It has been just over 2 years since we last delved into the Killzone universe (on a console) and boy have things changed. Killzone 3, literally, ended with a big bang when the Helghan home world was destroyed by Sev and co. I said back then the ending felt a bit rushed and I was unsure how they could really make a successful sequel without rebooting the series. Their answer was Killzone: Shadow Fall and honestly I would have preferred a full reboot than this half-assed mess. The problem is, Killzone: Shadow Fall is highly unrealistic.
You may say that criticising Killzone: Shadow Fall for being unrealistic is a bit harsh considering it is a sci-fi shooter, with inter planetary travel and a race of human offspring who have a hard on for the Nazi wardrobe, but the set up still needs to make sense. After the events of Killzone 3, the ISA and Helghast organise a deal where the ISA would give part of their world (Vekta) to the Helghast survivors. After several years a wall is built to divide the two nations who live on the brink of war (Cold War parallel here). This causes a major gameplay problem that the developers tried, admirably, to solve. With this setting you can’t have an all-out run and gun type of game because it doesn’t reflect the setting. The set up feels like a list of random “cool” suggestions with little thinking of how this would impact gameplay.
Stories have evolved in recent years; to the point where the story is as much a part of the gameplay as the controls/level design. So when I was mowing down waves of Helghast in Shadow Fall, I often thought that my actions should start a war of some kind. I was clearly ISA (evident by what the Helghast say) and I wasn’t unequipped (so it would be quite hard to deny ISA backing). What I was doing didn’t relate to the setting I was in. At one point some Helghast invade the ISA part of Vekta. The game justifies this action by saying they are terrorists and not the Helghan government but this is quite hard to accept this when they look exactly the same. There is no identifying marker saying these were the Black Hand (the Helghan terrorist group). This all just makes the game extremely hard to follow. I often found myself clueless on where I was and why I was there. The voice acting didn’t exactly help sell the story. Overall the voice acting was pretty weak with cut scenes falling flat and the dialogue feeling it was best suited for a Syfy channel film.
What is odd is, despite the plot being stupid and the voice acting being less than stellar, I really enjoyed myself when I played this game. The level design is pretty damn good. It isn’t as open ended as I would like but you do feel like the environment you explore belongs to a much larger ecosystem. It is something that is lacking from most first person shooters. It feels like the world doesn’t end past the invisible wall which is the problem with a lot of games. This is helped by the phenomenal draw distance. Not everything is fine and dandy with the level design as I did come across an instance of just pure laziness. In one level mid-way through the game I managed to enter a room that was an enemy respawn point. I shouldn’t be able to get to these points in a next generation game. This was something that was barely acceptable at the start of the 7th generation.
Killzone: Shadow Fall does get the graphics and the performance right. This is one good looking/preforming game. The developers have finally gotten rid of the brown smudge effect, which has plagued first person shooters since Call of Duty 4 was released, by adding colour (even the Helghast side of the fence has colour). The character models and environments are extremely detailed (there are some, graphical, stand out moments that will make your jaw drop) and there is little to no performance drop.
Killzone: Shadow Fall offers a new gameplay mechanic which is actually quite useful. You may think the game is playing itself but the automated robot is very useful and quite comforting to have with you on those lonely solo missions. I found two of its abilities useless except for the zip line (which is a necessity at some point during the game) and the attack mode. The attack mode is really useful and creates opportunities for you to out flank entrenched enemies. Speaking of the enemies, the AI isn’t spectacular but nor is it crap. They duck behind cover and sometimes slowly move towards you (depending of the level) but they don’t think as a unit which is a big shame. They attack as individuals which is something I was hoping that would disappear in a new generation.
Being set in a different era to Killzone 3, the weapons in Killzone: Shadow Fall have (not just changed but) evolved which keeps this game feeling fresh (a big bonus since the weapons haven’t really changed since Killzone 2). The weapons also feel varied with the same base weapon appearing but with differing attachment each time. It is a nice touch. The weapons pack a punch as well. They sound and feel extremely lethal
The multiplayer has also evolved. Like the single player mode (and past Killzone games) your character has weight to him (something I am pleased to see return) but at the same time the multiplayer feels like a totally different beast. It is everything Killzone 2 was but better. The maps are varied in size and intensity and the performance is solid. The big change is the custom mode option which means you can go all retro and have a pistol only map. It is an underrated feature that I do miss in competitive online multiplayer. Also the XP system has gone and a new challenge system takes its place which is less about getting to a certain level to unlock stuff but a more personal touch to the online experience (unlocking things by class). There are three basic types of classes to choice from (Scout, Support and Assault) which may seem limited but each class has a significant role to the warzone. I am actually having a lot of fun with the multiplayer (something I haven’t said in a long time when it comes to a FPS)
Overall this game falls short because of its story/storytelling and honestly I am not surprised. The problem is Killzone: Shadow Fall is being affect by the abysmal ending that was Killzone 3. Whipping out the Helghast home world was a monumentally bad idea. It flung this game into a situation that the developers clearly tried to fix (sadly they failed). This is a big shame as this is a visually stunning game that preforms very well both online and offline. It is still an extremely fun game to play but I must give this game a 7 out of 10 as the story/storytelling is awful and forgettable.
It's been 10 years since Killzone: Shadow Fall arrived for PlayStation 4 early adopters, and there's no sign of another sequel.
Sadly it was dumped by Guerrilla to focus on Horizon games only. Mainline, VR and Multiplayer.
lmao sadly? Are you pretending to have actually played the series lol Sorry bud, no Killzone on Xbox.
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.
@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.
“Sadly”?
The Horizon games were among the best games of all time. Killzone Shadowfail wasn’t.
True, but damn the memories of KZ2 multiplayer. Still no MP as fun as that to this date.
And Sony as a whole dumped the FPS genre so they wouldn't have products competing with COD and (until purchase) Destiny.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I think Kill Zone would do great in Sony's LS push. As well as MAG reboot and bring back Resistance into LS.
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.
The Amsterdam-based studio reflects on its humble beginnings, beloved franchises, and growth through the years.
Up there with the top tier in the industry. Love Guerrilla Games - Horizon Burning Shores is simply STUNNING.
Same. They nailed it with Horizon. The trouble is I also want a new Killzone! Can't I just have it all?!
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!
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
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?
It's been 3 games, this includes Call of the Mountain. Also no, its a great improvement over HZD.
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.
@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
Wow, very impressive. I didn't know the numbers were so high for Forbidden West. Still playing through it myself
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.
Such a wonderful studio. They deserve all their success.
The Decima Engine is absolute 🔥 I'm just mad they have abandoned Killzone.
They are probably working on mutiple projects. One of them is Horizon 3, but another is a multiplaer game and probably somehting else.
In August, online servers for several PlayStation games will shut down, leaving their multiplayer functions unplayable.
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.
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!!
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 :(.
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.
I'd love KZ2 multiplayer again. I also think they could easily incorporate a mode to compete with Battlefield style game modes
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.
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.
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.
@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.
@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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
The sixaxis felt fine in my hands since they're small, but the ps5 really made me feel the difference. So ergonomic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Horizon is priority now its a mega franchise for them maybe after Horizon they might revisit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I think this is a good review, but I really disagree with the final score and the gameplay score.
I mean, the gameplay of KZSF is pretty nice and there are some cool ideas.
The story is weak in your eyes? I don't think it relates to the gameplay.
Also, you review suffers from the same problems of a lot of other reviews out there. Killzone is not (only) about the campaign, the MP component play a strong and important role in the franchise and in ShadowFall the MP is really, really good. So, even if you think the campaign sucks, the multiplayer is so good you can't really score this game under the 8 (well, let me say I hate the "score" concept, but it's a very fast way to express an opinion!).
Also, you score the Online and fun factor with a nine, so the overall scores doesn't reflect at all the previous scores.
It's like: Hey Jeff, this game is very fun, with an awesome online, but ... meh.
You mention too many times that the story is a mess, but this game is not Bioshock, HalfLife, etc. so to give a "decent" score to a fun and enjoyable game because of the story, it's not so "fair" (for this kind of game).
Killzone, it's about spectacular action sequences, with challenging moments, an awesome MP with great maps.
So, I don't know why but it looks like a lot of gamers give too much importance to the story, for games that are not story-centered.
In the end, to score an FPS "low" because of the story/storytelling sounds pretty "strange" to me, but I must admit your review is pretty nice, better than a lot you can read "out there", so I hope you don't take my message as a "personal attack" :)
Good review, without spoiling anything for anyone here, I agree with your story complaint. The last good killzone story was 2. And that was good not great.
I think you may have been a little to harsh because of the story.. The game is a launch title, and shows off the early capabilities, beautifully. (Yes the story was horrible, but I knew I was not buying it for the story, I wanted to see the tech. which it delivered on, that's just me.)
I own, and play each.
BF4 9 -Graphics, gameplay.
Killzone 8.5 -Graphics, and gameplay.
Ghosts 7.75 -party system, and gameplay
Killzone had the most rewarding style, of single player.
Ghosts had the most Cinematic & Arcady feel to single player.
Battlefield, haven't played past the 2nd chapter yet, so I can't say.
good review but how can fun factor be a 9 while gameplay a 6
flawed gameplay make fun factor worse
I see your point there but I also agree that a game such as Killzone isn't primarily created or bought for the story.
I mean, when I want a good story with awesome characters I play Uncharted (I also read the books and they have the same tune and feeling).
What KZ needs to do, for me, is blowing me off and it does.
Personally I think such a game should be rated separately for the online and SP campaign. It really depends on he person though on what's important for you.
Me, I'm going to play a hundred hours online (prolly) so it certainly weights much more than the 15hours (rough number) of the campaign.
I cannot agree with the 6 on gameplay though and your other scores don't agree with it as well.
I do think an overall 7 is too low for the good things you point out.
Let's be fair and 8 would fit better, something like KZ with a very good story would be a 9-9.5, just as Uncharted, don't you think?
p.s. I don't think KZ story to have been so bad so far (not having played this last chapter yet), there isn't many shooters around that have actually built a saga spanning so many games and I think that's something pretty cool of KZ.