Killzone 2 Multiplayer Beta Impressions

by: Chuck - posted: 12/5/2008 8:41:00 AM

Ummm...wow.  Those were the first words out of my mouth once I finally got into a Killzone 2 match.  It took a while as there are some glitches when you try to get into a game but I think that's probably why they called it a beta.  Guerrilla Games has a significant amount of pressure on them to deliver the next level of graphic fidelity and from what I've seen so far they are delivering.  They aren't at the same level as the infamous target render footage from a few years back but they are pretty damn close.

The multiplayer beta features three levels, an academy with is mostly close combat and a few open areas, a marketplace which provides a lot of open space for larger battles, and a city area which is mostly tight spaces mixed with a few wide corridors.  The decor of the levels is destroyed world chic as all they all feature battle scarred areas in various stages of destruction.  The levels are well designed and intricate enough that you'll continually find new areas and new ways to get from point A to B.  There are a few dead ends that are a little frustrating when you first come across them but you can later use that knowledge to run n00bs into. 

The levels are absolutely beautiful though and you will spend some time soaking in their splendor.  The marketplace level is especially well done as there's a good deal of combat going on around you which really ups the immersion factor of the game.  I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more destructible terrain in the level but that's from me being spoiled by Battlefield:Bad Company.  The rest of the graphics are mesmerizing as the folks at Guerilla have done a fantastic job of creating a highly detailed, highly believable world.

Looks are great but game play is king and Killzone 2 delivers here as well.  The game does take some getting used to as the pacing is a bit slower than most shooters.  Killzone 2 is a bit slower paced and a bit more methodical.  That's not to say that you won't die quickly but don't expect to be buzzing around a lot as the Helghast and ISA troopers aren't going to be winning land speed records any time soon. For the first time in a long time I actually felt like I was a wearing a full set of battle armor as the characters move around as if they had some heft.  It does take some getting used to but it does help bring you further into the game.

The really unique point for the game is the play modes. As you play through a map the game will rotate play modes which makes things a bit more interesting as you have to pay attention.  You'll go from straight kills (Bodycount) to trying to take out one member of the opposing team (Assassination) to defending and trying to take parts of the map.  It takes a bit of getting used to (and you have to pay attention) but it really helps to change the pacing of the game up a bit.  It's also one of those "Why didn't anyone think of this sooner" type of things as it seems obvious now that it's been done so well.  You can limit the gameplay of a map to just one of the modes if you are so inclined but after playing the rotating mode (Warzone) it feels a bit boring to keep doing the same thing over and over again.

The uses the rank and points system that Battlefield 2 started and Call of Duty 4 perfected.  At the start of the game you pick a class and a squad (you can switch later when you re-spawn).  Don't expect to be leaping through the ranks though as career progression is fairly slow.  In the six or so hours I played the beta I only managed to progress through the first two ranks with a bit to go before I got to the third.  I'm not sure if Guerrilla is going to be tweaking this or not but I'm hoping they increase the promotion progress a bit as you don't start out with just the base gear and this does create a bit of chasm between the hardcore players and the more casual players. 

It took me a while to "get" the game as I played it between Resistance 2 sessions.  It's a bit of a different shooter and that's certainly a good thing but once you get the maps and the pacing down the game starts sinks it's hooks into you hard.  I'm hoping the career progression gets a bit of an adjustment before the game is released and that the network code to connect to a game gets tweaked a bit other than that that game delivers the goods.  I'm interested to see what the vehicles and upper level classes add to the game but from what I saw out of the beta I was fairly impressed and I think Sony may have another killer game in their lineup when Killzone 2 hits in February.