If you love FPS, then this game is a total romp.
The action is set three hundred years in the future. The ISA (good guys) are once again fighting the Helghast. (Mutant fascists with glowing orange eyes.) This time, they're taking the fight to them; on the murky world of Helghan.
Players take control of Sev. He's the leader of Alpha team; a ragtag bunch consisting of Rico, Garza and Natko. From the sidelines, Evelyn provides helpful radio support. For the most part, Rico will be your team mate; offering wisecracks and cover fire throughout.
The plot is pretty thin, but makes up for it in terms of sheer entertainment. Overall, this game delivers on several counts:
VISUALS:
The graphics are exquisite, with heavily textured levels and atmospheric lighting. Fierce electrical storms loom overhead, alien bugs crawl at your feet, and enemy flags flutter in the wind. Each level thrusts you into this foreboding world, with a real 'you are there' quality.
Helghan isn't exactly in the holiday brochure, unless, a heavily industrialised world is your dream destination. Battered sofa chairs, cardboard and toilet paper are but a few things, which clutter the urban area alone
Whether it's decrepit streets, factories or desert outposts, there's a real post apocalyptic vibe to the game's setting. Other levels see you on the roof of a speeding train, or the decks of an ISA battleship. The variety of locations means that the action never feels stale or repetitive.
The main characters look average in this hyper realistic universe. Weapons are subtle in their design, and not overly sci-fi. Assault rifles fire bullets rather than laser beams. The weapons are grounded in our reality, with the exception of the electricity gun. Outfits looks stylised yet practical; and not over the top. There's a sense that these uniforms and weapons could exist in our world.
GAMEPLAY:
A host of different weapons are available to pick up. These include an electricity gun, shotguns, sniper rifles, RPG's, assault rifles and a trusty knife. The only downside is that players are reduced to carrying two weapons at any given time. Despite the limit, it's still possible to get the full use out of each one. The electricity gun packs a cheeky, thrilltastic punch!
At key points, the player takes control of different military vehicles. Commandeering a mech suit or gun turret makes for a satisfying change of pace to the running battle.
When the player is caught up in standard combat, it feels like you're in the thick of the action. Blood spatter peppers your vision, weapons feel dense, helmets pop, and sparks fly off metallic surfaces. This ultra realistic presentation carries over to the multiplayer experience as well.
The Helghan troops are relentless in their assault. They behave intelligently, ducking behind cover and flank your position. Mostly, you'll be gunning down the same class of soldier, but others appear every now and then. There are different ranks; each one requiring a different approach. Some attack from the air, others use melee tactics, or hide behind the comfort of thick armour. Either way, the enemy comes at you in waves, and definitely know how to put up a fight.
Another in game feature includes the healing of fellow team mates. This adds another layer of tension to the combat experience. One zap from a portable defibrillator, and your buddies are trigger happy again. The only niggle is that this 'perk' isn't available to Sev if he's tagged by gunfire.
Other sections require Sev to turn valves. This utilises the six axis controller in a clever way, albeit in small amounts. The menu screens also take advantage of it, with the ability to rotate holographic style cards back and forth.
Once the game is finished, the replay value is pretty high. Shimmering emblems are hidden in the main story mode, making it fun to collect them all.
If you love FPS, then this game is a total romp, with cinematic presentation, intense action and wily foes. If you're new to the Killzone franchise, it's still possible to enjoy these characters and their adventure.
Either way, get ready for one heckuvah a ride!