Killzone 2

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

I'll say it again: Killzone 2 is the best console first person shooter ever. It will be bested one day, and that is as it should be, but this game has set the proverbial bar so high we reckon it'll be the king for a good long while... Hail to the king, baby. [Feb 2009, p.66]

GamePro

It took a long time for Killzone 2 to finally come out, but after diving head first into the game, there's no doubt in my mind that it lives up to the hype and is a must-play for FPS fans. [Mar 2009, p.70]

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

It's true that Killzone 2 is filled with moments that can handily be described as inspiring awe. Each scene is incredibly well detailed, from the gaps in jerry-rigged cover points letting you sneak in a killing headshot to scarred and scratched textures, the planet feels entirely believable... Without a doubt Killzone fans, action and shooter fans of any stripe will instantly tag this sequel as a powerful contender for best game of 2009. [Feb 2009, p.38]

Eurogamer Portugal

Killzone 2 is without a doubt the high point for a project in videogaming. Believable, safe, coherent and above all, brilliant in its execution. A must-have for all those who love this art, especially for those in need of breathtaking experiences, where the different senses are laid on the table.

PS3bloggen.se

Killzone 2 is by far the best first person shooter on the PlayStation 3, with unprecedented graphics, impressive physics and a multiplayer experience that deserves to be played. Guerrilla Games have created an unforgettable action adventure with varied gameplay, intelligent AI and imposing enemies. You don't want to miss this game.

G4 TV

Probably the tastiest part of the Killzone Cocktail is the Multiplayer. Imagine if Call Of Duty 4 and Team Fortress 2 had a baby, which they then abandoned and as a result had to learn a few new tricks to survive. That’s what Killzone Multiplayer is like.

1UP

With its unparalleled graphics, incredibly well-paced single-player campaign and in-depth multiplayer offerings, Killzone 2 has established its place among top-tier console shooters. Expectations on Killzone 2 had reached ridiculous proportions; here's one of those cases where the game actually lived up to them.

Gaming Nexus

The PS3 finally gets a new signature title with a game that will have wide spread appeal. Killzone 2 sets new standards for graphics while providing a solid story with interesting characters. Co-op would have been nice addition but it's still the most fun I've had with a FPS game in a long time.

TheSixthAxis

For the most part Killzone 2 is utterly, mesmerisingly brilliant and polished to perfection: the gunplay is solid, the controls, once tuned to your liking are superbly weighted and intuitive and the action, when good, is relentless. Time will tell whether or not the single player campaign will be held in as high regard as we’d all want it to be, but right here, right now, this is as good as it gets. [single-player review only]

Giant Bomb

Killzone 2 successfully iterates upon the formulas and standards of console first-person shooters in ways that make it feel fresh, and it does all that while looking absolutely outstanding. If you're the least bit interested in first-person shooting and you own a PlayStation 3, Killzone 2 should be near the top of your list.

GameShark

Because i[t] successfully brings together a compelling single player campaign and fully realized multiplayer experience, Killzone 2 emerges as a new benchmark for the shooter genre. This is a game that leverages an atmospheric presentation and superb game design for something memorable and lasting. To quibble about a lack of cooperative play through the campaign or the omission of some other feature is to miss the point: Killzone 2 is meant to be a carefully laid out epic. It is a must-have game, a brilliant start for the year, and among the best games of this generation.

PGNx Media

Killzone 2 is an exceptional first-person shooter.

Gaming Age

The first-person view even has a sense of inertia that many FPS titles somehow fail to include, and all of this is trucked along in compliment by the game's gloomy and dark appearance. It's not gritty so much as it is heavy.

Kombo

This is the definitive gaming experience of the year so far. This is the total package from top to bottom and worth every single penny you spend on it.

MEGamers

Killzone 2’s secret ingredient is the fluidity in gameplay that we have come to enjoy more than its graphical prowess or jaw-dropping visuals. And that’s what games have always been about... We're surprised to see Killzone 2 blows our expectations out of the water with a memorable SP campaign and a stellar MP component. To put it short, this game makes "Gears of War 2" look like a high school attempt at gaming and that is a HUGE compliment!

PSX Extreme

Ultimately, we have a game that strikes the perfect balance between a single-player and multiplayer experience. Where almost all current FPS games boast a multiplayer component that is far and away better and more satisfying than the single-player experience, Killzone 2 boasts a single-player campaign that is every bit as much fun as the multiplayer - and that is truly a rarity.

Gamers' Temple

Games like Killzone 2 don't come down the pike very often, but when they do it is your duty as a gamer to purchase, play and love them. When it comes to action and/or shooting, nothing else even comes close.

GameFocus

Four years in the making and while we could have expected a bit more from Guerilla Games, Killzone 2 is THE game your Playstation 3 has been waiting for. While it doesn’t redefine nor re-invent anything in the FPS world, Killzone 2 delivers the excitement but most of all the beauty no gamer has ever seen before.

Play.tm

Considering the worth of a lengthy campaign offering genuine challenge, thrilling local multiplayer with A.I. bots, and a layered online multiplayer component that's likely to be PSN's main point of attraction for the foreseeable future, it's clear Killzone 2 has taken the ever-so popular wheel, slapped a gorgeous chrome rim on it, drastically reduced its tyre profile, and applied a sense of balance never before felt on a wheel. Why then would anyone want to reinvent the wheel when the damn wheel never looked so good or rolled so well?

Console Monster

Killzone 2 is a gorgeous piece of gaming art, with a great story and a compelling and sometimes challenging single player campaign. It has truly raised the bar pretty high in the console FPS genre and will no doubt become a killer app for Sony’s console this year.

3DJuegos

Three factors make Killzone 2 one of the best shooters of recent years. An immense individual campaign, an addictive multiplayer mode and a graphical section that could leave any fan exhausted. With these three axes Guerrilla works a fascinating shooter; a magnificent tribute to action and science fiction cinema, that as a gameplay and sensorial proposal will not be forgotten any time soon.

Vandal Online

Killzone 2 is not perfect, but it's magnificent, with visuals that clarify what PlayStation 3 can -and will be able to- do, and with excellent gameplay and its own, very inmersive style.

WonderwallWeb

It seeps action from every angle and makes you question whether you are actually in the middle of a war zone thanks to it’s stunning effects and sound. If you want eye popping, pant wetting action then this is most certainly the game for you.

Worth Playing

It's clear that Sony and Guerrilla Games wanted to strike back at the naysayers, and they've done it in the best possible way by delivering a game that exceeds all expectations.

BigPond GameArena

It's not a Halo killer, but like Rocky versus Apollo Creed Killzone 2 would last the fifteen rounds.

Destructoid

I've not had this much fun with a console FPS in a long time, and feel confident in saying that Killzone 2 is probably the best of its kind to come out this generation. While some flaws are evident in the story and a number of design choices, they pale in comparison to the purity of the gunplay and the meaty action that prevails.

ZTGameDomain

With gorgeous graphics and great moment to moment gunplay, Killzone 2 should not disappoint any shooter fan.

Meristation

Killzone 2 rises from the ashes of the E3 2005 trailer to prove itself as even better; the most outstanding, immersive and technologically advanced first person shooter available for any console on the market. The dark and grim world created by Guerrilla hosts a crude conflict on Helghast soil, divided in 10 acts packed with a variety of situations portrayed with an epic tone. With a polished enemy AI, a huge multiplayer, a well balanced and powerful arsenal, 7.1 sound, great voice acting among some other strong points, few complaints can be made; only the lack of coop and some roughness in the allied AI. The rest is faithful and loyal to the promise Guerrilla made 4 years ago. Mission accomplished.

Gameplayer

Killzone 2 is a stunning game best suited for FPS aficionados, rabid graphics whores, and all proud Ps3 owners in general. Guerrilla Games have stepped up to the plate and delivered very comparable results to “that preview video” that blew our collective minds in 2005. Using Guerrilla’s proprietary ‘deferred rendering engine’ Killzone 2 squeezes a lot more juice out of the Ps3 than anything we’ve seen thus far.

InsideGamer.nl

The great graphics, the very smart AI, the mind-blowing physics and the multiplayer mode you can play for months combined make Killzone 2 a true FPS-classic.

Playstation Universe

For fans of the first person shooter genre, Killzone 2 is unequivocally the best thing to have happened to the PlayStation 3 thus far.

HellBored

Drop dead gorgeous visuals and Guerrilla getting adventurous with the multiplayer makes this one of the must-play games on the PS3.

AtomicGamer

Either way, one-man armies and multi-player masses alike should all head to Helghan; I hear it’s beautiful this time of year, even if the locals are a bit restless.

Game Over Online

Replay value is enormous with the in-game collections, trophy support, and online stat tracking.

NZGamer

For all its guts and glory, for all its taxing, gritty fortitude, Killzone 2 adheres too strictly to the rules of its genre to send itself into the stratosphere. What will stand the test of time is its pitch perfect grasp of said genre, its wonderfully taxing, take-no-prisoners assault on your senses and your trigger finger. It is the ultimate conservative First-Person-Shooter, whether it wants to be or not. And this is why it’s worth your bucks.

IGN

The single-player experience is a truly enjoyable campaign across the Helghast home world that will test your skills, particularly on the higher difficulty levels, and the game simply looks phenomenal for a console shooter. But perhaps the strongest segment of the game is the extremely deep multiplayer, which gives seven basic classes with which you can create your own customized super-soldier after performing your class-specific duties.

GameZone

This is quite a ride on several fronts – visually, aurally and in intensity. You will be challenged, but more importantly, you should have a lot of fun.

Multiplayer.it

Killzone 2 is truly a tour de force from a technical point of view, but also a game with solid gameplay. Its strengths live in variety and high involvement for the players, even with a cover system that needs some improvements. The Multiplayer side is equally strong (even more), so any PlayStation 3 owner should at least consider buying it.

SpazioGames

Killzone 2 is a unique experience. The intense single player and a compelling "Call of Duty"-style multiplayer deliver an impressive package by themselves. If you add an outstanding engine and design, what you get is the masterpiece everyone was waiting for. The only drawback is the plot, weak and affected by bi-dimensional characters. Since plot isn't really the core aspect of a shooter game, Killzone 2 is still a must buy for every genre fan, and it raises the bar for every future production.

Play UK

A pure, stripped-down, focused shooter that handles the fundamentals of firstperson violence better than any other titles before it, while also managing to be the best-looking game on the PS3 by quite a margin. Bring on the multiplayer.

GamingTrend

Killzone 2 is a title that grabs hold of you with both hands at your throat and doesn’t let you go until the very end.

Gamervision

Without the blu-ray disk drive and its ridiculous storage space, the textures couldn’t be as high-resolution and photorealistic as they are. Without the cell-processor and its amazing power, the game couldn’t support as many light sources as it does at once. Without the PlayStation 3, you cannot get the Killzone experience anywhere else. If that was the game’s goal, to prove that point to gamers, than they’ve done their job, and given PS3 owners one hell of a title in the process. The single player definitely hurts without cooperative play, but the multiplayer and overall stunning presentation should earn Killzone 2 a spot on any gamer’s shelf.

GamingXP

This game makes it hard not to use praises and superlatives all the time. To make it short: Killzone 2 is the new king of the genre!

Da Gameboyz

Killzone 2 is a testament to not only the PS3, but to developers Guerilla Games who have shown they can meet the expectations put forth by the gamers, who can be quite a fickle group.

Game Chronicles

This is easily the most immersive FPS game you can play now, or anytime in the near future.

IGN UK

For a developer whose previous games have been little more than average, Killzone 2 is a landmark achievement. Guerrilla has pushed the boundaries of what we’ve seen on PlayStation 3 by creating an all-action shooter that’s far closer to the original E3 teaser trailer than we could ever have imagined. It’s not perfect, sure, but it’s arguably the best FPS on PlayStation 3 and one that is, in this reviewer’s opinion at least, superior to "Resistance 2."

Cheat Code Central

If you're a PS3 fanboy and were a little bit jealous because your "Xbot" friends were loving it up with Gears of War 2, don't worry too much. Killzone 2 is every bit as engaging as that title is. In fact, the story and characters are much more interesting and, dare I say, the graphics are even better. However, the lack of co-op features is a substantial misstep; anyone who has gone through Gears 2's Horde mode, blasting away with their buddies can tell you that.

GameTrailers

While Killzone 2 is not re-imagining the genre, it’s solid, beautiful, and challenging, with excellent multiplayer that makes it well worth the 60 bones. It falls short of legendary, but it’s sure to offer anyone who takes the plunge a visceral, tactical treat for the thumbs and eyes. It may be tough to get into, but once it gets its hooks in it won’t let go.

Game Revolution

Complementing the graphics is audio which simply must be heard to be believed for its sheer inspiration of awe.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Consider the simplistic storyline a training ground for the surprisingly varied online game, and overdose on visual splendor every step of the way.

Games Master UK

Its ambition was to be the best FPS on PS3. At this moment in time, we're not going to argue. [Mar 2009, p.58]

PALGN

Guerrilla have defied the claims that they could never reach the visual clarity of that infamous 2005 trailer and they defied claims that gameplay would be lacking. They haven't done anything really 'new', nor have they made a game that redefines the way we play FPS games. They've made a game that sets the benchmark for what level of quality FPS games should aim for, and stands strong against this generations biggest FPS games, proudly presenting itself as a vicious shooter that will grip you by the throat, and won't let go.

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

You’ll be totally swallowed by fantastic level of design, stunning visuals and brutal action of this FPS. Killzone 2 is truly a flawless diamond in its genre you shouldn't dare to miss. [Feb 2009]

D+PAD Magazine

Countless lauded exclusives have spectacularly flopped since the PS3’s launch and the console’s market share is still less than glowing; there’s a sense that for history to repeat itself twice with another Killzone debacle, given the expectations, the jaw-dropping preview footage and the hordes of illiterate fanboys chomping at the bit, would have been catastrophic. Instead, the end result is nothing short of triumphant.

Everyeye.it

Killzone 2 is a rock solid First Person Shooter, developed with care and essential for the PS3 Line Up. It’s a peculiar title, realistic in the approach, dark and gloomy, conveying a strange perspective about war and obedience. The single player experience is linear and not that long, but the multiplayer is perfect, stressing a tactical aspect that is not so diffused in the other exponents of the genre.

AceGamez

In the context of other PS3 first person shooters, Killzone 2 serves as the ideal compatriot to Resistance 2, providing us with a more grown up - and arguably more polished - experience, as well as spoiling us rotten with yet more multiplayer goodness. Once you get past the graphics-induced shellshock and push the underwhelming plot to the back of your mind, there is a worthy first person shooter that simply demands to be played.

GameSpot

Killzone 2 is an exceptional first-person shooter, not because it does anything particularly new, but because it does everything extraordinarily well. There's certainly no doubting its graphical superiority, but though its moody visuals invite incessant superlatives, it's the tight, electric action that will make this an off- and online haven.

DarkStation

Although maybe not perfect, Killzone 2 has all the right ingredients for what turns out to be one of the best games so far in 2009.

Gamers.at

A must-have for all PS3-owners. Killzone 2 provides a special atmosphere that succeeds in making you believe you have an important role to play and the only thing you want to do in this game is find out what might be next.

TotalPlayStation

If not for the harmony of the online experience married to the single-player game, Killzone 2 may not have been nearly as amazing. But it does have both components, and they make for one of the single best values of 2009. Buy this game.

GameSpy

Shooters are a dime-a-dozen these days, with many different variations to choose from. Killzone 2 manages to stand out from the pack thanks to its superb graphics, its unique setting, and its robust multiplayer offerings.

Gameplanet

Killzone 2 is a game which gives war a glorious edge. The cinematic style of the single-player campaign brings forth memories of classic war stories as an elite group of four soldiers battle against a malevolent enemy.

GamerNode

The single player campaign may be on the short(er) side, but the entire journey is action-packed and adrenaline pumping without any noticeable downtime. And the multiplayer may not offer all of the different modes some gamers are used to, but Warzone's unique customization capabilities offset that nicely.

Games Radar (in-house)

Probably the key flaw in Killzone 2 is how meticulously scripted it is. For example, if a Helghast is programmed to run to a certain location and then start shooting, he usually won’t shoot until he gets there, even if you’ve ambushed him and are filling him with holes.

Wired

While Killzone 2 does walk on mostly well-trodden ground, it does so with a keen attention to style and detail, pushing beyond the gray-and-red color schemes that define its competition while encouraging gamers to put a little bit of thought behind every bullet they hurl.

IGN AU

Outstanding. It is consistent in every respect and is testament to the talents of the developer as well as the power of the PS3 in the hands of a team that knows how to use the hardware - and who have the full support of Sony behind them. In the same stroke, it is not the be all and end all of console shooters, or even shooters on the PS3.

Playstation Official Magazine UK

Visually it's so far ahead of anything else out there it shatters your expectations...This is a PS3 showing what it's truly capable of and delivering a landmark piece of explosive entertainment you can't afford to miss. [Feb 2009, p.88]

Eurogamer

Killzone 2 is a taut and muscular game, a shooter that gives back more than you put in, provided you have the intestinal fortitude. It may take its time revealing its true depths and pleasures, but the journey is well worth taking. Between Killzone 2's unforgiving grit and Resistance 2's alien-bursting excess, the PS3 finally has both ends of the shooter spectrum covered in grand style.

Gamer.nl

Killzone II is without a doubt a diamond in Sony's line-up and already a game that has GOTY written all over it. Its feels more than refreshing to play a sci-fi shooter with realistic gameplay. In single player you'll be dazzled with details, a strong AI and beautifull graphics. And even though it's all going to be over in a blink of an eye, it gives you enough satisfaction to last a whole lot longer. As a delicious dessert you'll get the multiplayer, which is so addictive that it almost turns into the most important part of the game. Killzone II is something to be proud of as a Dutchman.

Kikizo

If it isn't the War To End All Wars some have prophesised, Killzone 2 is definitely the exclusive FPS your PS3 has been waiting for. While the intensity of the spotlight Guerrilla brings to bear on how you go about shooting stuff occasionally leaves its scenarios in the dark, those intimidating good looks, chiselled hide-and-seek engagements and savage online modes are plentiful compensation. After almost five years of infamy, the franchise has taken revenge on its critics

VideoGamer

Killzone 2's been hyped waaaay, too much, of course. And, no, it doesn't live up to the hype, because if it did it would be the greatest FPS of all time, which it isn't. But it is the best PS3-exclusive to date.

GameDaily

It's far from innovative as other games feature superior narratives and better multiplayer modes, but it's still an edge of your seat and bullet riddled extravaganza that begs to be experienced by anyone with a PS3.

Level7.nu

Technically it's a masterpiece with unparalleled graphics. Online it's only beaten by "Call of Duty Modern Warfare." The campaign is a bit short, but there are some really impressive scenes that I just wished were longer. Overall it's one of the best games in recent years and the most impressive-looking game ever.

Cynamite

At first glance its graphics will simply blow you away. Unfortunately the looks are the only truly sensational thing about this game. Sure, level design and AI are outstanding. But whoever was hoping for the Uber-Shooter could be disappointed by the lackluster boss fights and the mediocre weapon and enemy variety. Still: Whoever owns a PS3 has to play this game!

Video Game Talk

Killzone 2 is an awesome game that will grab hold of you and not let go for quite some time. The gameplay is fast and furious, the atmosphere is rich and deep, and all around the single and multiplayer features are fantastic.

Telegraph

Killzone 2 is not a revolution. It was never intended to be. However, it would be folly to disregard its importance, both to the PS3 and the console FPS. It’s a refinement of the genre, distilled to its purest and polished to a glittering shine.

Gamer 2.0

If you can look past the lackluster single player campaign and spotty controls and set your sights on the obviously superior multiplayer component you will have yourself one of the best looking, and playing, games on the PS3.

PSM3 Magazine UK

Short and lacking context, but action-packed and technically dazzling. [Mar 2009, p.50]

Game Informer

With the exception of its stunning graphics, Killzone 2 doesn’t do a whole lot that you haven’t seen before in other titles. But what it does do, it does with aplomb.

Pelit (Finland)

A very good multiplayer FPS. The warzone mode is an excellent idea. Some vehicles and a little more visual variation would be nice, though. [Apr 2009]

Computer and Video Games

Spectacular from start to finish. It doesn't innovate (and no co-op is a cop out) but its visual prowess and insane action make Killzone 2 unmissable.

Extreme Gamer

What Killzone 2 does well, it does very well. It is pure eye candy with a silky smooth frame rate and graphics that truly push the PS3 boundaries, and combat that is overall enjoyable and varied enough to keep you interested. However, those of you concerned with innovative game play and original storylines need not apply.

GamingExcellence

With a solid campaign, addictive multiplayer, and some of the greatest presentation ever seen in a video game, Killzone 2 is well worth your time and money.

Armchair Empire

There’s certainly enough in the multiplayer portion of Killzone 2 to extend its shelf life beyond the relatively quick single-player Campaign and makes it worth your time.

DarkZero

Guerrilla has generally lived up to the crazy amount of hype surrounding the development of the game, and in the end, has offered us a very competent First-Person Shooter, with confident execution on all fronts.

games(TM)

Killzone 2 is a gamer’s game. And although it fails to go beyond the confines of the genre, we wouldn’t criticise it for being anything other than a wonderful example of what can be achieved within them. [Mar 2009, p.108]

Boomtown

On the whole the writing is poor quality and the dialogue risible, embarrassingly so at times. It doesn't quite make Gears of War seems like a quality drama but it's not far off. At least Gears of War features memorable characters.

Thunderbolt

It’s not perfect and there are a few things which could do with a bit more care for the next game - largely the lack of co-op and fairly dull story and characters - but nonetheless, this is one of the most beautiful, explosive and entertaining shooters of the console generation so far. Bring on Killzone 3.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

Based on graphics, gameplay, and overall chaos factor, Killzone 2 is FPS gold.

Total Video Games

Undoubtedly a visual masterpiece that proves the PS3 does have the power to carry the format forwards, KillZone 2 is a wonderfully solid and entertaining first-person shooter.

Absolute Games

Zero - that's how many fresh ideas Killzone 2 brings to the table. Had it been released alongside Soldier of Fortune or Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, it would have made a big fuss. Today, after Call of Duty 4, Gears of War 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, its gameplay looks weak. Very few enemy variations, cliched situations repeat over and over again, and there is not enough story to fill a Saturday morning cartoon.

Teletext GameCentral

One of the best looking games ever, but also one of the least ambitious in terms of anything else.

Edge Magazine

But without the first game’s ambiguities,‭ ‬a sense of humour or even an ounce of‭ ‬intrigue,‭ ‬its story stinks.‭ ‬It’s so slight you could play the levels in random order to‭ ‬little ill-effect,‭ ‬and it assumes knowledge of everything and everyone,‭ ‬not once recognising the real-world echoes of its premise:‭ ‬an allied invasion of an enemy‭ ‬the allies themselves created.‭

GameCritics

The lack of story telling combined with worn-out and tedious gameplay left me with the impression that Killzone 2 tries to assume the identity of its competitors but fails to come anywhere close. Every moment I spent in the campaign was met with nothing but boredom and frustration, but at least it has a superb multiplayer.

Gamestyle

This is an average, generic experience. For all its lofty ambitions and hype it is an unbelievable failure, a real disappointment for all PlayStation 3 owners.