Killzone 2 follows the war between two factions, the ISA and the Helghast. Up until Killzone 2, most of the action has taken place on the ISA world of Vekta. But in a Quake-like move, with Killzone 2, the ISA has decided that enough is enough and have taken the fight to the industrialized world of Emperor Visari and Helghan.
It is into this setting that players are plunked and right from the get-go, you will feel the intensity, be drawn in by the harshness of the environments , which are destructible to some degree, and feel totally immersed in the action of the game.
You start the game as a member of a four-man team, dropped into a hot zone and working along a linear path, from point to point.
There are eight maps, a robust multiplayer element, and customization features that will enable players to define not only the role they play in the conflict, but how that role plays out. There are seven different classes: rifleman, scout (can stealth), medic, engineer (can set up automated turrets), tactician (can set up spawn points in multiplayer), saboteur and assault (ready to get up close with the enemy).
In many regards, Killzone 2 trots the well-tread path of other shooters. You start out with a weapon, are thrust into the heart of the conflict, the opening level takes place in what appears to be a water-side factory complex with your shooting skill and wits to sustain you. There are objectives, and in the single-player campaign, NPC teammates that will help ease you along the path you need to take. The NPCs in this game are not dumb. The enemy will use cover, will lean out to shoot, and seem to coordinate attacks.
You start out with a weapon that will run out of ammo. You need to scrounge up new weaponry from the enemies you take out. Yep, pretty standard there, but weapons, and how they are used depend largely on the class of the character you are.
The game begins with the landing on Helghan, and the game sets the tempo right from the cut scene onset. Riding a lander to the planet, you see another lander blown out of the sky. That pops the intensity level and will have you landing and finding cover in a hurry. Helghast troops are on platforms with crossing fire on the invading forces. Particle effects are amazing, and the explosions are very well done. Snipe an enemy from a platform and you will be treated to a rag-doll physics that is not as silly as some games, but treads more toward reality. The body will fall, hit protrusions on the structure, be redirected and land with a sickening thud. As visceral as the graphics are, the audio supplements that with a great sense of urgency. Orders are barked, and the sound pouring out of the system borders on chaos, but really reflects the battle scene well.
The campaign is strictly single player, but you work as part of a team, with an AI that is rather well done. The team you are part of will take cover, give support and generally take up positions that are smart. The enemy will also use cover and not charge at you as though they are bulletproof. Different tactics are used depending on the type of soldier you are facing.
The control scheme for the game is well done. The SIXAXIS motion controls come into play for certain in-game actions and these feel natural rather than a forced usage of the scheme. You can carry a primary weapon, and a secondary weapon. You can snipe, and even melee with your rifle. There are also grenades available. However, your grenades and primary weapon ammunition are finite and you have to replace them or restock.
In addition to the single-player game, there is a Skirmish mode that allows players to enter the multiplayer settings offline against bots. There is a great selection of maps to play on (eight total), though the formats for the multiplayer follow familiar themes, there is a team deathmatch called Body Count, a Search and Retrieve (Capture the Flag) and a game where you grab control points and try to hold them. As you progress through the multiplayer, you can achieve ranks and move up from private status. This is all based on kills and multipliers that come into play if you are on the winning side at the end of the multiplayer session. There are also rewards that can be unlocked and trophies.
Back to the sound for a moment, the top characters are voiced decently, but this does not extend down the road to the lesser characters. Though not a detraction, a better job could have been done. And the menu graphics use a technique that is very irritating in that the lettering (on the review code received) jumps and separates out into staggered red and black letters overlaid with a bit of a blur, almost like 3D but not as well done. This can play havoc with eyesight, especially if your vision is not where it once was.
That aside, though, Killzone 2 is an incredibly romp into a franchise that is intense and graphically pleasing. This is a challenging and entertaining game that plays off a decent storyline and presents several degrees of difficulty that will enthrall and challenge players.
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