Killzone is still breathtaking, but a 4-hour campaign and a lack of anything new make this a disappointing follow up.
That's not to say that Killzone 3 isn't a great shooter in its own right. To glance solely at its own merits and what it attempts to do, makes this a very impressive shooter. Guerilla didn't take anything away from what made the last game successful. You've still got some of the best AI in the business (on both sides of the fight), the visual design remains impeccable (Helghan is explored in a much more organic way), and the general feel of the action is still unique and still feels like Killzone.
The story picks up immediately after the events of Killzone 2, with the Helghan emperor Scolar Visari having been killed by Rico Velasquez, and a gigantar fleet of Helghast looming in the skies. Sooner than later, the ISA abandons all ground troops on Helghan, leaving them the fight for themselves and pray for extraction one day.
Unfortunately, that's about where the cohesion ends. Killzone 3's narrative still carries impressive character designs and the cutscenes are well choreographed, but there are characters being introduced left and right without any real depth to their presence. The band of brothers camaraderie felt throughout Killzone 2 becomes somehow lost, even though the situations carry potential for some of the most intense moments in the history of the series. Ultimately, what we're left with in terms of a story in Killzone 3 is a bit of a mess. The plot jumps around different timelines without any real explanation, characters fall flat (even Sev), and it's even unclear about who the main bad guy is and exactly why you're going after him. Despite some cool moments and some witty one liners, Killzone 3's story is a massive disappointment, with an ending absolutely destined to upset fans of the series.
The gameplay remains largely unchanged, which is a very good thing, because Killzone, since making the leap to Ps3, has been one of the most stunning first person shooters around. Each firefight definitely has the chance to jaw drop, because enemy AI is so impressive, the weapon design has some nice kick to it, and level designs have a lot of vertical depth, creating room for a lot of improvisation. Several battles have a very organic feeling. If you haven't played Killzone 2, the weighty feel may be a bit difficult to grasp early on, but it is worth noting Killzone 3 provides much more sensitivity when aiming your weapon.
As a sequel, the game takes a stab at variety, and although much of it isn't very memorable, there are a few standouts which give Killzone 3 its own identity. In one level, Sev dons a jetpack with a mounted turret, perfect for absolutely obliterating anybody in the crosshairs. Another level features some quiet stealth in the Helghan jungle, with throat slitting being given its own spotlight. Turret and on-rails sections are given a bit more frequency than previously seen in the series, and they do well to shake things up and keep things from getting stale.
However, if Killzone 3 were to ever feel stale, it would not be worth playing at all, seeing as the campaign clocks in at around exactly the four hour mark when the screen fades to black and the end credits roll. I have to give Guerilla credit for their credit songs. It was sweet in Killzone 2 and the new tune accompanying high level executives at the Dutch studio is just as impressive. Did I mention the game is four hours? It truly feels downright criminal.
The game has a sweet pace throughout, but it feels almost unfinished near the end. I won't spoil some of the greatest moments in the campaign for you, as I feel like they're worth experiencing for themselves, but it feels as if much of the game is missing. There's a lot more potential than what actually made it into the final design of the game. It's a trend shooters seem to be taking in recent history, but four hours just doesn't cut it. I don't want to be a gamer if it ever does.
The excellent multiplayer returns with some nifty changes. The changes don't come in the way of gameplay aside from a few maps in which there are jetpacks available (which are perfectly frustrating if you're not controlling one), but rather, they're in the design of the mode in general. Everything is a lot more streamlined and accessible than in Killzone 2. While some clan generals and hardcore veterans may look down upon this, I find it truly works in the game's favour. Each class is available right from the start, and as gamers level up, unlock points are awarded which can be used for new upgrades and skills, such as new weapons for a specific class. There is a diminished sense of progression in Killzone 3's multiplayer, but as a whole, the additions work well, even if they're just to the structure and not to the gameplay. The map design isn't nearly as impressive as what was found in Killzone 2, but there is still enough variety and vertical depth which keeps things fresh.
Visually, Killzone 3 isn't as huge a leap as the previous game was from the first game, but it is still one of the best looking games on Ps3. Slanting away from the grey and green urban decay of Helghan cities, Killzone 3 gives gamers a glance at everything Helghan has to offer, from the extremely colourful jungle with twisted plantlife, to the planet's equivalent of a winter wonderland, the visual variety found certainly makes this the best looking game in the series. The soundtrack isn't quite as impressive as it was in the last outing, but the score still does a great job at filling in those powerful moments appropriately.
Unfortunately, the game doesn't appear to have the same level of polish as one would hope for. Many times I discovered visual glitches such as dead soldiers clipping through objects, or dead soldiers being stuck in certain animations. Perhaps the most frustrating glitch of all has to do with the game's sound, which can lag so poorly at times where it becomes necessary to restart the game altogether.
At the end of the day, Killzone 3 doesn't even touch the success of its predecessor. It's just as fun, and just as gorgeous, and there are some great moments which I can't explain without spoiling too much. Playing it safe is not a bad thing, but there is a lot more Guerilla could have done. This game had the potential to be even greater than the one which came before it. Instead, it makes incremental additions and changes, but it's also four hours long and lacks the polish one would expect from this development team. If Guerilla wishes to be included among the industry's best, they'll need to go all out when they have a game with such potential. Killzone 3 is in no way a bad game. In fact, it's quite great. It's extremely impressive, actually. It's just difficult to outright recommend a game which ends when it's just getting started.