Killzone 3 PS3 Review

Killzone has been a series that has never really reached the glory that its mass marketing has tried to demonstrate it as. When the original Killzone game was released, it was touted as a Halo killer when it first debuted back on the Sony Playstation 2. The game was a total flop due to frame rate issues, poor story, and bad controls. When Killzone 2 was announced for the Sony Playstation 3, again, the marketing was through the roof, showcasing gameplay that was supposed to be superior to any FPS game before it. Unfortunately, Killzone 2 was also a sub-par game. The story was still a convoluted mess that left gaping holes in the plot and background information on the Helghast and the war that was being waged. The game loaded from the Blu-Ray disc and lagged like hell instead of installing to the hard drive. The multiplayer was also a disaster, with player movement slowed to a crawl as if the characters were carrying elephants on their backs. Here we are in 2011, with the supposed conclusion to the series in Killzone 3. Killzone 3 rectifies multiplayer gameplay issues that plagued the previous game, but fails to deliver a solid single player campaign.

Killzone 3 takes place right after the events of Killzone 2 where Visari was killed by ISA soldier Rico Velasquez. The Helghast are hellbent on revenge, and the player is thrust into varying situations from foot soldier, to managing a mech, to flight. The single player campaign loads from the Blu-Ray disc, with no option for hard drive install, but actually runs without any lag this time around. There is also an option to play Co-op split-screen through the campaign as well. The single player campaign is very short and the ending leaves it open for the obvious sequel to a game that much like Gears of War, has a horrible storyline that could have been written by first-graders. Killzone 3 supports 3DTV and the Playstation Move controller, but it is not necessary to play the game.

Multiplayer is where Killzone 3 shines though. Players can create clans, view statistics, and manage character weapon and ability unlocks. Players can also either play bot matches for practice, or online battles through three game modes. Guerrilla Warfare is basically a team deathmatch game with five maps to choose from. Warzone is an objective based game mode that pits teams against each other to achieve mission objectives, with six maps to choose from. Operations is a game mode that pits opposing teams to capture control points, with three maps to choose from.

There are five character classes to choose from, including Engineer, Marksmen, Tactician, Infiltrator, and Field Medic. Each class has its own two unique abilities and weapons available for use. Engineers can repair turrets, ammo dispensers, etc. They can also launch a sentry turret. Marksmen can cloak themselves or scramble enemy radar. Tacticians can capture enemy spawn areas which allow allies to spawn from the newly captured area or reveal enemies on the radar. Infiltrators can disguise themselves as the enemy or increase their stamina and speed while sprinting. Field Medics can revive downed allies or regenerate health on themselves and nearby allies. Each ability has three levels of upgrades

Killzone 3 has a myriad of weapons to choose from and unlock. Players have one primary and one secondary weapon for each class, with three weapons to choose from for both primary and secondary. Players are split by six regions in order to keep the lag down to a minimum. Also, matches allow for a maximum of 16 players, which keeps the gameplay interesting, but not overly crowded.

Killzone 3 is a remarkable multiplayer experience that balances gameplay enough, that no one class seems overpowered, or weak. The developers have gone with “less means more”, in terms of gameplay, whereas games such as Call of Duty, have a ton of ability perks that create an imbalance in the game and a feeling that only top level players can succeed. Killzone 3 creates a balance where anyone no matter ranking can still battle each other on a level playing field. The single player campaign is a bust, as the game is too short and the ending is just plain garbage. Fortunately, the multiplayer make up for it and honestly, who really plays Killzone for the story? There is already a DLC map pack with two retro maps called Salamun Market and Blood Gracht on the Playstation Store, which honestly is a rip-off and should have been included in the game. All in all, for those looking for a multiplayer game to kill time, Killzone 3 does not disappoint. For those looking for a solid single player game, Killzone 3 is definitely an improvement over its predecessors, but the length and the ending take away from the overall experience.