Game Review: Killzone 2

Aimee Green - Lincoln Journal-Star

Before I talk about "Killzone 2," one of PlayStation 3's biggest games of the year, a disclosure: Because my game came early, I was unable to try out the multiplayer. So this review is just for the single-player experience.

"Killzone 2," a first-person shooter, is the third in the series. The first was on PlayStation 2, while "Killzone: Liberation" was on the PlayStation Portable. While it always helps to have played the previous games, newcomers won't have any problem understanding what's going on.

"Killzone" is about a military force called the ISA, which is tired of being attacked by the terrible, scary-masked Helghast. So it takes the fight to the enemy's world of Helghan.

If you've played "Gears of War" on the Xbox 360,"Killzone 2" will feel familiar. It's the same idea: Tough men fighting through hostile, alien terrain.

While it's not an entirely original concept, I enjoyed "Killzone 2" because of its polish. The controls handle well, aiming and switching between weapons is simple, and you never get lost.

That is one of my favorite features: the objective arrow. The levels at times are cavernous and complex, but a simple press of the up button on the directional pad shows you where to go.

The game also has a cover system vital to surviving. You can't just run through levels; you're forced to hide behind walls and move carefully.

There's a nice, well done mix of firefights, boss fights and vehicle segments.

"Killzone 2" looks gorgeous, both in cutscenes and in-game, and the sound is fantastic. Your bullets actually damage the environment.

It's unfortunate there's no cooperative mode, but "Killzone 2" is still an exquisitely made shooter, and fans should not be disappointed.

Favorite moment: Discovering the bolt gun, which pins enemies to walls with bolts that are not only deadly on contact but explode a few seconds later. You know, just in case.

Biggest "Huh?" moment: Lead character Sev is made out to be taller than the others in cutscenes, but in the first-person view, he's about to their shoulders.

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