I should preface this post by stating there are no spoilers in this post; it’s safe to read.
I played through the Killzone 3 campaign over the weekend since Sony was nice enough to send me a copy early and I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences from the game with you. I should note that SG already has a Killzone 3 review. What you’re getting here are my general impressions which do differ in some cases with MightyMutt’s impressions.
I played on the default skill level using a DualShock 3 controller on a standard 2D 52″ LCD screen in 5.1 surround. The graphics of the game further inch up the “best yet” scale on any console game I’ve played on any platform. The sound quality and spacial mixing are very well done from booming explosions to randomly placed shrapnel clanks and ambient effects; the sound of the battlefield is immersive and well done. The music is fitting as well, from the sadness-inducing intro music, to the orchestral pieces during the game, to the jarring industrial-techno mix during the credits, everything seemed to fit well.
A lot of controversy surrounded Killzone 2, primarily for its “weighty” controls. I got used to them pretty quickly. Killzone 3′s feel, as most of you know through the beta and demo, is quite good. The only adjustments I made to the controls were to use the “Alternate” control scheme.
One thing I loved about my time with Killzone 3 is that it caters to gamers like me. I jokingly refer to myself as having the slightest bit of early onset Alzheimer’s (no offense intended) but in reality, I just really like games where you don’t have to file away every single bit of minute detail and various mission objectives. I know it might be seen by the hard core gamer as hand-holding, but when I’m busy shooting Helghast, the last thing in the world I want to do is pay attention while Narville barks orders at me.
I’ve heard a fair share of groaning about the game being dumbed down or linear. A linear story is typical of most FPS campaigns. To me the game was NOT dumbed down at all. It was an enjoyable experience as directed by the folks at Guerrilla Games. It’s how they intended it to be. It was a great mix of summer popcorn movie and over the top shooter. It wasn’t especially cerebral, but it was very visceral.
I’ve read a lot of criticism of Killzone 3′s “absurd” story, ironic being that it’s of the science fiction genre. It takes a pretty liberal storyline to tie together all of these kickass weaponry, battles, and set pieces.
Were some of the characters cliche or over the top? Absolutely. Who cares?
If you like shooters and you like eye candy, there’s really no reason you shouldn’t be on your way to pick up this game. It’s a must-own for the PlayStation 3. Judging from the multiplayer, this game’s going to be played for a long time. Guerilla Games’ inclusion of bots in the multiplayer has given me a much appreciated ability to play around with the different classes and weapons without tarnishing my online stats. (I tend to get obliterated by people that play the game 18+ hours a day)
I’ll definitely be talking a lot more about my experiences with Killzone 3 on the next episode of The Blu Show with Frawlz and PacmanPolarbear, where I also plan to share my thoughts on the Sharp Shooter and PS Move.
|
Related posts: |