240°

Why “Killzone: Shadow Fall” is the Most Important PS4 Launch Title

It hasn’t been the smoothest of sailing for Killzone since its debut on the PS2 back in 2004. It was brought into the world kicking and screaming as Sony’s doomed-to-fail “Halo Killer” that never really stood a chance to begin with. Gamers weren’t convinced that it could out-do Microsoft’s flagship series and it didn’t take long for those the beliefs to be substantiated as Killzone launched to a lukewarm reception and decent yet painfully disappointing sales.

It’s perhaps just as important for this game to deliver for the future of the franchise as it is to deliver for Sony’s next console. If there’s ever a time for Killzone to break out and become one of the Sony’s premier franchises on the level of God of War, Gran Turismo, and Uncharted, it’s now! There are no other first party games overshadowing it and for many people it’s going to be their first experience with the franchise and the PS4. A great first impression would do wonders.

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jumptogamer.com
dedicatedtogamers3903d ago (Edited 3903d ago )

I'm excited for KZ:SF. I'm not even that big of a KZ fan. KZ was ok. I loved KZ2. I got bored with KZ3 and stopped playing it 2/3rds through the game.

And yet, KZ Mercenary and KZ SF both look like really, really awesome shooters. You could erase the KZ branding and I'd still want to buy them.

darthv723903d ago (Edited 3903d ago )

im really looking forward to it. After the cliffhanger that was KZ3 i am really excited to see where this next chapter goes.

@dedicated...that would be a really good idea. It would be somewhat reminiscent of in halo 2 how you could play as the covenant.

although a dedicated helgast game would be much more deep and involving than a few chapters here and there. I know what you mean about the initial story. most just look at the surface and decide if its worth their time or not.

Me, i really like the story of KZ and halo for that matter. Many just dont get the gist of the story and how important it is to really understand why the game is the way it is...where its going unless they take a step back to explore the under tones.

dedicatedtogamers3903d ago

Oh man. The story.

I'm always so torn on the story. If you just play the games, the story (especially the characters) are really terrible, IMO.

And yet, if you dig into the lore and the backstory, it's incredibly interesting to me. I wish to death that Guerrilla would give us a fully-fledged Helghast campaign that allows players to explore the struggles of the Higs, because

*spoiler*

It's pretty clear that the Helghast aren't necessarily the "bad guys".

pyramidshead3903d ago (Edited 3903d ago )

I always wondered why the Helghast were British lol..
Was there ever a reason stating why?

JunioRS1013903d ago

I know, I beat KZ2 and KZ3, and I'm sure this isn't going to be a true direct sequel, because they'll reserve that for a full fledged KZ4, but I'm still excited to see where this universe takes us in Shadow Fall.

cannon88003903d ago

Killzone games are awesome. Oh and by the way I have some really good news. Killzone official page in facebook confirmed that secondary fire is back for killzone shadow fall! Check it out. https://www.facebook.com/ph...

AzureskyZ3902d ago

Granted i think KZ is gonna be an important and awesome launch title-- but we havent seen the entire lineup yet and sony could be sneaking couple of darkhorses announced at either tgs or gamescom-- i think its too soon to say this is THE most important title.

iamnsuperman3903d ago (Edited 3903d ago )

I am expecting more "launch window" titles at Gamecom especially from the European developers with TGS showcasing the Japanese stuff.

Killzone is important and it might put more people onto Killzone being a launch title. I like the Killzone franchise which means it is a must buy for me but I can see why other people don't. I does look good and I am very interested to see the setting they have done. From the general setting you can see it is drawing strong parallels to the Troubles in Northern Ireland and I hope they take cues from that

guitarded773903d ago

I'm a Killzone whore... so any other launch announcements is just icing on the cake. Having Killzone and Battlefield at launch is all the shooter I need though. I want some more action games announced. Planetside 2 is my other big shooter, but it won't be there at launch... but I'm okay with that considering KZ and BF will keep me busy.

I kinda wish they just announce an Uncharted or God of War, even if it's two years off. I just want a HUGE announcement so haters can GTFO with their "where's the Uncharted or GoW".

If Sony announces any new games at GamesCom, I think there may be a WipeOut announcement, or possibly a Media Molecule announcement since the conference is Euro-centric. WipeOut is said to be in development for PS4. The MM announcement may be less likely since they want everyone focused on Tearaway.

MizTv3903d ago

Need me some killzone!!!!!!!

Sadist33903d ago

It's the most pre-ordered launch title because there is literally nothing else worth playing. And don't say that stupid game Knack, or boring Ass Creed

Heisenburger3903d ago (Edited 3903d ago )

Wait so if I am looking forward to *Black Flag and Watch_Dogs then I'm wrong?

Who do you think you are?

*typographical error

r213903d ago

Well arent ya the lil crying angry fanboy? :C

Mr-SellJack3903d ago

Don't u mean Knack?
Kz SF is a generic FPS nuff said and I love Killzone

kratos_TheGoat3903d ago

what kz sf is generic did you play it troll? me can't wait for kz sf to come out I'm hype

Mr-SellJack3903d ago

Y is it not generic,care to explain?What is new that I haven't seen before?Owl,the slow-mo are damn cool and that sheild thing but those aren't massive to be considered as changes and to be an exception from the bunch.Open vast missions?Crysis has done that already.Look I adore Killzone especially its interesting backstory and background and crazy fun missions and look forward to Kz SF but till now the previews are pretty stale,I do like the changes its visuals most notably and I embrace that change but where the hell are the machines and awesome enemies?The franchise should take notes from Resistance which stomps Killzone especially with the story.

Knack is most important imo:
1-Its suitable for all ages
2-Its basic,doesn't have a steep learning curve and looks fun
3-Its a new Ip in the Platform genre!what others are still alive besides LBP and Rayman?none!even R&C faded,recent Sly didn't do much they're cheaper now because they're afraid of taking risks and have disappointing sales and that will continue to every platformer especially if Knack fails
Basically the author is a mor0n and doesn't have a clue about gaming

Ju3903d ago

KZ is as generic as any other shooter. What's the point?

HeavenlySnipes3903d ago

lol @ Knack

Probably the last game I'd get for my PS4 out of all the first and third party games that have been announced. I'd only play it if it came with Plus

Mr-SellJack3903d ago

That's pretty harsh I would prefer it to Just Dance,Eternal Crusade: Warhammer 40,000,Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,Peggle 2 and a few others
Found this: http://www.ps4playstation4....
cool right?

MizTv3903d ago

That's that I was thinking
It's like how long till its on plus?

Eyeco3902d ago (Edited 3902d ago )

@Ju

The point is there are 2 more generic shooters it's going up against Battlefield 4 and COD- Ghosts, 2 generic shooters that are FAR more popular releasing around the same time, do you honestly think people are going to buy Killzone Shadow Fall over those games ?

Sony doesn't need the Killzone franchise anymore, there are far too many shooters on the market now compared to 2004, far too many more popular shooters especially, even Halo has a hard time keeping up, this franchise has had 3 games to prove it's weight for Sony but it's failed in that, these games don't shift systems in the way Sony hoped, I mean Killzone 2 costed 40 million dollars, did it really sell like a 40 million dollar game ?

Sony should go back to what defined them in the PS1 era, RPG'S, Fighters, Platformers, Action Adventure, these are genre's that pushed the Playstation brand not shooters.

xReDeMpTiOnx3903d ago

It depends to me killzone 2 was my favorite and one of the best innovating shooters of this gen, then where as killzone 3 kind of just fell off what made killzone good so far.

Ju3903d ago

I loved the 3rd. I understand why people think they screwed up. But it played better (smoother - yea, yea, the weighty controls...nah) and it looked much better. MP was better in KZ2 - they should have kept it with the KZ3 visuals. Guerilla also listened to much to the feedback in KZ2 and changed everything for KZ3 which interestingly backfired. What does that tell you? Don't listen too much. Make your game.

MizTv3903d ago

I agree
Kz2 was my fav fps this gen
The mp in kz3 was nothing I wanted it to be
It has some cool maps but the classes sucked
And 24 instead of 32
That being said I hope KZShadowfall is like 40+ player
Bring back spawn nads
Actually balance the classes
Then ill be a happy dude

Mr-SellJack3903d ago

I might have sad news.I saw 8 players in vekta mall in the interface trailer way back in e3 it might be a private match or they have specific amount of players for the maps and modes maybe.Hopefully mp footage is revealed at GamesCom

Show all comments (61)
400°

Killzone After a Decade in Hibernation

It's been 10 years since Killzone: Shadow Fall arrived for PlayStation 4 early adopters, and there's no sign of another sequel.

Obscure_Observer156d ago

Sadly it was dumped by Guerrilla to focus on Horizon games only. Mainline, VR and Multiplayer.

Vengeance1138156d ago

lmao sadly? Are you pretending to have actually played the series lol Sorry bud, no Killzone on Xbox.

Cacabunga155d ago

With the downfall of COD and BF, Killzone def. has a chance to make a groundbreaking comeback

155d ago
Notellin155d ago (Edited 155d ago )

What a low-functioning reply here typical of the fanboy N4G community.

Rimeskeem155d ago

“Dumped”

I think it’s called moving on.

Barlos155d ago (Edited 155d ago )

They brought out 4 main games and 2 spin offs: one on PSP and one on Vita. That's a decent run for any series. I also understand that Shadow Fall wasn't a success commercially despite it coming out at PS4 launch, and as a big Killzone fan even I couldn't get into it, so I think Sony/Guerrilla could see it was time to move on.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love another Killzone game in the vein of KZ2 but it's just not happening. Hell, I'd even take a remake or remaster of the first 3 games.

I'd hardly say it was "dumped" though, it spanned 3 console generations and 2 handheld generations.

1Victor155d ago

@obscured:”Sadly it was dumped by Guerrilla to focus on Horizon games only. Mainline, VR and Multiplayer”

Happily it was dumped by Guerrilla to focus on Horizon games only. Mainline, VR and Multiplayer( edited to reflect the writer true feelings and allegiance)
Kill zone was a FPS far ahead of its glitched competitors with nauseating bad camera angles, 10 years old screaming curses like a drunk sailor and bot aiming assist.

ChasterMies155d ago

“Sadly”?

The Horizon games were among the best games of all time. Killzone Shadowfail wasn’t.

Shane Kim154d ago

True, but damn the memories of KZ2 multiplayer. Still no MP as fun as that to this date.

Mr_cheese155d ago

Dumped and shelved are two different things

Tacoboto155d ago

And Sony as a whole dumped the FPS genre so they wouldn't have products competing with COD and (until purchase) Destiny.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 154d ago
GoodGuy09156d ago

I loved the KZ2+3 campaigns and MP in 2. There could be so much more done with the franchise. Horizon although good, I wish they'd go back to this wonderful IP. Take a break from Horizon please.

Flawlessmic155d ago

Agreed dude, I would absolutely love a reboot of the series, one can only hope that either resistance or killzone makes a return.

Have nothing but great memories, especially of the first 3 games, but all 4 were show stoppers graphically.

blackbeld155d ago

To making it a successful reboot they have to change that buttons layout! Make it playable like the cod button layout. Otherwise I’ll skipping it again.

Rynxie155d ago

And that's the reason why many fps games failed. Instead of being original and catering to it's fans, they tried to make it like cod. No, kz doesn't need cod button layout. It needs to be like it was on kz2 or balanced liked kz3.

Lightning77155d ago

I think Kill Zone would do great in Sony's LS push. As well as MAG reboot and bring back Resistance into LS.

Sharky231154d ago

@Lightning77

I think WarHawk would have been a great Live service game.

thorstein155d ago

Killzone games were so polished. The gameplay was just simple joy. MP was one of the best experiences.

I remember KZ3, just staring at how awesome they animated the water and then getting wasted because of it.

P_Bomb155d ago

It’s been a decade? Now I’m sad.

LiViNgLeGaCY154d ago

I hear ya bud. We're due for a revival.

Show all comments (58)
230°

20 Years of Guerrilla: The Story of a PlayStation Studio

The Amsterdam-based studio reflects on its humble beginnings, beloved franchises, and growth through the years.

Read Full Story >>
blog.playstation.com
SullysCigar346d ago

Up there with the top tier in the industry. Love Guerrilla Games - Horizon Burning Shores is simply STUNNING.

1Victor346d ago

Can’t wait for their next franchise

SullysCigar346d ago

Same. They nailed it with Horizon. The trouble is I also want a new Killzone! Can't I just have it all?!

jznrpg345d ago

I’m with you I want Horizon 3 , Killzone and new IPs

badz149345d ago

I have yet to play Burning Shores as I just started Forbidden West (bought at launch, just unwrapped last weekend LOL) and playing on PS5.

man...I still can't believe the graphics especially now I'm playing it on my LG OLED. that graphics and with stable performance backing it up, GG really is the master of their craft!

Vengeance1138346d ago

32.7M sales in the Horizon franchise! With 8.4M coming from Forbidden West alone! Truly a hugely successful game and franchise as a whole. Looking forward to Horizon III

Shane Kim346d ago

That's kind of a huge drop though. It's only been two games.

VersusDMC346d ago

One year after realease HZD sold 7.6 million.

https://www.noobfeed.com/ne...

So not a drop off.

Unless you're saying a HFW should have sold as much now as HZD sold in 5 years?

Vengeance1138346d ago

It's been 3 games, this includes Call of the Mountain. Also no, its a great improvement over HZD.

solideagle346d ago

lol you are comparing:

HZD: 28 February 2017 - May 2023 (6 years+)

HFW: 18 February 2022 - May 2023 (1 year+)

We will see if it surpass original number.

Phoenix76346d ago

@shane, 2 full main games, 2 DLC add ons, 1 VR spin off game, oh and a an official LEGO set.
Not too bad for an ip that's only been on market for 6 years

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 346d ago
REDGUM345d ago

Wow, very impressive. I didn't know the numbers were so high for Forbidden West. Still playing through it myself

thesoftware730346d ago (Edited 346d ago )

Yooo, when I first saw that Killzone 1 footage at E3, my friends my brothers and I were like, Holy shit! When it came out, it didn't look exactly like it, but we sunk so many hours into 1 & 2.

I even liked Killzone: SF, it was a spectacle to look at, and even today it looks good. I hope they make a new one. Can you imagine how that will look, and they can get some modern FPS pointers from Bungie.

blacktiger345d ago

thank you fps lover, I'm with you

talocaca346d ago

Such a wonderful studio. They deserve all their success.

The Decima Engine is absolute 🔥 I'm just mad they have abandoned Killzone.

OzzY-waZZy346d ago (Edited 346d ago )

Kinda wish they move on from Horizon tbh.

potatoseal346d ago

They are probably working on mutiple projects. One of them is Horizon 3, but another is a multiplaer game and probably somehting else.

Imalwaysright346d ago

There were rumours that they were working on a Socom reboot.

Show all comments (47)
370°

Guerrilla Announces Shutdown of Servers for Killzone: Shadow Fall and More

In August, online servers for several PlayStation games will shut down, leaving their multiplayer functions unplayable.

purple101637d ago

whrere on earth is the next killzone, im soooOOO thirsty for some proper weighted, (but still fast when running/sprinting) fps gamplay, it felt sooso so good on ps3, with that, lets be honest, very small, quite uncomfortable sixaxis dualshock controller, that was just too small for western sized hands, ok for japanese kids i suppose was the point>??

now with PS5 controller, it would be totally masterfull.

ClayRules2012637d ago

I hear you. I want some NEW Killzone, especially on PS5, with the PS5 DualSense controller with that ever so impressive DualSense of an experience Haptic feedback!

Knowing how far Guerrilla has come since Horizon: Zero Dawn, Killzone can only benefit greatly from their ever growing talent!!

Bobertt636d ago

I think Sony has given up on their exclusive shooters. They haven't released a remaster for the Resistance series or a new SOCOM game either. I don't think Guerilla is in a rush to make Killzone since they have Horizon now too :(.

637d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box637d ago

All I want is for them to build Killzone 2 with multiplayer included from the ground up, keep the gameplay the same, and I'll be happy.

GG with KZ3 and Shafowfall haven't been able to match KZ2 so I don't really have faith in another sequel.

Unfortunate that KZ2 came out during COD era where every game that didn't pay like Modern Warfare was deemed garbage. KZ2's multiplayer is definitely an all time great.

Michiel1989636d ago

since when was kz2 deemed garbage?

MizHDTV636d ago

Right on dude
KZ2 was just a special game to me

sinspirit636d ago

I'd love KZ2 multiplayer again. I also think they could easily incorporate a mode to compete with Battlefield style game modes

Seraphim636d ago

KZ2 was one of maybe a handful of games I actually put time into online. What a blast!! And the campaign was excellent as well. I certainly miss that dark world. Still ashamed I never buttoned up that Platinum.

Storm23636d ago

A remake of Killzone 2 with the same grittiness and feel on PS5 would be f*cking incredible. The SP and MP were just perfect. I played the sh*t out of that game. Would happily pay a lot of money for that.

DarXyde636d ago

Honestly, I don't like FPS games. They're not for me, but I do agree that there was something about KZ2 multiplayer that even someone like me enjoyed.

Sony really needs to get better about tearing down servers. I don't like that they shut them down.

shadowT636d ago

agree, KZ2 was a masterpiece

Muigi636d ago

KZ3 multiplayer was better imo.

Outside_ofthe_Box636d ago (Edited 636d ago )

@Michiel1989
"since when was kz2 deemed garbage?"

As with anything, things don't get the appreciation it deserves until way after it's release.

KZ2 got a lot of flak for it's weighty controls that many mistook for input lag. People didn't like that it wasn't a twitch shooter like CoD. You also had people saying things like "it feels like you're controlling a midget", "enemies take too long to die" (you can't pray and spray in kz2. You have to shoot in bursts for your shots to be more accurate), people complained about the sniping, etc.

This led to a lot of changes in KZ3 that turned the vets off like reducing the amount of variables for bullet damage, getting rid of spawn grenades, etc.

BISHOP-BRASIL636d ago

@DarXyde

I don't think there's much Sony or any other company in that position can do much different about it... Keeping servers running simply cost money, these gomes don't generate none anymore, so eventually they need to pull the plug.

Astrokis636d ago

KZ2 was definitely better then KZ3, but the third one still had strong suits. It’s been many years but I remember something about Shadow Fall being made by a team at GG that did NOT do KZ2 and KZ3 multiplayer which is why it felt different. I remember when I found that out it made a lot of sense about Shadow Falls multiplayer feeling so off.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 636d ago
elazz637d ago

Horizon zero dawn sold more copies than all of the killzone franchise combined including spin offs on handheld. I guess that's the reason why won't see killzone from guerilla soon. There is at least one more mainline horizon coming out and their second team is working on horizon VR I believe. So it's gonna be a while unless another studio takes over.

Profchaos636d ago

I've been playing a lot of Killzone 2 on rpcs3 with a duelsense combined with the ability to remap controls to a modern standard and bump the game to 60fps it shows that we really need a remaster to probably the best killzone game to date although shadowfall technically beats it in the graphics department art style was so different that they are incomparable

MizHDTV636d ago

I’d be happy with a release of KZ2

John_McClane636d ago

Killzone went to the same place as Socom and Mag, more money in 25 hour single player games with no servers to maintain. Socom was literally the reason I bought a PS2, Resistance FOM the reason I bought a PS3, all gone now.

senorfartcushion636d ago (Edited 636d ago )

Killzone has never been weighted correctly, the jumping never worked.

A new properly-weighted shooter in the Killzone series would be great. More like Killzone 1 and 2 than SF.

I think the issue comes from the fact that the Helghast side is sympathetic while looking like Nazi stormtroopers. The Trump age has led artists to avoid this look entirely.

ironmonkey636d ago

I feel something may be announced soon

ManMarmalade636d ago (Edited 636d ago )

The sixaxis felt fine in my hands since they're small, but the ps5 really made me feel the difference. So ergonomic.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 636d ago
Gardenia636d ago

Killzone 2 was/is so good and it still looks good today. The multiplayer was fun as well. If they make a new Killzone I hope it is the style of Killzone 2.

Hauntedasylum8637d ago

I wish Sony didn’t abandon Resistance and Killzone. Those are some of my favorite series on PlayStation. If they’re not gonna make anymore, then maybe a remastered collection of each could be negotiated.

DefenderOfDoom2637d ago

KILLZONE 2 was my reason for buying a PS3. If a new KILLZONE or RESISTANCE was coming out in 22 I would try to buy a PS5 immediately.

Lightning77636d ago

SSOD2 would be big for Sony. The only reason they would be interested in it is if they can turn it into a live service game.

In which I can see that happening.

Hauntedasylum8636d ago

Hell yeah, brother. You and me both.

VanDamme636d ago

For anyone trying to understand @Lightning77’s comment, they had a typo, this should clarify:

SOD2
Superoxide dismutase 2, mitochondrial, also known as manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase, is an enzyme which in humans is encoded by the SOD2 gene on chromosome 6.

Profchaos636d ago

After 5 killzone games including portable Sony felt it needed a break I wouldn't say its abandoned however I believe we may randomly get a ps5 remaster with improved lighting to test the waters and eventually a full blown new game after all you can't just leave shadowfall on that ending

SeTTriP636d ago

Horizon is priority now its a mega franchise for them maybe after Horizon they might revisit.

Imalwaysright636d ago

I refuse to play for online play but there is one game that would make pay for it and that's Resistance Fall of Man. That's the only game that would make me throw my principles out of the window without feeling ashamed of myself.

jBlakeeper636d ago

Remember in the mid 2000’s when nearly every developer started to do FPS or linear third person? Now nearly every developer wants to do open world exclusively because it’s the easiest type of game to leave things out and then expand upon the world with DLC.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 636d ago
deleted637d ago

So many fond memories of both Shadowfall and Mercenaries Vita online! Shadowfall's SP may have been weak, but the MP was still a ton of fun. I had a lot of time in both, and it's especially tough seeing the Vita's best mp experience get shut down.

RIP my old friends.

LoveSpuds636d ago (Edited 636d ago )

In my opinion, I thought the single player games was really decent too and was treated quite harshly by the critics, but then, I think the Killzone franchise as a whole was kinda under rated by the critics. I always enjoyed the story in these games and I liked the slower, more deliberate gunplay too.

I remember getting my PS4 on day 1 and the first game I installed was Killzone Shadowfall, my workmates and I would play it for hours on end, the mode whish switched between game modes was brilliant.

P_Bomb636d ago

A world without Killzone Online. That it’s come to this…

Show all comments (73)