Single-player Killzone 3 demo hits Feb. 15

Last week, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that the open multiplayer beta for Killzone 3 would run from February 2-14. For those craving more human-vs.-Helghast action before the game's February 22 debut, Sony and Dutch developer Guerrilla Games have a solution.

Starting February 15 in North America and February 16 in Europe, PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download a single-player demo of Killzone 3. The demo will be available one week earlier to PlayStation Plus subscribers and will be released in 3D and 2D versions, both of which will be PlayStation Move compatible.

The demo will feature a single level, Icy Incursion, which sees players return to the conflict between the human Interplanetary Strategic Alliance and the Nazi-like Helghast. As the title implies, the level will feature a wintry landscape on the planet Helghan, which players must negotiate with the help of jetpacks. Melee combat will also play a major role in the level.

Killzone 3 is a sequel to 2009's critically lauded Killzone 2. In the previous title, the ISA took the fight to the Helghan homeworld, where it achieved a measure of success against the future-fascist civilization that invaded the human colony of Vekta in the 2004 original. Now gamers will get the chance to pick back up with Sev, Rico, and the rest of their surviving squad, outgunned and outmanned by the Helghast as usual.

Killzone 3 will be available in two versions, a standard $60 release and a $130 limited-edition package with a replica mask and helmet of the series' signature Helghast armies. While the headgear is the centerpiece of the extra goodies, the collector's edition will also include a 6.5-inch articulated Cloaking Helghast Marksman action figure, an art book, and a voucher to download multiplayer maps, the game's soundtrack, and more.

For more on Killzone 3, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.