(single player, veteran difficulty)
Killzone 2 may be the most improved sequel I have ever seen, by itself it is an amazing game but once you take a look back at what it it used to be you'll see that Guerrilla Games pulled out all the stops to correct their past mistakes. Everything has been revamped to allow you to truly experience the intensity of future war; Killzone promised it but Killzone 2 delivered through it's killer AI, intense battles, gorgeous visuals, tight controls, varied/intricate maps, crisp sound. good implementation of lore, and slightly better story/characters.
The first thing you will notice about Killzone 2 is it's beautiful scenery and impeccably crafted maps, but this awe will be fleeting for as soon as you land on Helghan you'll be eyeing the map for ways to fend off the hordes of Helghast instead of sightseeing. Even your strategic appraisals will need to be smart and swift because the blood thirsty and intelligent A.I. will be gunning at you and your comrades with everything they got and with every second they can spare without every really putting themselves at risk. Though you take the role of an exceptional trooper the game does not spare you the harsh reality of modern combat, you're just one of millions of troopers and if you do not play it smart and stay efficiently aggressive chances are you won't make it, and even if you perform perfectly shit still happens and your life will put to an end in an instant due to the cruelest of luck. The only comforts you'll find in the relentless stress of combat are the sound and touch of your varied weapons and the momentary relief of a completed objective.
The original Killzone presented us an awesome and unique setting but did little to immerse the gamer into its world, but 2 resolves this by educating you about and familiarizing you with its bleak but exciting world and makes the whole experience bearable with a decent story. Still the head Helghast are the only intriguing characters but thankfully the ISA marines are a good bit less cliche in their persona's and dialogue, unfortunately though for reasons well beyond be Guerrilla decided to reinstate Rico and even give him a bigger role; Rico is an abomination and should be struck from the history book of video games, I have never wanted to sew the mouth shut of a character so badly in all my years of gaming. The plot is nothing jaw dropping but is still okay to good and will keep you mildly interested throughout the campaign. The biggest tools of the plot though are the sights, sounds, and emotions of the Helghan invasion. The combat allows you to feel the raw desperation, anxiety, sorrow, fear, and hatred of the conflict, and the in-fight chatter lets you really feel the complete disgust each side has for one another; this becomes infectious and makes every kill thrilling because your relieved you came out alive and that you could exact vengeance on the people who have and continue to pain so much.
Killzone 2 is a arduous and thrilling experience that'll keep every hair on your body standing straight up all the way through your journey, but a less than riveting plot and some flawed characters and dialogue pieces keep it from being perfect.