Killzone 3 is the first-person shooter game exclusively formulated for the Sony PS3 console. It is looked upon as the premier entrant in the acclaimed series to incorporate the use of the recently released PlayStation Move. Back in November last year, we had the privilege to indulge in a multiplayer beta review. At once we were taken aback by the visual pleasure and intensifying combat material fed to us. After seeming to just recover from the multiplayer offering, we were splashed with the Killzone 3 single-player preview which we readily feasted on without a complaint escaping our lips.
The multiplayer offering of this particular title did strike a sharp chord and hence compelled us to dive into the preview of the pure game itself. Like observed in the previous mode, this slice of action was indeed what we expected however, since it was just a preview version, we couldn’t go beyond the first level. What also intrigued us was the incorporation of the PlayStation Move capability into gameplay which proved to be a new approach to intense action titles. We’ve seen this device being utilized in other casual games like Sports Champions and PlayStation Eye-Pet but to be paired with an action game seemed to take the genre to a whole new level altogether.
The Killzone 3 preview follows close on the heels of the dramatic Killzone 2 ending. We are found back in the shoes or should we say army boots of the previous game’s main character called Sev who is a Special Forces operative fighting for the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance against the evil Helghast Empire. Although all hope seems lost, Sev and his crew strive to survive and aim at dealing out some serious damage before biting the dust. The events that took place in the level known as ‘Icy Incursion’ were indeed chilling and did send an icy chill running down our spine as we took hold of the PS3 controller.
The game kicks off with tons of action right from the beginning. With this offering, we experienced much tighter shooting with man-to-man combat being mixed with large enemies and when we say large, we mean something that is of humongous and gigantic proportions. Bearing quite a few similarities to the multiplayer version, the single player iteration also had awesome graphics to enjoy. The enemy put up a fierce fight here as well but went down easily with a few bullets in their head or body. We were armed with an arsenal of weapons that could be recharged via stations situated at regular intervals throughout the stage.
Big guns, big battles, and of course big machines are what you can expect in the forthcoming game. Referring to our earlier mention of monstrosities, we had to deal with a huge mechanical robot. For nearly 15 minutes, we found ourselves facing a huge mechanical robot that was running amok while blasting at us all the while with the cannons. There was no way we could take shelter in any bunker as the huge mech was targeting these buildings as well. We had to fire at it with special weapons from the ground and finally delivered the winning strike from the sky. This inclusion seemed to be an interesting addition to the FPS events in the Killzone series.
If a gigantic metal beast behind our back wasn’t bad enough, we had to put up with Helghast scum scurrying around to surround us. But multitasking wasn’t such a bad thing especially with smooth movements and seamless aiming. Not to forget trying to duck and hide without getting too disoriented to get back and confront the enemy. The battlefield was a chaotic ground with derby flying all over the place and bodies being blown sky-high. The tunnels, bridges and make-shift bunkers strewn across the plains all added to the overall mayhem that was taking place in the background.
With the move’s popularity growing, it is not uncommon to see most PS3 games today and henceforth offering the Move option besides employing the PS3 controller. Likewise, we were able to use both accessories in the preview. Going into the battlefield armed with the Move and Navigation controller proved to be a whole new feeling altogether. Being quite responsive in nature, maneuvering and firing via these add-ons seemed to be fun and more life-like indeed. A notable factor was observed when reloading our weapons. We had to simply rotate our fist to replenish the ammunition. New close-combat mechanics and brutal melee attacks could also be executed through the motion controller when near an enemy. We however felt that the employment of shooting accessories would have been more comfortable.
Although this is a single-player preview, we could bring along a friend into the foreground so that they can partake in all the destruction that was to ensue via splitscreen. The second player does come in handy especially for watching your back as well as healing you if fallen during the course of battle. Besides engaging gameplay elements, the FPS title also featured excellent cinematics and vibrant cut-scenes that brought more depth to the story. Keeping up with the times, the game is further endowed with 2D and 3D versions.
Final Word: Killzone 3 is the sequel to what was fathomed as the best shooter of last year. Promising to provide plenty of goodies, the preview version certainly captured us with its non-stop action, wide range of weapons and its fair share of evil Helghasts to annihilate along the way, Although our stay was short, we look forward to jumping into the role of Sev once again for round two in the complete version of Killzone 3 and this time there’ll be no looking back. Till then, we urge you to keep those fingers loose and toughen up the arms if you want to dive into the game with the PlayStation Move.