Game Review: Killzone 3

Jeff Rider

Even before the infamous teaser trailer for "Killzone 2" was unveiled at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, many PlayStation 3 fans had placed the label of "'Halo' killer" on Guerrilla Games' console-exclusive first-person shooter series.

Unfortunately, when the game finally arrived in early 2009, it failed to live up to the considerable hype created by that E3 video. "Killzone 2" was a solid effort to be sure, but wasn't on the level of Bungie's Xbox 360-exclusive behemoth.

Now two years later, Guerrilla Games is ready to return to Helghan with "Killzone 3." And while it has taken longer than expected, PlayStation 3 owners can rejoice in knowing their "'Halo' killer" has arrived. "Killzone 3" is the real deal.

The campaign in "Killzone 3" picks up right where "Killzone 2" left off. Gamers again climb into the army boots of Sev Sevchenko, a soldier in the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance, which is locked in a war against the Helghast army. But after his ISA unit is left stranded on Helghan, Sev and his comrades must fight to stay alive against both powerful enemy forces and the unknown dangers that lurk on the Helghast home world.

The story can become a little convoluted as it jumps around in the timeline, but the lengthy cutscenes that break up the action are excellent and give "Killzone 3" a cinematic feel that most first-person shooters aim for but rarely hit. Even if you aren't a fan of the narrative, it serves its purpose by taking Sev to the far reaches of Helghan and throwing him into a wide variety of scenarios. One minute, you're fighting alongside your fellow ISA troops in a crumbled city. The next, you're sneaking through caves and hiding in the shadows to stealthily eliminate Helghast troops. The next, you're manning a powerful mech and laying waste to enemy tanks and troops with volleys of rockets and machine-gun fire.

As much as I liked the campaign, the real gem in "Killzone 3" is its online multiplayer. Whether it was fighting it out in team deathmatch or trying to emerge victorious in one of the many objective-driven games, I loved every minute. Maps are huge and well-designed, offering a number of ways to get from Point A to Point B. A new leveling system allows you to unlock abilities as you rack-up experience points, and the different classes and their specific skills give an added layer of strategy to team-based games. I especially liked the engineer's ability to craft turrets, which comes in handy during objective-based games.

"Killzone 3" also features local co-op play in the campaign mode and the ability to set up multiplayer matches using AI bots, which is a great tool to help gamers learn the maps and hone their skills.

Regardless of which mode you're playing, "Killzone 3" delivers a top-notch FPS experience. The controls are tight, the cover system works flawlessly (diving into cover looks unbelievably cool), guns have a nice weight to them ... everything just feels right. I haven't had this much fun with a first-person shooter since the original "Modern Warfare."

As good as "Killzone 3" plays, it looks even better. Each of the amazingly varied environments on Helghan are sights to behold, especially the ones that take you away from the urban locales. Colors pop off the screen, and the shading and lighting are a testament to the power of the PS3. Animations are likewise stunning. Everything from reloading your gun to watching a dispatched sniper fall to the ground from his perch in a second-story window looks completely realistic. The outstanding audio presentation deserves mention, as well.

The PlayStation 3 library is filled with first-party exclusives that make non-PS3 owners green with envy. The only thing missing was an epic first-person shooter. Consider that void filled. "Killzone 3" is among the best offerings on Sony's console and one of the best shooters on the market.

"Killzone 3"

Developer: Guerrilla Games

Publisher: SCEA

Available for: PlayStation 3 ($59.99)

Rating: M for mature

Score: 9.4/10

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