Killzone 2 review build and preview build comparison

See the comparison between the review and the preview build of Killzone 2

[resistance100]

I really don't know how GG keep doing it, they somehow manage to make it look alot better each time in a short space of time.

[WANNA GET HIGH]

Man this game looks amazing.ENOUGH SAID.

[Sarcasm]

I notice the colors are much more varied in the review code.

And to think they're still polishing up before the final release. Sony better advertise this game like Halo!

[Carbide7]

OMG, look at the change in Natko's face.

[thebudgetgamer]

im glad sony gave gg a second chance cause it semms to be paying off

:)

[actas123]

KillZoned!!!!!!!!!

[FantasyStar]

I really don't see much of a difference other than a palette swap.

[ThanatosDMC]

One funny thing a friend of mine said is that they used Unreal Engine for Killzone 2, and he defended it valiantly. I couldnt stop laughing while i was playing Smackdown vs Raw 2008 with him.

[rockleex]

compared to other games.

Because Killzone 2 uses a different post-processing effect on every individual object/lightsource/special effect/etc.

So if Guerrilla Games notice that a certain post-processing effect could be enhanced or toned down or edited in a way to make the game look better, then they can go and fix it real quick without affecting frame-rates and other technical stuff too much. ^_^

[dragunrising]

Can't wait for this game. Seems like the colors are much richer and saturated. Very good. It was definitely a good move to release Killzone 2 ahead of the holiday rush. With zero games in sight for the next month and a half, everyone with a PS3 needs to snatch this up new. Some people might cry about split screen support, however I think it will get patched later. Even if it doesn't split screen is dying as a requested feature; replaced by online co-op. After Resistance 2 failed to wow me, I'm looking forward to Killzone 2 more than any other game for 2009.

[emitsomla]

This game looks good, great global lighting, but you sony fanboys are guilty of over-hyping this game. Look in the images that were provided and show me good textures. Show me the bumps... There are none. Every single image I have seen of this game, lacks detailed textures and bumps. The images are soft, leaving no texture/bumps for light to reflect/bounce off of. The devs may have excluded detailed textures to compensate for PS3's weaknesses: The weak RSX and low main memory... Thankfully the devs had the Cell to work with to produce incredible animations. If you guys don't see that, then your fanboyism has blinded you once again.

[y0haN]

Main memory? What are you talking about. The memory bandwidth is massive, and graphics+main is the same as Xbox's total, but it's much more capable RAM on the PS3. Go troll somewhere else.

[solidjun5]

*sigh*, please go back to that festering bridge, from which you crawled from. This is a new account, but I'm sure you're not new. Look at your comment...I mean troll history.

[GUNS N SWORDS]

ps3's memory issue explained here.

http://www.ps3vault.com/ps3...
http://www.videogamer.com/n...

[emitsomla]

The PS3 does not have more capable RAM than the 360, absolutely no way. The PS3 has 256mb of main memory period. The 256mb video RAM is not shared, so that leaves only 256 for the CELL to work with. On the other hand the 360 has 512mb shared memory. at any given point the memory for the Xenos can exceed the RSX. This shared memory makes the 360 a more capable machine... Oh yeah, this is my first account with N4G...

SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY KILLZONE LACKS TEXTURE!!!!!

[solidjun5]

you're retarded! Enjoy the game is you're playing it. If not, then be quiet!!!

[GUNS N SWORDS]

......lol, the disagrees are just because i said "issue"

thoughts in a ps3 gamer's head "this guy is totaly wrong, there is no issue it's perfect it was mad by god him self"

lets just step out of our bias fanboy cages shall we, lol.

first things first, things like "geometry instancing" help ps3 and 360 take away all that burden of massive memory consumption. games like "gears of war" and even "uncharted" use it a lot for their enemies.

geometry instancing keeps one model in the pipeline and outputs multiples of that model. it helps with grass and trees and other types of graphics work that need to be rendered in high volume. it was a feature prior to direct x 10, and now because of unified shaders, geometry functions have been integrated into the common flow of the graphics pipeline. except that ps3 doesn't have unified shaders, specifically the rsx is a traditional dedicated shader array. now, games like assassn's creed try to use less of it and i think you can see why.

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/...

everyone in this shot needs their own memory to suffice for texturing, which is why they said this.

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/20...

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

ThanatosDMC and shameless wrestling game plugs FTW!!!

[Varsarus]

Shared memory is not the way to go for gaming, it's what you find in cheap laptops, the unified memory has cut the 360's bandwidth to less than half of what the PS3 has, aswell as the 360's CPU and GPU having to fight eachother for the memory, it's also super slow, and you need EDRAM to sort it out, which is how the 360 has 10mb of it.

XDR is more powerful than the 360's shared ram combined, it's lower latency, always a plus

It's kind of like how Epic was going on saying that Gears 1 couldn't run on PS3 due to RAM issues, then a year later, we see Epic saying that UT3 on the PS3 looks better than Gears 1....

@1.13

that first link of yours takes you to 2 years ago, the OS footprint is much lower than that now, 38MB vs 32MB on the 360.

[boodybandit]

Please help me try and understand someone like you. You basically created your account 2+ weeks ago just to put down the PS3, their games and people that support their console?

I only have one question for you.
Why?

When I look at Killzone 2 all I think is wow. I can't believe how good this game looks or moves (animation). Is there another shooter on a console that is on par with it? Personally I don't think so. So why not get excited for it if you are a shooter fan?

[emitsomla]

First off I own a ps3, but I am not blind, nor bias, nor a cult member like the rest of you. Like I have said in my previous comments, i see the weaknesses in both systems; When I look at Killzone 2 in motion, there is no game out there that can touch it in terms of animation. But since you have a untrained eye, you are unfortunately blind to Killzone's lack of textures... I ask you to take some 3d character modeling, texturing and rendering classes, so your eyes will be opened... If there is anyone out there who is knowledgeable in 3d modeling, please tell these cult members that Killzone's textures are extremely soft, almost down to nothing... I am not trying to bash the game, I am just being realistic.

[EXCLUSIVEGAMER]

wtf.i thought the beta looked groundbreaking on consoles.
they added more polish and facial animations. crysis is capable on the ps3. this is proof.

[Daver]

@Emitsomla

Hmmm...
http://ps3.psu.com/New-Kill...

best texture i have ever seen

[GUNS N SWORDS]

your talking like you know so much about this.

"Shared memory is not the way to go for gaming, it's what you find in cheap laptops, the unified memory has cut the 360's bandwidth to less than half of what the PS3 has, aswell as the 360's CPU and GPU having to fight eachother for the memory, it's also super slow, and you need EDRAM to sort it out, which is how the 360 has 10mb of it."

laptops like the macbook pro? because i recall that it has a 9400m G, and a 9600m GT. the 9400m G is THE NORTHBRIDGE of the system, and therefore uses SHARED MEMORY. is it a crappy laptop?

you're confusing the PURPOSES of each. in a CLOSED ARCHITECTURE (such as the case of a console) the memory NEEDN'T BE dedicated. it doesn't matter, the console is expected to perform UNIFORM for ALL of its life.

"XDR is more powerful than the 360's shared ram combined, it's lower latency, always a plus"

256MB of GDDR3 IS NOT LIKE HAVING MORE MEMORY!

having x memory means you can load x data.

when you have x memory and you need to load 3x, the system has to load 3x in 3 chunks of x. no matter how fast it can do it, it can only load x at any given time. NOT 3x.

can hyperthreading take the place of having more cores? no, so faster memory cannot take the place more.

"It's kind of like how Epic was going on saying that Gears 1 couldn't run on PS3 due to RAM issues, then a year later, we see Epic saying that UT3 on the PS3 looks better than Gears 1...."

and then a year after that they said gears2 IS better than both. in regards of ps3's UT3 (don't why you even brought that up, but even that game had problems on the ps3)

http://forum.beyond3d.com/s...

@1.13

"that first link of yours takes you to 2 years ago, the OS footprint is much lower than that now, 38MB vs 32MB on the 360."

yes i already knew that and it's cause ps3's and 360's hardware hasn't changed since it came out, and as for ps3's new OS you'll need proof to confirm that, also you should confirm 360's NXE as well.

[boodybandit]

But Justin Pinter does not have a trained eye and emitsomla does!

/sarcasm

[pwnsause]

the game has improved yet again. sure its not much, but an improvement is an improvement.

[Magic_The_Celt]

Indeed it has.

[Helghast Slayer]

The added lighting has dramatically improved the way the game looks. GG have outdone themselves folks. Killzone 2 is SO going to own it's not even funny.

[Faztkiller]

my playstation mag review screen are amazing anybody eles got theirs yet?

[pwnsause]

im buying my magazine tomorrow.

[Foliage]

The textures seem a lot more crisp, although the earlier images seem a bit blurred. There was also some noticeable lighting changes, especially the towers in the first image.

The best comparison is that last image. There are a lot of improvements there.

I can't wait to play this game!

[ascendantofrain]

Looks like all they did was change the lighting and boy did it make a difference!

[she00win99]

i think they also improve the texture too..

[Shane Kim]

I don't know if that classifies as textures or not, (Im no computer genious) but Sevs beard and ear in the first picture and the black guys forehead on the last picture are better. And the lightning is obviously better.

EDIT: After looking closely on all the pictures, I can say that they all look more detailed.

[ascendantofrain]

Well...improving lighting can have a positive effect on textures if used right.

[orakga]

Yeah, the addition of lighting sources is quite noticable, and it makes the game look less gray overall, at least in this segment. But then, again, this is like the first 2 minutes of the game.

BUT, I think all the shots are quite noticably more CLEARER than it was in the preview version. I do not think this is because of improved textures, but rather because they toned down some of the post-processing.

Which, if true, might actually be a good thing because KZ2 had a lower framerate than some of the other PS3 games as of late, and that is a very effective way to improve framerates. Better framerates = better gameplay.

[WANNA GET HIGH]

I just hope sony dose not make the same mistake with LBP and R2 and just sit on there ass and not market the game.They really need to step there add up this year.Last yr MS crushed them in the marketing game and it was clear.Sony really needs to have loads of T.V adds this year.But the sad thing is that it might not happen,for some strange reason sony depends to much on word of mouth :(

[Sarcasm]

@2.4

If they had to tone down some post processing effects, but also manage to improve detail and frame rate. Then it's an excellent design choice.

But I think what they're doing is adding detail in places that people will focus on, and take out some detail in areas people wouldn't care.

Referring to picture 1, Sev is much more detailed. The tall pillars in the background are improved and also seems to have spot lights on the top. But if you look at the ground below, there is less detail than the preview code. But again, possibly a design choice of what they want to sacrifice in order to achieve more detail in the places they want.

Polish polish polish.

[CryofSilence]

http://media.1up.com/media/...

Didn't advertise, indeed. >.>

[MmaFanQc]

the textures are better or its just an illusion because of the new lighting?

[peedie16]

the lighting in this game is sick

[eelnats2000]

I CANNOT wait for this game.

Even by changing some lighting, theyve managed to dramatically make the game more realistic.

Come Feb 5, i'll be playing the demo that i got from Gamestop.

YAYYYY

[Jager]

They where right, Nakito (or what ever his name is) Face was messed up from shadowing!

[Aclay]

I didn't really expect the Review build to be that much significantly different than the Preview build, but WOW! Guerrilla has done an awesome job. Aside from the lighting, to me the Review Build has a much clearer, sharper image as well.

And Kudos to Sony Santa Monica and Insomniac for their collaboration on Killzone 2 as well! I really hope that more Sony devs. collaborate on certain projects for the PS3.

[trancefreak]

link is dead?

[Simon_Brezhnev]

seems like it

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

So, no more Zelda games?

[Mr Tretton]

yeah, right when I posted this in the n4g ps3 forum, splat

[iceatcs]

That's me :P

Anyway neoGAF got killed.

But I got link for y'all N4G users :)
http://img.photobucket.com/...

[TheExecutive]

Hook us up with the upload on youtube asap!

[Junse]

And thx for the work uploading the video

[iceatcs]

on the way. It is big file, should be HD version :)

Will link on for N4G :P

[TheExecutive]

god d*mmit you turds killed neogaf.

the worst part about it all is I was just reading about how there are no more podcasts (video or sound) from 1up...

[Rice]

Wow in that span of time, gg did a great job with the graphical appearances. Textures are alot better much cleaner, you can tell by the first pic the guys facial hair is alot crisper. It seems they used a much lighter filter, seems kinda green. And the guys forehead is friken shiny.

[El_Colombiano]

Killed GAF? Is...that...possible?

EDIT: Totally agree man. After having these graphics, this game is capable of so much.

[TheHater]

anything is possible with this game. Many of us, including myself, felt that this game wasn't going to live up to the E3 2005 trailers in term of graphics. But dam, it surpass it in some area.

[Sevir04]

That looks in credible. The texture on Sev's face on the first pic is like Night and Day..

Game of they Year Confirmed. KZ2 pwns. Nothing on the PS3 or the xbox 360 in the shooter genre and even Low end to mid grade PC's can compare

1 month had this game looking like OMG to ZOMG!!!!!!!!!

faints*

[TheExecutive]

well in all honesty it is probably a couple of months. Preview build is probably from September or October...

I would like to know if the pictures are in fact from the review build. No one has stated that yet although i would expect them to be.

[Skyreno]

Sweet improved the game much better .. I WANT THIS GAME NOW!!!!!!! :(

[Sangria]

Thanks for the alternative link. The game becomes more and more interesting, the waiting is so long.

[Dissidia]

seems to be significantly more color in the review code

[Faztkiller]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!
big change for the good this game never fails to amaze me

[ultimolu]

...I hate you Sony. :[
STOP WITH THE TEASING! ;____;

[REPLOID24]

shots is where you can tell the most. looks very good, and i will be getting my pre-order at gamestop to check out the demo, yo.

[DrWan]

i really don't see any difference, they both look great...err u guys smoking too much crack? How can u tell with such low res pics when clearly the pic timing is different so therefore lighting is different.

I don't want to fool myself, but u print those squares out and shovel them around and ask me to put preview build on one side, and review build on the right side...i bet u...none of us can do it correctly

Edit: Assuming that u didn't know already that the final build looks more "Green" hue.

[Sarcasm]

Are you blind?

The colors are more varied, the lighting is more dynamic on the walls, the character models look more detailed. Even from those tiny little screens we can see that.

Look at picture one, the hair on Sev's face. It's more crisp and sharper on the review code. Look at the building standing in the back, it's more 3 dimensional and has lighter parts and darker parts and is much more detailed.

And the review build doesn't have a green hue, it has a warmer more realistic color saturation.

[DrWan]

that can be adjusted on ur TV. Even on GTA4, there is the Brightness, Hue, and Contrast bar.

Those pictures could have came from different TV with different setting. U don't know any of that, this comparison is not scientific, not in a controlled environment.

You can say absolutely nothing about those shots.

[TheHater]

They user that made the comparison reply on this news. Why don't you just ask him/her if they use different TV and what not.

[Rice]

Drwan, you make a valid statement which could be totally true. But! In the first pic you can clearly see a difference between the two faces, the hair is much define not as blurry as the older build and the last pic, the guys forehead matches that too Rihanna.

[god_o_war]

do your eyes look similar to this X.X

[DrWan]

I need to see 1080p video comparison, not some dinky 4x4 squares with non-standardized HDMI input and TV setting. I'm out of this topic discussion. Peace.

[dude_uk]

but if your using screen/tv capture hardware doesn't that mean that it has to go through the hardware before the TV/monitor?

sooo in a way... it doesn't matter what TV because capture cards are used in PC's and it isn't capturing images from the Monitor, but straight from the Console...

=x

[y0haN]

DrWan these are officially released videos, so I'm guessing they were output by the same hardware.. You don't suddenly see higher res textures in some areas because of the output device.

[wwedx]

BUT i THINK they look the same as gears of war 2 but im almost sure theyll be better

[San anto]

Blind or just a noob? Maybe both?

[Vagrant_1]

looks alot clearer and cleaner

[Swatjr101]

Got a demo card for Killzone 2 pm. I think I can share it

[Funky Town_TX]

Now release the game already. I have been waiting since E3 2005 for this.

[buddyro]

they did a little touch up on the lighting engine.

[trancefreak]

killzone 2 #1 seller @ gamestop http://www.gamestop.com/def...

[Sitdown]

how do you know that it is the #1 seller? Is it because it is headlining the page? Anyhow......even though I plan on getting the game, I have to ask.......exactly what game(s) is it competing against for #1 seller right now?

[Bathyj]

After all this hoopla, you people better actually buy this game. I dont want to hearing crap all year from those that shall remain nameless crowing about sales on and on.

Of course, I'm worrying about nothing, this will sell like little circles of pan fried batter.

[jkhan]

By the way the review build is from December 2008. There is no Jan 2009 build outside the GG offices :P

[gametheory]

gray

[Sheddi]

Did u feel better now?

[PS3CELLGRILL]

I don't wanna make none of these fools on here mad but this games graphics this don't impress me sorry its not the be all end all game some of you want it to be.

[Graphics Whore]

Then what games graphics do impress you?

[villevalorox]

hahahaha. and i was like :| on the preview code. I did not think it could have got any better. lol.

[bviperz]

I will not hit the link, I will wait for the only build that matters: my build.

[Radiodread]

why you gotta ruin the fun, f!ckface? STFU

[PS3CELLGRILL]

HERE THEY COME THESE NUT CASES

[Sheddi]

Yesterday me and 4 other buddies had a KZ2 meeting in HOME :P
haha it was fun actually.
Now I know that club houses alone are gonna make people use home.(when they arrive)

....yeah, thats how much kz2 is wanted :P we couldnt wait for the official club houses so we had to start one our own.

[Rs]

Its hard to develop games for the PS3!? Sorry but that argument is now officially considered OLD!

[Arsenal4Ever]

There has been like 4 major improvements since 2005. I finally know the difference betweeen a good dev and a bad one.

[SAiOSiN]

Rico's face has more detail in the last picture.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Looks like they improved lighting or changed the palette color which had a positive effect on textures and details, I hardly believe that those textures were missing before. But than again I'm not sure, maybe that was one of their last steps was adding more detail. Looks pretty damn good.

[Allowen]

I am sure KZ2 will be a fun game and since I got a PS3 I will end buying it but I must say that it might RULE indead if played online.

For me it might be a bit boring since it will probably will be short and no co op on on the campaign and I will probably not play it online since I hate these 20 years old death matches on FPS.

After buying MGS4 and considering it one of the worst games I have played in 2008 I will tray to not follow what ppl think about... like ... "OMFG this thing has the best graphycs in the world ,I must buy it NOW !"
Ok that when I bought my PS3 I was thinking on high resolution and beautiful graphics but that is not a bait I will caugh.
No co-op= loses points to me , then 8 hours campaign max because the game FPS is focused for online play also loses points to me.

Bioshok >>>>KZ2

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

How long did it take you to beat Bioshock, dude? Did I skip like half of the game or something?

Honestly, Call of Duty 4 was only like 5 hours long for many people...but it was so good that nobody cared.

[darthv72]

to be honest, the only thing that matters is how it will look on my 42" samsung plasma. Judging by the way other ps3 and 360 games look, this one is a welcome addition!

[akaFullMetal]

cant wait for this to be touching my ps3, February wont come fast enough!!!