What Was Cool
INTENSE ACTION:
There is not a moment that goes by in Killzone 3 where you are not in some sort of danger. The gameplay has you on your toes every single step of the way. One of the best moments in the game is when you are up against this huge mech and destroying it is your only hope for survival. During this battle, people are around you screaming orders and the you can really feel the panic in their voices. It is moments like this that make the player feel like they are living the game.
VOICE ACTING:
More specifically, the voice acting of Malcolm McDowell. The character he portrays in Killzone 3 is the perfect character to hate with every fiber of your being. It has to be said that this character could be nominated for the biggest weasel in a video game award. Mr. McDowell’s voice acting brings a fine polish to an otherwise dull script, making me want to see more scenes featuring him.
MECH COMBAT:
Who doesn’t like strapping into a giant mech to blow up everything around you? There are a couple moments in Killzone 3 that take you on a wild drive in the hulking exoskeletons. While there is always a set path to follow, the pure joy of blasting an enemy unit with your rockets is worth noting. There are a couple different kinds of vehicle combat levels in Killzone 3 and all of them add up to a fun time.
What Sucked
STORY:
If there is one word which describes the story of Killzone 3, it is ‘Confusing’. Killzone 3 starts you out at the end of the previous game but takes you through two different paths – after which you are left scratching your head. The feel of the story is very much a repeat of several other video games, save for it being set in space. While tried and true, this formulaic storyline end up making the game feel shorter than it is, as you pretty much can see what’s coming before it happens. Thankfully, despite the predictable script, the scripted in-game moments are filled with intensity and would be right at home on the big screen.
NOT REALLY A SEQUEL:
Killzone 3 felt more like an expansion during our play through. The gameplay mechanics felt the same and everything just felt middle of the road. With the series known as being a bit of a game changer in the FPS genre, it felt like Sony listened a bit too much to fan whims and wishes. Killzone 3 has really become just another generic FPS game out there with the same story line/different setting. It would have been better for the developer to put more assets into other aspects of the game rather than hyping the MOVE controls so much.
BUGS:
During my play time with Killzone 3 I encountered several nagging bugs. For example, every level had some weird audio glitch where script would be in the wrong place. The famous ‘stutter bug’ also returned, sometimes causing cut scenes and in game dialogue to repeat over and over. While these bugs were not a roadblock in playing the game, they did become quite annoying and should not have made it past QA.
Final Thoughts
Killzone 3 is a middle of the road game. It offers a a fun 6 to 8 hours of play in a world that we feel like we have seen one too many times. There are some definite fun areas of the game but overall it just tows the line. Killzone 3 is worth buying if you want to spend a great deal of time on the multiplayer side of the field. If you are only interested in the single player experience, then this one is going to be a rental for you Shogunites.
