The first Killzone was something of a hit and miss. Released in 2004, the game was panned by most critics for innumerable glitches and dodgy controls. However, the story seemed to strike a chord with some, and it developed a cult following. Now we have a sequel, fresh for the next-gen market, and Guerrilla Studios have certainly righted all the wrongs they made last time around.

The story follows on from the events of the first game, where the ISA (or Interplanetary Strategic Alliance) defended their home planet of Vetka from the evil, crimson-eyed Helghast. Now the ISA are taking the fight to the Helghast, with the intention of overthrowing the evil Emperor Visari (who looks more than a little bit like Darth Sidious).

The first thing you notice about the game is the graphics; the Helghast planet is the most beautiful wasteland you will ever visit. The abandoned, dirty cities and raging deserts are presented perfectly, with lighting effects like lightning flashes adding to the ominous scene. The Helghast themselves are also amazingly human, regularly editing battle plans on the fly to try to get the upper hand or shying away when the chips are down. The story, on the other hand, wasn’t as developed as it could’ve been, and the whole thing is over before any of the characters can really sing their piece. Full Metal Jacket this ain’t, but you can still get 8 hours of sweaty, action packed, curse-filled fun from it.

The gameplay is pretty standard for a first-person shooter. Weapons are the standard mix of assault rifles, shotguns, pistols and rocket; with a few gems – such as the ace Electricity Gun that never runs out of ammo – to add some variety into the mix. All have been given a sci-fi makeover, and they all pack a lot more bang than you might expect. There are some stand-out moments, such as driving a tank and taking control of a giant battle suit, but unfortunately these are few and far between. The final weapon in Killzone 2’s arsenal is its online multiplayer, which is very well-presented. Up to 32 players at once can compete in matches, which jump at random between events such as Capture-The-Flag, Assassinations (where one team member is targeted for the other team to kill), and Team Deathmatches. The result is that matches feel fast-paced and action packed, where you have to stay on your toes to keep up with the action.

Overall Killzone 2 is, like its predecessor, a mixed bag. The characters leave something to be desired and the story can be bland at points, but incredible graphics, action-packed gameplay and an amazing online mode make this an essential addition to any PS3 collection.

Philip Bayles