Note that this same concept is integrated into weaponry as well. Depending on the size of your weapon, the recoil will either be greater or less, and, for accurate shots, this is essential to understand.
These small but important details don’t stop there. One of the most amazing things in KZ3 is the attention to detail of the areas that you will encounter in campaign mode. A nuclear ravaged city that has a thin coat of what would seem like toxic fog, an alien-like Helghan jungle covered in a humid dew, and even a freezing harsh arctic vista, all make you want to jump into your TV just to be able to say that you’ve been there.
All of these things and more make Killzone 3 more than just a game, but an experience. Best of all, the experience doesn’t end after campaign mode, there is so much more to this game. KZ3’s multiplayer is definitely the best in the series and ranks quite high in comparison to other shooters online. There is also a co-op campaign that will give you and your friend a chance to team up and take care of business. There is also a decent amount of trophies that can be earned by playing KZ3, some fun, some frustrating, and others will probably make you cry, but at the end of the day it when you hear that twinkle sound assuring you of your trophy, you will know it was all worth it.
All in all, KZ3 may not be a complete masterpiece, but it certainly doesn’t fall very far from it. It is fun, intense, exciting, and it will get your adrenaline pumping. So prepare yourself for the war that awaits you, welcome to Killzone 3, the beginning of madness.
| Killzone 3 | |
|---|---|
| Gameplay |    |
| Minor technical hiccups aside, KZ3 is Intense, engaging, and well paced. Brutal melee, and the ability to carry a heavy gun without sacrificing a primary weapon are welcome additions. | |
| Sound | |
| The score to Killzone 3 is very well put together and perfectly implemented into the game. The voice-overs are very well done, as are many of the sound effects encountered in the game. | |
| Graphics | |
| In terms of visuals, KZ3 sets a new standard. Map design is superb, as are the perfectly rendered characters. Much detail was given to the destructible environments, as well as how the AI is effected by varying projectiles. | |
| Controls | |
| Controls are smooth and maintain a good sense of physical momentum. Particular attention was paid to the weight behind the character’s movement, as well as to the recoil of different weapons. | |
| Overall | |
| Regardless of a weak story, Killzone 3 is still engaging and fun. Offering high replay value, a co-op campaign, and crisp visuals, Killzone 3 is a must buy for any PS3 owner. | |
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