Killzone E3 2004 Preshow Impressions

While PC fans look forward to Doom 3 and Half-Life 2, and Xbox fans await Halo 2, PlayStation 2 owners have been patiently waiting for a first-person shooter called Killzone. The game is a squad-based FPS set in a sci-fi future where humanity has successfully colonized several planets. You'll be able to choose from four different characters as you make your way through the game's single-player campaign.

The game's story revolves around a conflict between two factions, called the ISA and the Helghast. While most human colonies have joined together with the ISA, the militaristic Helghast have become more and more isolated. The game will begin with the Helghast invading the ISA colony of Vecta, after having disabled the colony's planetary defenses. You'll start as an ISA trooper who's attempting to escort a high-ranking leader safely to an evacuation vessel in the midst of the Helghast invasion.

Killzone will include 21 different weapons that can be carried by the player, as well as hand grenades. Five additional types of weapon emplacements will also be available for use as you encounter them. There will be 11 different environments to explore, ranging from trench warfare-style maps, inspired by World War I; to brutal city sieges and house-to-house fighting, modeled after World War II; to guerilla warfare-style engagements, inspired by the Vietnam War.

Aside from the single-player campaign, Killzone will ship with online multiplayer support for up to 12 players, with both team-based and standard multiplayer modes. USB headsets will be supported for voice chat, which will be useful for those teams that try to coordinate strategy.

Currently, Killzone is slated to ship in late 2004 for the PlayStation 2. Stay tuned to GameSpot throughout E3, as we'll have more information on this promising FPS game from the show floor.