Single Player Review
Upon completion, all i can say is... Wow. This game really is a masterpiece of epic proportions. If you ever thought this game was too hyped, then you are wrong!
Where to start? The story is something that you'd expect from this type of game. You play a sergeant of A company and you are bringing to war back to the Helgasts and to try and stop this conflict once and for all. I never played Killzone 1, but the story was explained well enough that i didn't have to.
The controls are very tight and fluid, and also suprisingly realistic. You constantly feel like your are held down by a lot of weight from your armour and weapons, and it shows as you try to fling yourself desperately behind cover. Oh yes, the cover system! I thought it was brilliant and something i havent seen before really in a FPS. you hold R2 to crouch in the game, but it also sticks you to a wall or piece of cover if you need it. This is very effective because you can't actually see over the cover when crouched behind it, so you're forced to risk health to peek over and try to take some blind shots to pin down the enemies.
The Ai is ruthless. I played through the campaign on Mediumish difficulty and i died MANY times. The enemies come in very large packs and take an awful lot of lead to kill. Theres also several times where you've knocked or shot down a Helgast and he's actually got back up once you've let your guard down. They flank you at every oppurtunity, throw grenades, stay behind cover for aaages and will even run at you in attempt to knock you down. You will be tested and on your toes from beginning to end.
Now the one many people ask me about... the graphics, and yes they are spectacular. This is probably the best looking console game i've ever seen and theres many moments where i've stood still for a moment just to admire the scene. The artistic style is almost more impressive than the graphical. Helgan is a horrible murky place. The sky brews storms and clouds gloom over the entire game, you'll run around and notice the wind howling and it just looks so amazing. The lighting aswell is also brilliant, as now and then you'll see rays of sunshine peek through the black clowds, and the torch and lamp effects are also something to admire. They even paid attention to very small things such as the pool of blood continously flowing from a dead helgans body, and even the sparks that bounce from metal sheets as you shoot them. It's a graphical masterpiece, with production values higher than Gears Of War 2.
The sound is just as impressive. Think back to the Call Of Duty games, only better. The sound of war has never been so disturbing as you'll run frantically for life, with explosions and bullets coming from all angles, you're team mates shouting orders and mocking the Helgasts, and even the Helgasts desperate screams for life as you fill their bodies with lead. If i had surround sound i would have an eargasm from beginning to end.
My only complaint really is that it ended, and quite quickly i might add. You'll probably get through the game in 6-7 hours, although it's a heck of a rollercoaster. The trophies are addictive and they'll add some replay value as you go through the campaign again in hope of getting the 'Kill 1500 Helgasts' trophy. But of course we know that the real replay value with Killzone 2 is with the online, and i've been on it for about an hour now. Expect a review for the multiplayer in a week or so.
In a nutshell, get this game. This is the second game to truly show the potential of the PS3 (uncharted was first), and the campaign whilst short, will leave you breathless and entertained from beginning to end. An amazing game that i can't recommend enough.