Killzone - PS2

It is the future, and mankind has learned nothing from its past mistakes and misdemeanours. For many years, a successful habitation programme has resulted in several planets - the colony of Vekta included - now occupied by humans. Whilst the majority has formed the ISA, the Helghast - a separatist faction of no good-niks - have distanced themselves, and are secretly planning all-out war. It is the future, albeit with eerie echoes of the present.

As Vekta's orbital defences mysteriously fail, the Helghast are able to land and deploy their troops quickly and easily. As defence forces become overrun and scatter among the city, the player's initial objective as an ISA member is to escort a high-ranking official to an evacuation point. 'So far, so humdrum', you may think; but before that particular train of thought even leaves the platform, you'll find yourself plunged into combat so intense, the phrase will no longer apply.

As a squad-based FPS - you assume the role of one of the four playable members of the ISA - the PS2 hasn't seen a game that even comes close to matching Killzone for sheer noise, action and playability. True, the controls take a bit of time to adjust to (isn't that the case with every worthy console FPS these days?), and your mission will fail more than you would like it to in the first couple of hours of gameplay, but persevere and all will come good. Killzone provides several gameplay modes including single-player, multiplayer (team-based and competitive) and net play for up to 16 players. Participants can equip themselves with an armory of more than 25 different weapons inspired by contemporary weaponry. In detail, there are 21 first-person weapons that the player can carry, five emplaced weapons, and hand grenades. Detailed surroundings showcase the grim setting of a wartorn planet, coupled with a graphical style that captures the grit and scary realism of intense conflict in the streets, in the jungles and in the trenches.

The comparison with Microsoft's Halo is inevitable - and fair. Whether Killzone is a Halo-beater, as was suggested by some sources during the game's long gestation period, is neither here nor there. The Sony and Microsoft camps can argue till the cows come home, on the pretence of getting their milk back, but the bottom line is: Killzone kicks botty, and is now available for non-XBox-owners. Halo 2 players can gladly keep theirs, 'cos now the PS2 faithful have their own planet to protect. more