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| In the grim darkness of the future, there are only Brit-space-Nazis! |
Killzone 3
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PS3
Played: Single Player onlyRating: 8/10
Yes I just referenced Warhammer 40k, the most trope overdosed thing I know of and yes I’m a troper, so sue me. Anyway, Killzone 3 is like Warhammer, a story with space marines (Spehss Mahrines?) but unlike Warhammer, these ones aren't 8 ft tall abominations encased in Ceramite*, rather, they’re just Marines, in space. Which is fitting really as their enemies, the Helghast are basically Nazis in space.
What’s a Helghast I hear you ask? What is the game about, you clamour? Well, Killzone 3 is set in a not too distant future (like all the good stories) where Earth(merica?) decided to spread out and colonize other planets to increase the survival of the human race blah blah blah. It’s all very interesting stuff but I can’t really be bothered going into it. Ultimately, a bunch of humans working for (and/or a part of) the Helghan corporation settled a planet which they imaginatively named Helghan. Helghan is a death world (much like Australia) home to giant arachnids and crazy weather (much like Australia), lots of deserts(much like Australia) and people with strange pseudo-British accents (you guessed it). After landing on Helghan the Helghan workers began to change over time as their bodies were altered by the harsh environment of their new planet. They became the Helghan, their company, a nation. Eventually they went to war with the normal humans (over reasons which I can’t be bothered to detail, but believe me, they are interesting).
See, the problem with Killzone’s story isn't that it’s bad in terms of background. Just none of this background ever enters the foreground. You have an interesting group of enemies, the Helghast. Their very name means ‘hel-spirits’ or ‘spirits of hel’ (I think) and this is reflected in their ashen skin, black armour, glowing goggles and nightmarish appearances However they’re more than just faceless mooks, if the background material is to be believed, their motives, more complex than “KILL KILL REVENGE!”. Sure, not every game or film needs to be filled with philosophical questions, moral ambiguity, and so on, but Killzone 3′s story plays out like a basic action movie with the black and white dichotomy we've come to expect. Hell, not only do the Helghast look like Nazis, but they sound British.
Two American stereotypes in one! What only exacerbates this issue is that all the ISA characters are basically the American good-guys we've come to expect, upon moments we recognise their archetypical, clichéd characterisation, and can more or less guess at what they’ll do.
That said while the story is very simple, it does serve its purpose quite well; that is, setting up (or, providing an excuse for) all the set piece battles you’ll happily blast your way through. Yes, happily, regardless of how chaotic, or scripted they may appear to be, you’ll be shooting with glee. If you’re one who likes deep and meaningful stories (like me) and doesn't like mindless action (definitely not me) then sit the hell back and learn to enjoy the spectacle. Does Killzone 3 offer new and innovative game-play Not entirely no, it has some nice offers, good controls to be sure, and while the Melee system is unrefined: it’s easier to use a normal pistol whip/rifle butt, then an eye-gougingly awesome “brutal kill”, it’s quite entertaining regardless.
However the game can be quite annoying when you’re downed and one of your team-mates comes to revive you “COMING SEV!!!” only to stand in front of you, or a short distance away, distracted by the overwhelming numbers of enemies (in most cases, one or two). Yes, most of the time my team-mates were just meat shields who distracted my enemies by occasionally shooting them, or getting in the way of their bullets. Funnily enough, while the Helghast were the ones decked out like stormtr0opers, it was my team-mates who seemed to have the bad aim.
Then there’s the visuals. Many first person shooters claim to be the best looking thing around. In practice they end up looking a bunch of grey scribble on a brown paper bag (apparently brown is realistic?). Killzone 3 has some nicely colourful graphics; nicely accented greens and reds offset the primarily slate, gunmetal, and white backgrounds, although the level set in the (fictional) Kaznan Jungle is quite lush and funky looking, instead of the usual green wash I’ve come to expect from most virtual jungles. Crisp snow, verdant green jungles, nice inky space, what more could you want? Well, the game pulled out almost every setting apart from hell, and a sewer (or a hellish sewer) but by the sweet coffee of the gods, if it didn't look good.
Gameplay, story, and visuals aside, there’s always feel. Feel is both how good a game feels (did it feel like I crushed my enemies?) how the experience made me feel (it felt good crushing those enemies!) and if the overall package felt right (it felt really good playing this game, lots of crushy smooshy stuff!). SO, does Killzone 3 feel like a good, testosterone-poisoned manly man’s kind of single-player game? You’re damn right it does! If you’re after mindless (but paradoxically refined) action, stereotypes, archetypes, and a lazy Sunday afternoon kind of game, Killzone 3′s the one for you!
*a wiki walker too? Oh hell yes I amOriginally written for and posted on Comikkazee.
Posted on the 16th of May, 2012
See, the problem with Killzone’s story isn't that it’s bad in terms of background. Just none of this background ever enters the foreground. You have an interesting group of enemies, the Helghast. Their very name means ‘hel-spirits’ or ‘spirits of hel’ (I think) and this is reflected in their ashen skin, black armour, glowing goggles and nightmarish appearances However they’re more than just faceless mooks, if the background material is to be believed, their motives, more complex than “KILL KILL REVENGE!”. Sure, not every game or film needs to be filled with philosophical questions, moral ambiguity, and so on, but Killzone 3′s story plays out like a basic action movie with the black and white dichotomy we've come to expect. Hell, not only do the Helghast look like Nazis, but they sound British.
 |
Doesn't he look nice? |
 |
| “NO ONE SHOULD DIE LIKE THAT!” I didn't hear you complaining when I used it against them, Rico. |
That said while the story is very simple, it does serve its purpose quite well; that is, setting up (or, providing an excuse for) all the set piece battles you’ll happily blast your way through. Yes, happily, regardless of how chaotic, or scripted they may appear to be, you’ll be shooting with glee. If you’re one who likes deep and meaningful stories (like me) and doesn't like mindless action (definitely not me) then sit the hell back and learn to enjoy the spectacle. Does Killzone 3 offer new and innovative game-play Not entirely no, it has some nice offers, good controls to be sure, and while the Melee system is unrefined: it’s easier to use a normal pistol whip/rifle butt, then an eye-gougingly awesome “brutal kill”, it’s quite entertaining regardless.
However the game can be quite annoying when you’re downed and one of your team-mates comes to revive you “COMING SEV!!!” only to stand in front of you, or a short distance away, distracted by the overwhelming numbers of enemies (in most cases, one or two). Yes, most of the time my team-mates were just meat shields who distracted my enemies by occasionally shooting them, or getting in the way of their bullets. Funnily enough, while the Helghast were the ones decked out like stormtr0opers, it was my team-mates who seemed to have the bad aim.
Then there’s the visuals. Many first person shooters claim to be the best looking thing around. In practice they end up looking a bunch of grey scribble on a brown paper bag (apparently brown is realistic?). Killzone 3 has some nicely colourful graphics; nicely accented greens and reds offset the primarily slate, gunmetal, and white backgrounds, although the level set in the (fictional) Kaznan Jungle is quite lush and funky looking, instead of the usual green wash I’ve come to expect from most virtual jungles. Crisp snow, verdant green jungles, nice inky space, what more could you want? Well, the game pulled out almost every setting apart from hell, and a sewer (or a hellish sewer) but by the sweet coffee of the gods, if it didn't look good.
Gameplay, story, and visuals aside, there’s always feel. Feel is both how good a game feels (did it feel like I crushed my enemies?) how the experience made me feel (it felt good crushing those enemies!) and if the overall package felt right (it felt really good playing this game, lots of crushy smooshy stuff!). SO, does Killzone 3 feel like a good, testosterone-poisoned manly man’s kind of single-player game? You’re damn right it does! If you’re after mindless (but paradoxically refined) action, stereotypes, archetypes, and a lazy Sunday afternoon kind of game, Killzone 3′s the one for you!
*a wiki walker too? Oh hell yes I amOriginally written for and posted on Comikkazee.
Posted on the 16th of May, 2012
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