Customer Reviews

Killzone 3

5 star:		(173)
4 star:		(88)
3 star:		(42)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've been a big fan of Killzone since it came out on the PS2. With each game the developer has taken slow but SOLID steps in creating a strong FPS game that refuses to pull its punches. Each installment improves upon the existing and Killzone 3 doesn't disappoint. The rumors of a short campaign, blotchy storyline, etc are very overblown. Not only does Killzone 3 deliver a solid, faster paced single player campaign than the previous installment, but the Multi-Player is some of the most addictive I've experienced.

GAMEPLAY - Single Player
If you played Killzone 2, better yet... the KZ3 SP demo you know what to expect. I actually found the controls of the final product smoother than the demo. There was more response to the aiming and I even had to turn down my sensitivity from what I had been playing the demo at. The campaign of the game easily spans about 6-8 hours or did so for me, which is far better than the 4-5 hrs some review sites were claiming. They either rushed through the game or played it on Easy (which is no fun, you feel like a god on Easy mode) Combat is fast yet smooth with the enemy AI being quite smart in how it combats you. You can see there was a very high polish put into the Helghast AI as they will consistently take cover, blind fire and work to create flanking setups on you. If you played through Killzone 2's campaign KZ3 has a similar setup to how it progresses(cutscene, tons of combat/action, cutscene... rinse and repeat) The gameplay gets changed up consistently. You can go from ground n' pound style to suddenly on a tank turret back to ground pounding then suddenly in a mech then flying a jetpack etc. There are some rail shooter events (clearly designed for the MOVE controller support) but they actually do a great job giving you a break from being a foot soldier. Overall, the single player campaign has quite a lot to offer with plenty of variety and embracing you in a true feeling of war.

Multiplayer - Not my strong point but the MP is actually enjoyable. If you played the KZ3 MP demo there isn't much that has changed other than new maps and some small improvements. The MP setup is the best Killzone has offered yet and might even give Call of Duty a run for its money on the PS3. While the MP might not be for everyone it is definitely worth checking out and has a lot of potential for some great competitive matches.

STORY/SOUND
Killzone is pretty much the story of the ISA and Helghast war. First Helghast invades the ISA, the ISA counter and Killzone 3 picks up right where Killzone 2 ends. Don't expect an award winning storyline here but it is present. Killzone 3 focuses this time on the ISA efforts to escape as well as the internal workings of the Helghast leaders. It provides more depth than the previous games while not being to overly chatty. Killzone 3 does a better job presenting the story than Killzone 2 did I feel, but it also brings to light the storyline is very weak. However, story was never really Killzone's main object. *** The Audio in KZ3 is fantastic. Guns sound powerful, AI units and Helghast enemies sound very life like. Ambient noise is incredible especially during firefights. You can tell they worked really hard polishing this game so that the audio effects help immerse you into the gameplay.

GRAPHICS
I don't even have to say much here. The graphics look amazing. While they aren't jaw dropping nor give you "awe factor" like sun sets and stuff; Killzone 3 uses its powerful graphic engine to give you a very realistic feel of the battle. Snow, water, fire, gun shots.. it all looks amazing and creates stunning environments. The only negative I could say about the graphics is that when you go to a cut-scene the character textures don't look nearly as good as the weapon and level textures. But, we all know we're playing Killzone 3 for the in game action not looking at how bad Sev needs a new haircut ^_^

REPLAY/LENGTH
As said earlier, for me the SP campaign on NORMAL clocked in at 6-8 hrs give or take. The campaign was a ton of fun and just like Killzone 2 I could see myself playing through it quite a few times to try for some trophies, or just to own some Helghast. What truely boosts the length and replay-ability of this game is the MP. I wasn't fond of KZ2's multiplayer so while KZ2 had lots of SP replay for me, it did lack that MP edge. KZ3 however comes to the table with all cylinders firing. While SP is def worth replaying, the MP is what is worth keeping this game within arms reach at all times. Even if you are not competitive(casual like me), the MP is fun with plenty of features to keep you occupied for some time.

OVERALL (91% 9.1/A-)
Killzone 3 didn't disappoint. It has been a long wait and well worth it. The MP is better than expected and the SP-campaign exceeded my expectations. I would give this game overall a 91% (9.1/10). The game fired on all cylinders and what small negatives I encountered were far from game breaking. The only real gripes I would take I found in the SP-campaign.
1. The ISA voice acting wasn't really that good. There was no sense of urgency in their voices and it just felt like they were reading lines (except for Rico, Sev and Jammer they had some great voice acting, as did the Helghast)
2. Sometimes the Objective marker would simply bug out. When I would try to tag where I had to go nothing would appear and my objectives menu would be empty (but I clearly had to destroy 2 more tanks or set a door charge somewhere). Minor annoyance
3. Melee damaged doors to open them oddly, I would Melee the door and about a second later it would explode. Weird lag, only was happening on the interactive doors you could break.

Outside of those 3 issues the game was pretty much a fantastic FPS that well warrants a 91% score. It delivers a solid SP campaign experience and outstanding MP setup. A MUST BUY for any FPS fan
** v1.03 was released 2/24/2011 this version has fixed Issue 2 and Issue 3 on my end **

I have now finished the single-player campaign and spent over 10 hours playing online multiplayer (all modes). I played through the campaign using the Move controller. I played through part of the campaign again using the standard controller. I played through the entire campaign in 3D and through part of it in 2D, to compare.

So I've pretty much blown every whistle and rung every bell Sony's including with this game (the only thing I haven't tried is the offline co-op). Here's what I thought of the entire thing:

The Good:

Online Multiplayer. It's incredibly fun. Using the Move controller gives you better accuracy, which usually lands me in first or second place. It almost feels like cheating, but this is the direction Sony took.

Single player campaign. Ignore the bitter critics who are crying because they didn't get a chance to play it in 3D or they're rendered incapable of praising any FPS that doesn't star Master Chief or have someone Calling for Duty. This is in the top 10 best FPS titles ever made. Its set-pieces are similar to early Lucas or Spielberg movies in how EPIC they are. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark or any of the first 3 Star Wars' films. It's a really well put together game with more jaw-dropping moments than the last 3 Halos combined.

The Move Controls. They work better than you could imagine. They work better than the dualshock itself. It's the closest you're going to come to the keyboard/mouse experience on a console, without literally using a keyboard and mouse on a console. Very accurate. Very fun to play.

The graphics. Pure awesomeness. Thought Killzone 2 looked good? This one looks better.

The Bad:

As much as I loved it, the campaign is way too short (7 hours to finish on medium difficulty) and may be just a little too disjointed. There were a few times where they went overboard making scenes that would stand out in 3D and leave 2D gamers scratching their heads. If the single-player campaign ran 10-20 hours, I would have given Killzone 3 a 5 out of 5. I'm sure they'll have more of the game to sell us later (there's a "6 months later" moment that feels created for DLC).

Lack of maps. I'm not sure how many maps the game comes with, but with 10+ hours of play time, I haven't seen more than 6 or 7. Not to mention, everyone memorizes one map and then keeps voting to play it over and over again, which is really annoying. Again, I'm sure they'll have plenty more maps to sell us later as DLC. Am I the only one noticing that to get a "full" game, you have to shell out around $120? Seems like sort of a scam.

The Ugly ... er ... "Helghast":

The 3D. The 3D worked well enough. Some parts were worthy of pure amazement. One section had me screaming out to my girlfriend, "Now THIS is what 3D gaming's about!" Then I felt like a geek. A geek wearing $100 3D glasses. Thinking back on it, it's hard to believe she's stayed with me this long.

The problem with the 3D is the nonstop crosstalk (it's worse in darker areas and cutscenes). If you're not all that familiar with 3D, crosstalk basically looks like you're having double (or even triple) vision. This can be pretty problematic when you're staring at three crosshairs, when there's only supposed to be one. I just kept the, "hit the one in the middle" line from Rocky IV in mind. It's the worst crosstalk I've seen in a game or in a movie. Which sucks, because, had it not been wrecked by the crosstalk, it would have easily been the best 3D ever put into a game.

That said, if you have the chance, I'd recommend playing in 3D. At least a few of the scenes (feel free to ask me in the comments, which parts work best in 3D -- I don't want to give away spoilers in this review). But for all the 3D hype, the game looks and plays just fine in 2D. I wouldn't invest in that 3DTV just yet -- at least not if you're doing so just for this game. On the other hand, I'd definitely invest in this game. If you're a fan of shooters; you won't be disappointed!

The single player mode is short but oh how sweet it is! Fantastic looking environments, constant action, and melee kills that make you feel like a badass!

The multiplayer mode has amazing maps, and several different classes to choose from. This is so different from games like COD because you can actually choose how you want to play the game. Do you want to infiltrate the other team and trick them into believing you are one of them? Or is healing people more your style? Well you can do either, plus much more!

Also, if you have slow internet or just don't like playing online, it also has a botzone mode, which is essentially an offline multiplayer where you compete with AI Bots. This mode is a great way to explore maps and decide which class is your favorite! Buy this game! You won't regret it!

Killzone 3 is finally here after the cliffhanger of an ending from the second in the series. Far and above the best in terms of single player experience and online play this is a must buy for Playstation 3 owners. The campaign may be mildly short, I beat it in about 10 hours, but it is involving and a breathlessly fun ride. Jumping seamlessly between guns blazing first person offensive to stealthy infiltrations to vehicular rail shooters it conveys the story through edge of your seat testosterone goodness. The enemies are more diverse, the combat is more brutal, the scenery is more breath taking and the villain more blindly evil.
Humanity is fighting to its last breath and you are put in the shoes of the savior from the last game, Sevchanko, in order to stop the malignant tumor of a race that is hell bent on destroying everything you love. This isn't a character study by any stretch of the term so don't expect weeping for the lost or a boiling romance. There is no inner struggle to deal with and all the themes are very broad but the overall whole is a wonderfully entertaining ride pitting you against impossible odds until the credits roll. I don't think a story of isolation would have fit with the game play and I appreciate the direction they went in. It is never about your character, it is all about... [...]

Matching the enormous expectations that people had for Killzone 2 a few years back was a very tall order, but Guerrilla games managed to pull it off. With Killzone 3 Guerrilla does it again making everything look larger in scope.

The graphics are top notch and top what was done in the second game, incredible in itself considering K2 was one of the best looking games in the market. One thing is for sure- you won't find a better looking FPS out there. And yes, Crysis 2 is pretty but the level of detail on K3 just takes the game to a completely different level.

Control is spot on with both a dual shock and Move. I was pleasantly surprised about the latter. I didn't think I was able to pull accurate shots as easily but I was wrong. Move implementation makes playing the game excellent.

Multiplayer has seen an evolution from K2 that makes the challenge even more entertaining. The skill ladder allows for newcomers to rank up right away, while allowing experienced players to have further rewards for the time they put into it.

The story has received some criticism, but those comments are misleading. The reality is that the story in K3 is just as good as K2's. What it means is that it is far better than most of the FPS's out there but not as dramatic as an Uncharted 2 or Heavy Rain. Of course, those two games are very tall orders to beat. Killzone 3's story is good and even more compelling than K2's as it was a great idea to focus on what happened after the events of the latter with a small ISA force stranded in Helhgan and going from bad to worse. The acting is good and even Rico is more appealing this time around.

The only complaint about the game, and a minor one at that, is how most of the "heft" that your character had in K2 has been removed to appeal to those used to the loose controls of the likes of Call of Duty or Halo. I prefer the K2 controls as not only they made the character feel more realistic but also allowed for more accurate shooting in motion.

Killzone 3 is a MUST HAVE game for every PS3 owner and even for action/FPS game enthusiasts out there.

Killzone 3 is a rollercoaster of excitement! From game play to on-line play this game is amazing. Killzone 3 has something for everyone.

For the people out there who have a HD TV, have PlayStation Move along with the gun, and have surround sound, do not hesitate and buy this game immediately, great graphics fun game play definitely worth every penny!...and if you do not have all that stuff buy it anyways!

CHEESE, TULIPS and ... KILLZONE
I have been a fan of the Killzone franchise since its inception on the fat PS2. The Dutch at Guerilla have done it really this time. What an improvement on KZ2.
Through a contact I got my hands on the full game on 11 February.
IT IS AWESOME! I won't spoil it for anyone though. No spoilers ahead (I think), just some points I wanted to raise.
I am a die hard Gears of War fan and very active on XBL. The move to the Xbox 360 really came when Killzone 2 took forever to be released and I was looking for some real shooter entertainment. I only purchased the PS3 console for KZ2.
While playing KZ3 it became obvious that the developers got plenty ideas from other recent shooters; I recognized gameplay from Gears of War 2 (Denizens and Deleted Scene), COD4, MW2 and Medal of Honor (Stickybeard), even got a hint of Halo. Nothing wrong with it, KZ is too strong a concept/brand, so it works well.
The graphics are WOW; weapons, vehicles, environment, AI, probably the best on the market so far. Stunning and will take a while to equal or surpass (Cliffy please take note).

Maybe that's why the game froze on 2 occasions;

1. During a cut-scene
2. While on my way to the Mobile in Scrapyard, video froze, audio continued. I had to do a hard-boot to get rid of it.

Voices: just one negative IMO, the Helghast die like rough guys, but the ISA go down with OOOH, EEEH and AAAH noises.

Just on this, in some cut-scenes the mouth still moves when all is said. (like a dubbed martial arts movie.)

It was also nice to see someone from KZ1 back in the saddle ;-) you'll see.

Lastly, there are no barbers on that planet; Sev lost the mohawk and looks ... normal again. I always thought Rico was a Hispanic, but his real ancestry comes out through the scruffy afro. The chick though looks like she's got a stylin' from Jerseylicious and is ready for the red carpet.

Rico's insubordination and swearing at some point gets annoying, but WTF.

This game deserves a BIG 10 all-round, finished it (but not all the trophies). Now am playing Bulletstorm, on the Xbox 360 :-)

I have pre-ordered the Helghast Edition by the way, for the extra goodies.

KZ3 will dominate PSN for a long time to come.

KZ3 is AWESOME. Much better then KZ2 in EVERY WAY! Graphics, music, sound effects, story, cut-scenes - all these are much more polished, integrated, and enjoyable to watch. Some complain about too many cutscenes interrupting the action, and I sort of agree, but they are done so well and so Bad A** that its just enjoyable to watch! The style of direction on those cut-scenes are GREAT! Very very stylish and dynamic camera shots with amazing animations and visuals. Better then most any other games cut-scenes, so you just sort of stare and say "cooooool", instead of being bummed your not kicking some helg-a***....

The gameplay is super fun and addictive, way way more variety then the first two. The guns feel and sound way more gutsy and powerful. Love it. And the battlefield is just beautiful to look at (in that "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" sort of way). Lighting, smoke, and shadowing effects are awesome and the sound of the gunfights is just totally immersive and killer. The chaos on screen occuring at any given time is just a joy to be absorbed in. It really really feels like your in the middle of an all out WAR! Something these other FPS games didnt really give me. Plus it doesnt seem as hard as KZ2. Guys actually die after a few shots rather then 10 shots.

I'm only halfway thru this game, but let me tell you, the first 30 minutes of this game will hook you. The visuals alone are worth the price of admission (like spending $20 to watch Avatar IMax 3D). The story is getting ho-hum reviews, and hey, its not that bad! It seems better then the second one so far!! And they are saying the voice-acting is too grunt grunt ho-rah, and yeah, it kinda is, but seems WAY more tamed down from the second one. I was really sick of Rico in KZ2, but this one he seems more subdued. So all in all, it is a much much more fun and a better game then KZ2. Totally worth a playthru!!!

Gameplay:
I've played through the game and spent several hours on multiplayer so I can officially say this game is just awesome. The way the first person camera works in most games is you feel like your a robot not a person running around with a gun floating in front. In killzone its completely different and that makes you feel like your in the action. Any time your picking ammo out of a crate or climbing a ladder or doing a melee attack. It actually looks like your doing those things. Its something you can't appreciate till you see it.

Bugs: 10
I didn't notice any of the glitching that I noticed in the demo either.

Story: 9 No spoilers
The story is great. You start out on helgan because you were stranded there after your partner assassinated the Visroy. So you begin by traveling to the extraction zone. Every level comes together and it make sense why you are doing the things your doing.

Multiplayer: 10
The gameplay as I've already covered is very well done and it doesn't change in multiplayer. The immersive first person action is still there. The melee attacks (hand to hand) is still awesome. There are 5 different classes and each one is very different. You'll spend the points you earn in multiplayer to upgrade your classes and buy guns. Choose wisely which class is going to be your favorite and work on that one first. Otherwise you'll waste a lot of your points.

Lasting appeal: 10
This game is going to last me for a long time. I'll probably play through it with the sharpshooter if I get it. I'll be playing multiplayer for a long time.