60°
6.0

Review: Killzone: Shadow Fall (DarkZero)

Dom from DarkZero writes - "I have to admit that I haven’t been all that excited for this new era in gaming. This is probably the first time where I have genuinely felt apathetic about what to play on launch day. I suppose you could say that I’m a bit down that there isn’t that one standout title in this next-generation of gaming to make you explode with awe, which I guess we call current-generation now? Since two half-shiny, half-matte black boxes have just released on the market to successful sales.  On Sony’s side of things, Killzone: Shadow Fall is their key launch title for the PlayStation 4. Now, some people might have a bit of a chuckle with that, but I have fairly enjoyed past Killzone titles, and the series has always been known to showcase fantastic graphics for the hardware they run on, so what better way to show off the power of the PlayStation 4 than launching with a Killzone game."

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joab7773776d ago

Another bullshit score. I will say that the sp story leaves much to be desired but otherwise wasn't terrible. Offered a little more openness and options for combat. But the multiplayer is amazing. I know its an opinion but I like it much more than CoD...B4 and KZ r two best right now. I love what they did and how they took focus off of the norm. I am sure it angers some but it puts emphasis on team play....it creates the most intense battles...map player count and size is perfect. I dunno. I wish they would have taken the k3 dynamic ideas and pushed them forward or included some of the staples from k2...which is one of the best ever imo. Oh well...I guess to this guy its nothing but eye candy!

Shadonic3776d ago

I've had it for a few hours and so far there campaign is interesting while the multiplayer needs some improvement which thankfully from what ive heard are coming.

Dread3776d ago

yep another bad review for a sony exclusive
of course it is bull, sony never makes bad or mediocre games they are all perfect tens. Its a conspiracy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ms paid for it as always.
lol

BattleAxe3776d ago

"I have to admit that I haven’t been all that excited for this new era in gaming. This is probably the first time where I have genuinely felt apathetic about what to play on launch day"

I feel the same way, which is why I'm not buying a PS4 or Xbox One. Titanfall on PC is where I'm going to spend my time.

MadLad3776d ago

I don't plan on owning anything, outside of the WiiU, before 2015.
There just is no justification for the price of the consoles.

abzdine3776d ago (Edited 3776d ago )

Titanfall looks plain boring, i'm sorry...
the VGX video really shows how boring that game is, for me at least.

Shadow Fall disappoints me more and more everytime i play it. i'm waiting for DLC to hope they can win be back again with this game... in the meantime, i'm on KZ3!
Nothing pisses me off more than when i cant see the objectives that well. why the hell did they make them almost invisible?

Shadonic3776d ago

I'm feeling the same and i literally just got it. hopeing that the upcoming update and the DLC ( i heard its free) plus the upcoming free to play trial thats going out to everyone brings some players in and kicks the game into gear. right now its like im playing PrettyZone: slowfall

LuditPRIME3776d ago (Edited 3776d ago )

Titanfall.
When you play it you will change your mind. :)

MrUndrhill3776d ago

Yeah I agree, I really enjoyed Shadowfall, but it made me go back to KZ3 which I found to be much better. They lost some of the essence of Killzone when they changed it so drastically.

Evil_Abed3776d ago (Edited 3776d ago )

This is what style over substance results in. This franchise has been a thinly veiled tech demo for the graphics capabilities of the PlayStation consoles from the get go. KZ2 may have marveled many with its impressive looks, however, those looks are no longer enough to excuse the lackluster gameplay and so so story.

I am glad reviewers are no longer being heavily influenced by pretty graphics when scoring games, after all, when the shine fades, gameplay is and always will be king.

Step it up a notch or 4 GG, or this shallow fail syndrome will follow the Killzone franchise forever.

abzdine3776d ago (Edited 3776d ago )

KZ2 and KZ3 have highly addictive MP!!
Those Frozen Dam and Akmir Snowdrift maps are BEAUTIFUL!!!!

bjmartynhak3776d ago

Scores...

He liked the multiplayer, but not the single-player. Then it is a 6...

The enemies waves are used in three occasions if I'm not mistaken. Doesn't seem too much. The first one is really easy (forest, waiting for the airship, classic in fps). A bit harder on second (only until you find the Voltage) and the last is the hardest (before a boss battle). The last chapter is not waves, it's just you kicking the front door.

I have to disagree with the OWL, I think it was well implemented. Except for the zipline, which is extremely limited.

joab7773776d ago

Did he also hate battlefields sp aspects b/c they r very similar except that the owl actually opened up the map. Some reviewers complained that the waypoints weren't good. Its because they r so used to following the guy with the follow title. Try exploring and figuring it out. And they didn't just spawn waves. Yes...I wish there was one more diff level but whilethe story was once again quite pathetic, the gameplay wasn't. And the multiplayet is justification enough for an 8. It is a refreshing experience from the steroidal run and gun of CoD. It daringly took the emphasis off of k/d and leveling and put it on gameplay and teamwork. Some of the most intense shit occurs! The maps r great, player counts r perfect and its quite balanced. Oh well!

Domstercool3776d ago

I actually didn't think much of the campaign at all, it started off exciting with some interesting concepts, then it just went downhill after that. The last two chapters (not including the bonus after the credits) where just monotonous. I don't want to collect plugs to stick into things. I prefer the Vita Kilzone's SP over Shadow Fall's.

If it wasn't for the multi, I would have scored it lower, but I find the multi to be solid fun. In regards to the BF comment. Yes, BF single player is poor too, but the multi is exceptional. I love the concept of Levolution (dumb name) and those make for exciting maps, and make BF4 better than BF3. That game doesn't even need a campaign IMO, while Shadow Fall's multi, while better than the SP of Shadow Fall, wouldn't be as close to BF4's Multi, if it was a standalone product.

Again, all just my opinion. I have nothing against people disagreeing

Domstercool3776d ago

Oh and 6 is still above average, btw, so I'm not saying Shadow Fall is just an average game. I'm saying that Shadow Fall is above average attempt at the genre, but not a good one, or, IMO, better than KZ2 or KZ:Mercenaries.

kratoz12093776d ago

Well i may not be a video Game Journalist
But i would rate this game 7.5

I enjoyed it more than Battlefield 4(MP is broken) and yet somehow that game got GOTY for FPS

Show all comments (25)
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.

purple101636d 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.

ClayRules2012636d 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 :(.

636d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box636d 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.

Astrokis635d 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 635d ago
elazz636d 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 635d 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.

Hauntedasylum8636d 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.

DefenderOfDoom2636d 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
deleted636d 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…

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