GameGirl

Killzone 2, the highly anticipated Playstation 3 exclusive, has finally made its way into the hands of gamers. So far it is one of the fastest selling exclusives for the Playstation 3 and its pre-orders surpassed big titles such as Little Big Planet and Resistance 2. Before its release the game was hyped by expectations of grandeur as well as talk of saving the Playstation 3 from certain death. No, not one game could turn the tide for the waning interest in the PS3, but it could push it in that direction. Killzone 2 didn't bring anything new to the table as far as first-person shooters go. They did however, set a new standard for the genre.

**May include some spoilers**

As far as story goes, many people did not play Killzone for the PS2. Fortunately, it is not completely necessary for you to enjoy Killzone 2's campaign. However, if you want to follow the story closely, Killzone 2 provides little to no background as to what happened in Killzone. So you will have to do a little reading but with a quick internet search you can be caught up in minutes. In this science fiction shooter you find yourself in the midst of a full on war between the Helghast and Interplanetary Strategic Alliance,aka ISA, with a goal of capturing Scolar Visari, leader of the Helghast. The story takes place two years after the invasion of the ISA controlled colony of Vekta, by the Helghast. This leads the ISA to bring the war straight to the Helghast on their home planet. You assume the role of Sergeant Sevchenko, aka Sev, as you battle through the various areas of the planet toward Visari Palace. You will be accompanied by other characters such as, Garza and Rico, from Alpha squad for the majority of the game.

As the story progresses you find that the Helghan resistance is more organized and difficult than the ISA had imagined. Sev and the gang battle towards their goal, but not without major obstacles. Which come from not only from the Helghast but from disagreements between the hard-headed Rico and Sev and severe losses for the ISA. These events will ultimately foreshadow the fate of the entire operation. Upon reaching Visari Palace the only way to Scolar Visari is through Colonel Radec, who is waiting... and full of surprises.

The campaign overall has some really epic moments as well as frustrating ones. It will keep you wondering what’s next though, all the way until the end. Not only will you feel somewhat invested in the story but with the brief conflict between the squad. It is not an extraordinary story by any means but typical of science fiction, that strongly reminds you of Nazi Germany. You may find yourself running through the campaign mode more than once to collect all the intel, Helghast symbols, as well as particular Trophies.

Killzone 2's controls and gameplay are very unique and unlike anything out this generation. It introduces a new covers system that adds difficulty to the game but can be very annoying at times. On the higher difficulties you will rely heavily on cover if not completely, because "running and gunning" will be near impossible. The default controls take some getting used to but can easily be changed to your liking. The movement and weight of the controls are awkward at first but it adds a very realistic appeal to the gameplay which I learned to appreciate. As for weapons, there is a good variety to choose from, with the exception of the first chapter. There is a weapon for everyone, whether you enjoy cover and sniping or epic kills with, what became my favorite, the bolt gun. The only real complaints with the gamplay that I had were the Ally AI and lack of enemy targeting. The enemy AI does a great job of anticipating your moves and makes the gameplay challenging and enjoyable. The friendly AI though, tends to get in the way and cause more harm than good.

Graphically, Killzone 2 is at the top of its game. There is no doubt that it is the best looking shooter out. Character models and maps are stunning down to the smallest of details. The cutscenes seem to flow right into the gameplay without an awful loading screen but can be laggy at times. Even the weapons and gore have such fine detail that makes it even more visually appealing. Weather and terrian are far more realistic and noticeable due to such attention to detail. The most notable and awe inspiring scene in the game is the game's opening with Scolar Visari. Visually Killzone 2 is simply amazing!

Laslty, Killzone 2's multiplayer is living up to expectations and proving to be quite addictive. You can play as ISA or Helghast and must achieve rank in order to unlock different weapons and each of the seven class types. The multiplayer goals are more complex and beyond just killing the most opponants. You have five different missions that you will be given to complete. You will be awarded match points for every goal you complete and the winner will be decided by the most match points. The multiplayer is extremely enjoyable and addictive due to the variety and teamwork involved. The multiplayer maps provided are great as well. They are large, full of cover, and complex. This leaves every game feeling fresh and not repetitive.

Overall, Killzone 2 is a very solid and great shooter. It may not be converting 360 fanboys anytime soon but it is easily the best shooter out right now. If you're a Playstation 3 owner and you've been hesistant to pick this title up, I highly recommend it. Not only is this game simply beautiful but the campaign is enjoyable and the killer multiplayer secures its definite replay value.

I don't find number scores an accurate reflection of a game so I tend to stick with buy, rent, or pass. It is safe to say that Killzone 2 is a definite buy!