Having never played the original Killzone, I didn’t know what to expect when playing this game for the first time. I knew it was a PS3 exclusive game and I’d heard it had raised the bar graphically but that was all I knew about it. So what did I make of the game?

It is actually awesome. The graphics are amazing and it really does raise the bar for other PS3 games out there. There are a few rough textures here and there, but everything blends together nicely. The multiplayer maps are far more attractive than their single player counterparts, due to the open nature.

The game play is great, albeit slightly frustrating at first as the controls and movements take a little getting used to, but then again this is the case for most games. The game is surprising for it’s user friendliness. I’m not sure I agree with all the complaints about the slow movement and aiming, possibly because I’ve not played the first Killzone game and so can‘t compare between the two. But I think the game developers got the balance they were looking for, as the game is very heavy feeling, and that gives it an edge of authenticity. It gives you a great sense of satisfaction for your kills, especially on multiplayer, instead of most FPS (First Person Shooter) games where it’s just shoot-shoot-shoot with no accomplishment whatsoever.

I also have to mention the pistol you start with in this game. It is awesome. It’s been a long time since an FPS gave you a pistol that didn’t sound like a pop-gun. Pistol lovers, rejoice!

Although the single player mode is supposedly short, the light sprinkling of plot is enjoyable. None of the battles have been too hard so far, and you always get thrown into a new situation before you have a chance to get bored. The varying environments are great, especially the desert-like mining wasteland that evoked a pure sense of desolation. The selection of guns is good, too, especially the bolt gun. You can nail people to walls with it, and since the games physics aren’t overdone (like in most modern games), it gives the weapon a visceral feel.

On multiplayer there are 5 or so different game types, and if they are all enabled on a map they will rotate, so that’s pretty cool. One second you’re trying to assassinate an enemy team member, then gather some items, and then kill as many as you can. The overall scores for all these modes add up at the end of a match to determine the winning team. Games can have up to 32 people in them, not enough to make it too hectic but enough to be enjoyable. You can rank up on multiplayer, unlocking new weapons, abilities, ribbons and all that kind of stuff. There’s hours of fun here if you’re on the mind.

Overall this is a great game, there are better out there but also a lot that are worse. I’d give this game 8 out of 10.