Killzone 2 Review (PS3)

I can still remember the first time I saw “the trailer” during E3 2005. A lot of changes have obviously been made since the earlier days of development, but the game probably looks just as good if not better than it did in that trailer. It really is amazing just how great this game is in the technical aspect, but, sadly, the game is slightly underwhelming when it comes to single-player. So the real question is how well does the multiplayer stack up to the competition and does it really merit $60 of your hard-earned dollars?

As stated earlier, Killzone 2 is one of the most impressive games I’ve ever seen graphically. Pushing boundaries to the next level, Killzone 2 enters a realm where only Metal Gear Solid 4 has been able to hold its own. I’m not quite sure if it passes Metal Gear, but it certainly meets the bar it set when it was released last year. The facial animations are great, character models are incredibly detailed and all of the environments look fantastic, however, that doesn’t mean the game is flawless graphically either. The explosions are incredibly disappointing and the environments get recycled way too much, but in the grand scheme of things these drawbacks mean very little when enjoying the game.

The game’s breathtaking graphics are also complemented by one of the best sound designs in a game to date. Killzone 2 features some very impressively scripted voice actors, which really helps add to the realism and chaotic pace that the game starts even from its opening video. The sound effects, with the exception of the lackluster grenade, are absolutely fantastic, and the score is one of the best I’ve heard in any form of entertainment. It seems like every time it was appropriate, the score would slowly come up adding a bit of meaning and intensity to whatever was going on. To be honest, the timing and preciseness of it reminded me of the scores from the Lord of the Rings series which are some of the best in the entire entertainment business.