14 DAY TRIAL // When the original Killzone was released, everyone, including Sony, called it a “Halo killer.” When the game was launched for the PlayStation 2, it received mixed reviews. It was certainly a good first person shooter that put the players in the combat boots of a series of International Strategic Alliance soldiers as they battled the Helghast, an offshoot of humanity who hated their cousins, on a distant planet. The game received a sequel on the PlayStation Portable, called Liberation, and fans and PlayStation 3 players are getting ready to welcome the release of Killzone 2.
Killzone 2 managed to translate into playable reality the beauty of the images we've seen at the various E3, as Sony kept players interested in the development of the title. This could be the best looking game ever on the PlayStation 3 and will set the bar for those to come. There's a clear commitment from Guerrilla Games to involve the player in the game, while striving to be more like a future version of Call of Duty than a clone of Gears of War, as far as objectives and the feel of the overall conflict go.
The Helghast are as tough as ever, popping up from cover, flanking players and using weapons in a competent manner. The developer also promises a huge final battle that will leave players gasping for air and a great multiplayer component aiming to make the game very popular on the PlayStation Network.
The people at Sony must be praying that they get this game right. The PS3 has not seen strong sales, especially in the crucial month of December 2008, but a jump in the first half of 2009 could make up for that. Still, Sony has done at least one wrong move related to Killzone 2, delivering the demo for North American players only if they are willing to pre-order the game or wait just before the official release. Considering how much Sony is betting on Killzone 2, it should have been more vocal in promoting the game and allowing players early access to the demo.
Considering all that, Killzone 2 has a lot going for it: it's launching in a relative dry period for videogames, so attention is guaranteed; it has an already known back-story that has its fans; it looks damn gorgeous. Get it on February 27.