Is Killzone 2 A New Era's Half-Life?

PSXExtreme: "You know, we've been thinking (smells like something is burning), and based on all the hype and our own personal experience with Killzone 2, we just had to reminisce a bit. The industry is old enough now where very few occurrences are actually "new;" most all can be compared to a past happenstance. In this way, we're starting to view Guerilla's impending masterpiece as the Half-Life for a new generation."

[Spike47]

Halo 1 and 2 imo were amazing but Halo 3 was overrated and mostly due to Microsoft's usual hype machine.

Killzone 2's hype is well deserved.

[IronAva]

"Killzone 2's hype is well deserved"

That’s strange because the last time I checked, the first game was a "Killer" hit. I bought it, thought it was ok but it had nothing on Halo. People get upset about "hype" but if the previous games in the series have proven themselves to be successful then the producer of the product has a duty to hype the next entry as much as possible. Halo is Microsoft’s bread and butter. If I were them I would hype it all the way to the moon. Just like Killzone, if it is successful, I bet Sony will do the same as they now have a game to go toe to toe with Halo.

And by the way, what Halo did that was a major first is prove to people that you do not need a PC to enjoy a FPS.

[SAiOSiN]

yea, pretty much.

[RememberThe357]

That was pretty straight foreword :)

[SAiOSiN]

well...every knows it's gonna be THE next great fps so what's the point of writing 124345435345 paragraphs telling people that. only ignorant trolls think this is going down the drain. :)

[Helghast Slayer]

Couldn't have said it better myself. KZ2 is the game that defines NEXT GEN and is only possible on the ps3. The majority of the gaming media knows this even though some might not want to admin it. The only people that think otherwise are the 360 loyalists who still believe Halo (Power Rangers) is the best game in the world.

It's time has come and gone and a new title is claiming that spot. If you don't want to move farward with time then i suggest you go back to playing super mario or something of that nature.

PSN ID: Kush_Reapper

[chaosatom]

of Gaming!

[pwnsause]

well you can say it is this Era's Half-Life. Half-Life was Genre Defining. it did things that were not done in an FPS. Killzone 2 Does the same thing.

[OOG]

personally I do wonder what Killzone is doing that is helping define the genre tho...they supposedly are doing everything really well....but I dont see anything genre defining....So id like to know what they are truly doing to define the genre? And the answer cant be graphics....because they will always get better and better....

*(if anyone disagrees...im happy to see why you think the game in genre defining...to get someones else perspective on it)

[RememberThe357]

You basically just paraphrased the entire article.

EDIT: @below: To be honest I don't think killzone 2 can be compared to any other FPS. The closest is COD4 and seeing both in motion, you can see the vast difference in gameplay. I think that is the defining factor is the list of games to mentioned. GoldenEye, Half-Life, and Halo 1 could not be compared to any other FPS out at the time. I see Killzone 2 in the same light.

[Fr0ZzZeN]

Exactly. There's nothing genre defining about Killzone. It's a great game, but it wont re-invent the genre as the best FPS have done(Goldeneye, Half Life, Halo 1)

[Gun_Senshi]

halo defined FPS hahahahahahha

KZ2 has FPS Cover system. something we never saw.

[LostCypher11]

Actually Halo 1 Was very defining in the terms of Console FPS... But thanks for coming out. and the Cover system has been done in Rainbow 6 forever now.

[pwnsause]

well, the fact that they are refining a class system and keeping a cover system in first person shows that it can be Genre defining.

[OOG]

class systems and cover systems have both been around for a while....and how does that do anything to define the genre??...hell they dont even use the cover system in the most important part of FPS games nowadays.... the ONLINE!.... and still im yet to see anyone give it a valid point of what is really so genre defining in this game....

[pwnsause]

but can you combine the classes? thats were Im getting at. prior games like TF has this system, but you cant combine one with the other.

in terms of the cover system, name one game that does it without switch from First person to third person.

of course people will disagree with me. I know prior games like Rainbow 6 does the cover system, but it switches from First person to 3rd person. see what I mean?

Thats why I believe KZ2 is Genre defining, that's my opinion. Its Genre defining because its improving/refining on things that could of been done right on an FPS.

[Firstkn1ghT]

KZ2 doesn't do anything new. All it does is borrow from everything else and mixes it in a pot. A twist of Call of Duty 4 with a heavy dose of every other dark war FPS with a sprinkle of Team Fortress 2 and you get KZ2.

[evrfighter]

we've hit a new low in gaming if people think a R6 cover system that doesn't go out of 1st person is genre defining.

That makes me sad. I'm going to go have a smoke now because I feel a /facepalm of epic proportions comin on.

[pwnsause]

"we've hit a new low in gaming if people think a R6 cover system that doesn't go out of 1st person is genre defining.

That makes me sad. I'm going to go have a smoke now because I feel a /facepalm of epic proportions comin on."

how is it sad? its innovation. ok maybe i didn't write my statement correctly. but taking the fundamental of something to making it better is some thing that I see thats more than just good. its nothing to /facepalm about.

[Mr PS3]

Comparing The PS3 to the RRoD3FixmeCrapBox

Killzone
Killzone
Killzone
Killzone

[Gambit07]

Wow...

[KingDragunov]

I think yes. Definitely.

[RyuStrife]

Nah, I doubt it. We don't need a new half-life Era yet. But we'll sure get the Killzone 2 Era.

[Sheddi]

true true
it has started its own era!

[OOG]

I say the new half life era will happen with a new half life.... other then that.... no.... plus this game isnt even available to buy yet...so you cant seriously be putting it into the same ranks as half life....

[heyheyhey]

woah is there a jungle level... where'd the pic come from?

[thereapersson]

I believe that's from the original Killzone

[gunnerheadboy]

That's from Killzone 1.

[heyheyhey]

i see... a shame really... it could have put the Crysis VS Killzone argument to rest, and the shut the colour-complainers up

[kingme71]

Add a little more pressure to the already high pressure cooker that is ready to burst. KZ 2 may be great but the expectations for it are so high, not sure if it has anywhere to go but down at this point.

On a totally different note, the article was reminiscing about past FPS milestones. I certainly recall seeing Wolfenstein at a friends house in the '90's and being totally blown away not to mention a slight case of motion sickness. Funny how things have evolved since those days.

[cyclindk]

I don't know, I was never even a huge Half Life fan, but I do recall the first Half Life game being the first time I felt engrossed in the story of a game, a part of the story... I don't know that any other game could do that for me again, maybe..

Either way, the beta was fun as crap and it will be a phenomenal game..

[anubis12]

1 problem the first half-life was good

[Rims]

thats why everyone is very jealous.

[zainkool]

Can't wait till I get my hands on this game...preordering it soon
I heard if you preorder it you get the game a week early...is that correct?

[Snow]

If you pre-order from gamestop or Ebgames you get a voucher you can redeem off of the PSN on febuary 5th.

Can't wait for the 5th..counting down the days..

[SAiOSiN]

lol halo wars demo announced for the 5th of feb....LOL! M$ is dropping huge turds in their pants.

[vlazed]

Nothing has been done that Doom didn't do first. Every game since then has merely taken advantage of the technology, at the time, to further the experiences of the FPS genre.

[Altered_Soul]

I am not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but I personally think the only thing that will be "the next Half-Life, will be Half-Life 3, because Half-Life 2 was the "next" Half-Life.

Now, I haven't played KZ2, of course, but my peeve is not with the game, or its ascendant to the throne potential, but the lack of writing in this article. The writer never mentions once WHY Killzone 2 will be the next coming of Freeman. No examples, just random postulation he calls thinking.

Again I am not bashing the game, since I have nothing to bash to the game for since it doesn't exist yet. But the article's write sure is exempt from typical journalism skills. Mass Media skills maybe not, but definitely journalism skills.

[Snyph3r]

a media embargo until Feb 2nd, then we'll see what every body thinks..but by watching the videos and previews Killzone will be an EPIC game...

[Tykis]

We shall see!

[darthv72]

So rather than label this game a "halo" killer there are those that want to label it a "half life" killer?

No labels..none..no more!!!! Don't ruin the integrity of a games potential by labeling it to be something else's killer. killzone is killzone, halo is halo and half life is GOD!! oops....

[Helghast Slayer]

Half life:orange box was a turd in my opinion. Now i don't know if it's because of the sh!tty port i played on the ps3 or if it's because i hadn't played half life 1 but killzone2 is the definition of NEXT GEN gaming. People are too shrouded in the past to move on to a new king in the FPS genre.

[poeo]

from what i've read, Killzone 2 has a fairly deep backstory, and it's not ridiculously dumb like in most shooter games. there are moral grey areas like who are the real bad guys in the conflict, etc.. in that way it is similar to Half-Life, that it's not a dumb game. much grittier and dark of course, but you know what i mean. an adult can play KZ2 and get something out of it instead of the usual "wow.. im a good guy shooting baddies and saving the universe". there is some deeper content there.

so, i think there is potential for KZ2 to be a true classic, AT LEAST a cult classic, a game of which people will still talk about years from now, not just reminisce the graphics but also the story/setting. EDIT: not to mention the multiplayer!!

[i_like_ff7]

Wow these compliments are remarkable. Anyone who played half life should know that calling something even close to being half life is the greatest thing that can be said about a fps.

[shamv]

COD Modern Warfare 2!!! Hype hype...

[forevercloud3000]

Steven Colbert!!!!
Where did you get that SELVERIA BLES SACKGIRL!!!?!?!?!?!!!

[Magic_The_Celt]

I wouldnt go that far.

i reckon Call of Duty 4/WaW became the new eras half-life

[Excuseme]

I don't believe that KZ2 will be redefining the FPS genre, I do believe that they near perfected it. There have always been bits and pieces in loads of fps shooters that i enjoyed.

But i do know that when we started shooting eachother brains out for the 1st time online, that's when i got hooked.

Some FPS did a more or less good job in keeping me entertained.

Haven't played the game yet, but like most, i'm jizzing all over myself over and over cause of the trailers and gameplayfootage.

But what caught my eye was an interview with the senior multiplayer gameplay designer here: http://nl.playstation.com/g...

Not gonna translate it, but what it comes down to are, in my humble opinion, all the good things an addictive MP needs in a FPS.

Besides, he states clearly that they made the MP to entertain and attract people new to the FPS genre aswell as hardcore gamers. If you translate via the web, you'll know what i am talking about :)

[Helghast Slayer]

It doesn't have to define the genre. It already has because it has done everything (those genre defining games did) better. People need to move on from the past and accept that a new king of FPS has landed.

[xc7x]

but hey who knows,maybe he has a point but for sure it'll redefine what a good shooter should look like.

[Cajun Chicken]

Killzone 2 may be amazing, but it'll be no Halflife.

I mean, one is a millitary based sci-fi shooter and the other is a deep narrative first person problem solver with platform and stealth elements.

These comparisons are getting stupid. Killzone 2 is Killzone 2. Nothing will ever be like Half-Life 1.

[xc7x]

It says it will define an era like HL did that's all. Believe me i played HL as much as anybody did but to make it out as a game that can never be topped is ludicrous.

[Cajun Chicken]

No, it was just the experience. If that game hadn't been made we wouldn't have all the immersive FPS we have now, it blended cinematic themes and gameplay perfectly.
Halflife was a really tight game.

I'm just saying that Killzone 2 is a game that shouldn't be compared to Halflife, due to the fact Halflife took a few risks, not only did you have the alien enemies, the army wanted you wiped out and dead too. The HEV suit was incredibly important and it perfectly blended first person shooting with platform elements and you felt so proud when you sorted out a puzzle such as twisting valves, pulling switches all the way throughout the game.

But we'll have to see. But right now, Killzone 2 just looks like a really good immersive action-movie style shooter. I'm on its side, but its no Halflife.

[xc7x]

like i said the writer isn't saying it'll be a HL but a game that defines like a HL,you missed the point.

[whitefang1988]

f#ck off the next half-life wt ever
half life 1 got 10/10's
killzone 1 got average of 6/10
half life 2 got 10/10
killzone 2 so far no 10
plus the story is sh#t for killzone its just a cheap cop out i'd rather play fear 2 than this peace of sh#t

[pwnsause]

i guess you never played a killzone game before. let me tell you this. When you judge games, you are suppose to play them first. you didn't. Killzone 1 was shot down primarily because of how mediocre the graphics were. The PS2 couldnt handle a game that was basically a PC port which never saw the light of day on your computer because sony took the exclusive rights to publish the game and bring it on the PS2. When it comes to story, it was great, it had potential, which is why it was given another chance to redeem itself with Killzone 2.

So please, before you look at ratings on some random site, please look at why they gave it that score, or just play the game you Twat.
and yes, KZ2 got a few 10s so far if you havent gotten informed yet
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Gamepro's review is going to be listed there soon with a perfect score.

And read the article again, its not comparing Half-Life to KZ2, its stating if it can redefine the FPS genre just as How half-Life did the same thing back in '98 (you were probably never born in '98 were you???) yes the game I played in 98 which made me love the series and its mods (CS,TF,BLue-shift, Condition Zero, etc...)

[abczby]

DO NOT EVER WRITE ANYTHING AGAIN. Nothing will ever come close to the masterpiece of Half-Life. Everything in Half-Life is better than it is in Killzone 2. Have you seen the horrid AI of Killzone 2? Compare that to Half-Life. Have you read about the story in Killzone 2? Compare that to Half-Life. At the time Half-Life was coming out, the graphics were above everything else by a mile, yet, you can't even compare Killzone 2 to Crysis. Crysis's graphics are 5 times as good as Killzone 2's and that all that Killzone 2 has. I love how that is the only thing that people ever bring up about Killzone 2. 'Its GRaPh1xs R da sh*t!!1!!11!' Well sorry to tell you this, but if you weren't poor and you could afford a PC that would run Crysis, you would realize they aren't. And if you could have bought a PC that ran Half-Life at the time Half-Life was released, you would realize how much better Half-Life was than any other game. But you couldn't, so don't ever try to compare Killzone 2 to Half-Life again.

I agree partially with Magic_the_celt's comment though that CoD4 is almost the Half-Life of this era, though Fallout 3 is 100x better than it and any other title released in the past 5 years.

[Helghast Slayer]

STFU

Killzone2 does everything that half life did better. Have you read the whole backstory of killzone? They can practically make 50 killzone games with fresh new environments and stories from the killzone universe alone. Have you seen recent gameplay footage? Because it's the most realistic shooter till date. Have you experienced the BETA? Cause the critic are praising to no limits. Have you seen the artistic look of it's environments? Cause the game breeds with life and chaos with everything happening at once, from thunderstorms, wind gusts, insect life, fully destructible objects and many more. I don't even know why i'm replying back to you.

Killzone2 is probably the only sci-fi shooter than keeps gamers rapped in reality. No alien stereotype crap around here bud. Half life was good for it's time but you people need to move along with time. Killzone2 is the new era of FPS's and the fact that it has taken the crown just hurts people so dearly. Deal with it and be apart of history.

I can't stand uninformed extremists who spread FUD about something they know nothing about. What real life (you know, the one outside your basement) doesn't take kingly to your lies so you jump on the internet hoping people of your nature can relate to your false claims. Keep your mouth shut and enjoy your crysis. Last time i heard the game was a turd with steroid graphics.

[demolitionX]

Well said Helghast Slayer.

[PirateThom]

Good lord no.

It'll be a good game, but Half-Life is the pinnacle of FPS.

Not Halo
Not Killzone
Not Call of Duty
Not whatever number of FPS games you want to list here.

[evrfighter]

What's also interesting to note also the mods that came out for half life; CS, DoD, Team Fortress Classic. Indeed Half Life spawned some of the greatest online games ever made. (free I might add to the owners of Half Life) that are right up there with doom, quake, and unreal.

In fact I think it's still safe to say That Counterstrike is still one of the most played online shooters today. As it certainly is the most competitive online shooter out today, despite being released 10 years ago.

[kewlkat007]

Ok people let's stop the Nonsense...

[Figboy]

i'm a die hard Playstation fan, and i LOVED the first Halo.

not so much the second or third, but me and the guys at Activision used to play Halo until 6 in the morning after our shift, and our lead kicked us out of the building because he wanted to go home and get some sleep.

don't assume that us gamers are like you.

you will NEVER admit that a game like Resistance 1, and especially Resistance 2, give Halo a run for it's money in terms of enjoyment.

you will NEVER admit that a game like Metal Gear Solid 4 trumps a game like Gears of War in terms of visuals, story, and emotional punch (the visceral action in Gears is second to none, however, but MGS isn't a balls out action fest like Gears, so that aspect of their games are hardly comparable).

you will NEVER admit that the Playstation 3 is a good console.

so simply SHUT. UP.

i don't think Killzone 2 is this generation's Half Life, but after playing the beta for 3 weeks, i DO think the bar has been raised for it's type of FPS.

CoD4, as good as it is, still lacked realism in terms of how your character moved about the environment. the pistol still floated about, and you still had damn near lighting movement speed, like you would with a mouse and keyboard.

Killzone 2 FEELS real. the way your character moves about the environment feels like it should when burdened with heavy equipments. turn speed for weapons and recoil are also painfully real, and unlike any FPS i've ever played (and i've played a LOT of FPS titles, from the original Half Life, to Goldeneye 64, to Halo; just three of the most influential FPS titles released). this is NOT a twitch shooter, and forces you to consider your actions carefully. because you can't rely on lighting fast speed, you won't go blindly rushing into a room without pausing to consider tactics in case someone is just beyond the door to your left or right. it's a very different feeling than most people are used to in an FPS.

also, the atmosphere is one of the most imersive i've experienced in an FPS also. the way power lines sway in the breeze, and debris floats about. the way columns crumble and break, and the general ambiance of the surroundings can't help but suck you in.

for the first time in, i don't know, EVER, i actually felt like i was the character in an FPS.

it's genuinely hard to describe, because you have to experience it for yourself, but being the ignorant tool that you are, First Knight and people like you, you'd never even give the game more than a derisive snort if you even bothered to pick up the controller for longer than 3 seconds.

spend a good hour or more with Killzone 2, and it will draw you in.

i'm not a big online multi-player gamer, but that beta had me playing EVERY DAY and NIGHT.

really, what more can you ask for?

[dgroundwater]

Dear PSXtreme and Sony fanboys. No, your game isn't nearly as important as the Half Life series. Keep dreaming.

[smurfie4]

He said that killzone has potential to redefine the fps genre in the same way that Half Life did. To set the benchmark from which all other shooters that came after it would be compared to. He didn't say it would be better than HL.

[Dark General]

Now, now i wouldn't go that far. For one, Half Life(2) isn't "genre defining" for me. Since well i don't really like the game since it's boring (in my opinion) and i don't know why so many people sploog over themselves because of the game. But my FPS measuring stick is Deus Ex: The Conspiracy. A game that is HIGHLY hard to top because of the gameplay and story are both superb.

But i do believe Killzone will be a pretty fun game. Pretty good as well. Not genre defining, not bad and probably not great. But a damn good game. Like Black was.