Guerrilla: Don't call Killzone 2 a 'Halo Killer'

Softpedia: "The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have been duking it out for supremacy of the hardcore gamer market for quite some time. That is why each of the platforms has focused on getting exclusive franchises for itself, thus making itself much more popular with players who want a great experience.

While the Xbox 360 has Bungie's Halo series, a lot of people have compared it with Guerrilla Games' Killzone franchise, which, when the first game arrived, was dubbed a Halo killer. Now, as the second one was launched a few weeks ago, some analysts have quickly proclaimed it once more the series that will put an end to Halo's dominance of online console shooters."

[Blaze929]

that's quite obvious to see...

[- Ghost of Sparta -]

Pretty funny how you approved this even though the title's wrong and it was reported.

[BRACHATTACK]

Well i prefer Killzone 2, and thats all that matters to me...

[edgeofblade]

No, it's not a Halo Killer. But why do we need "killers"?

If we had avoided calling this and that a Halo Killer, maybe those games would have been evaluated on their own merits, instead of put in a cage with the other panda and told to perform. Un-deserving games get over-hyped and deserving games get under-appreciated.

Both exist just fine without one killing the other. I'm Forging a map in Halo 3 when I'm not playing Killzone 2. I give them BOTH their playtime because they are both great games.

Killzone 2 is an amazing multiplayer experience once you get used to the conventions of the experience, namely the controls. In my opinion, it's a unique experience that doesn't have to look to another franchise for a frame of reference.

It's entirely a fun experience, but giving games unrealistic expectations always ends in tragedy. So, if Killzone 2 should have been a Halo killer, no one should have called it a Halo killer until it... actually killed Halo.

Now, apply that principle to all of Sony's PR: Stop prophesying, dammit. You're mouth is writing checks that bounce, regardless of how right you might be. By telling the future, you change the future.

[FantasyStar]

True, but by putting developers under pressure, it'll encourage the developers to try hard out of pride and bring out a great game. Who doesn't love a little competition here and there, especially in the end: it's the gamers who win.

Sure under-appreciated games get crushed under the "killer hype", but it's playing with fire that I approve of. In the name of competition and innovation.

[edgeofblade]

@FStar:

I would normally agree, but you always have to question a principled response and evaluate it against results. In this case, your principled devotion to competition is very well-intentioned, but it assumes inaccurate hyping doesn't affect the results.

Competition is great, but we as consumers are messing with that formula by taking the competition out of the hands of the developers. We have very little control over the small details that can make or break a final product. But we can affect the expectations of the game. If fanboys get their way, all games get rated 0% or 100%... according to their loyalty... before a game even comes out. Their loyalty is a faith that dictates their own principled reactions. Therefore, you either expect more of a game than it can deliver or you don't expect anything and nothing excites you.

If games suddenly "appeared" out of no where, we would see a much more accurate evaluation for games. But thanks to being a platform-mediated market, you can't sell games without systems... therein the catch 22. And since platform-mediated markets are subject to an taller and deeper hype curve, the effects are magnified. So, hype is necessary, but should be restrained to keep from cannibalizing the industry.

The fanboy movement is the sign of that hype going out of control, eating away at the industry. It's why Nintendo is running away with the generation. It's why the hardcore fanboys need to recognize they are both on the same side and stop this downward spiral.

[JokesOnYou]

Halo franchise is a beast. Master Chief is an Icon. Nothing is going to kill Halo until they stop making Halo themed shooters...but hey Halo doesnt NEED to be killed, I have an idea how about other devs just make games that will match Halo's success and then we can look back in time and say damm that [ ] game was definitely one of the best shooters of all time, right along WITH Halo. KZ2 was good but personally it lacked its very own special identity that a shooter needs to make a big impact in a crowded and highy competitive market of shooters. I've played just about every decent shooter and I welcome other great games to make their own name just as Halo has done. I'll defenitely play the hell out of them too.

JOY

[evrfighter]

Well it's obvious it's not a Halo killer. But What Fstar says makes a lot of sense. If you have certain expectations from a company. Or they have a reputation to withhold. More pressure to release a better game is put on the developer.

But when a developer loses sight of what made them one of the best and their execs no longer care about their fanbase or reputation, only dollar signs. Games like "The Last Remnant" are released.

[FantasyStar]

I know my explanation is a double-edged sword, but one has to pick a side and stick with it. I myself can't find the way to balance fanboyism with practicality. I'm all for people expressing their passion and love as pride is very cool in making games. However when that pride turns to hubris, what then? Will games still stand for the art created by their artisans(developers) or go the way of an industrialized complex(EA) fueled by supply-n-demand?(oversaturatio n of FPSs on the game market)

My standing point is that I don't have a real rebuttal to your response because I'm not so sure anymore if this-gen sucks due to console fanboyism over game fanboyism or that I'm just too conservative about the old ways. I'm not even sure what is the formula for making a great game anymore than anyone else here. Passion and a creative vision doesn't make a great game anymore in this day. Just look at the over-use of the Unreal Engine 3 as that represents the goal displacement of developers wanting to make a quick buck over creating a work of art in video games that gamers will respect and remember for ages(Tetris).

And what confuses me the most is how overwhelming the market responds to the next Halo, and that a fine game that's breeds innovation like The Darkness and Folklore falls under the radar. It makes me wonder if I'm out of touch with gaming, or that gaming is out of touch with me. My whole warrant for "pressure" falls in line more with the old ways, compared to the partisan console gen that we live in. That hype is based on the games itself, and not the console exclusive that fanboys blindly hype for their own side for the win.

But one thing is for sure, Nintendo is the real enemy of gamers: "present" and "past". Off-topic I know.

@evr

word to that. milking-DLC FTL. Hell, anygame that seeks to rip me out of my $60 unjustifiably FTL. Sorry, KZ2: that includes you too. 6-8 hour SP, 8MP maps, no split-screen. $6 DLC for 2 maps which makes up 10% of the game price.

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

"Halo franchise is a beast. Master Chief is an Icon"

lol, sales

[evrfighter]

@ fstar

I've stuck with the opinion that this gen sucks hard. Fanboys that continue to shell out their cash for a couple maps of DLC, extra costumes, and stuff that's normally in a patch. Have really stalled gaming this gen.

More and more developers are beginning to look past the game itself and more at what they can charge console players for extra this or that in a DLC.

[JokesOnYou]

Well I'm sorry it bothers you that Halo franchise has sold quite well through two gaming generations. I'm sorry it bothers you its STILL the most played game on Live most weeks. I'm sorry it bothers you that there are really good books written about the Halo universe. I'm sorry it bothers you that the Halo name and Master Chief are OFTEN mentioned whenever FPS games are rated/compared/discussed/talke d about. I'm sorry it bothers you that the game looks great, the weapons are cool, the vehicles are fun, the depth of gameplay is unmatched, and all the features plus live matchmaking just keep gamers coming back for more, while other supposedly better shooters are but forgotten. So you see all these things collectively do indeed make Halo a beast and Master Chief an Icon, does that make you sad? lol, try to contain your jealousy....your tired response of sales are nothing more than the bitter screams of those who hate Halos success.

Oh but wait, I have to remember this is the same guy who talked about killing Greenburgs family and raping his wife, just because he insulted a piece of plastic you have an unhealthy attatchment to...so of course you won't acknowledge Halo's value. I hope Halo's success continues to hurt your petty feelings. lmfao=

JOY

[edgeofblade]

@FStar:

Agreed on The Darkness. It had that power-trippy feeling I love. And because you suggest it, I'll give Folklore a shot, too. And yes, Nintendo is a boil on the ass of the game industry. The hardcores of all systems need to band together, throw aside the corporate bullshit, and give the traitorous Nintendo what's coming to them.

Please, everyone who reads this, go out to all the hardcore fanboys you meet and tell them this:

Thou shalt play for the love of the game.

[zoneofenders]

well halo has already been killed at least for me after COD4...
so i was looking forward to a COD4 killer and here we are

[s8anicslayer]

graphically destroys halo, halo's story better then KZ2, gameplay both at about same level, fanboy fanbase to Halo, multi player same but again KZ2 much much prettier so I would say KZ2 has a little edge over halo 3 but it did have more dev time and released almost 2 years later

[Ps3fanbaby]

halo is sh!t it old i got tired of it. i try playing it and my 360 rrod twice.killzone is better.gfx are so amazing its the best shoter out there that is going to be goty for sure. i played halo mutiplayer and kid started to scream and shouting wereas killzone2 has mature people playing it

[Aquanox]

It's curious how they only mention games that have nothing to do with KZ2 as the titles they "often" play: LBP, Warcraft, Guitar Hero, Motorstorm.

I would bet money right now that they've spent twice as much time playing COD4 and Gears of War (And probably Halo too) than all those other games above... together, and it shows in the game.

[PotNoodle]

Like we were all saying before launch, it isn't trying to kill halo.. there won't be a halo killer either.. the only thing that will kill halo is microsoft or when the franchise eventually gets old.

The same can be applied to any popular game.

[kurochi]

um.... Sorry to inform you, but Halo has already gotten old after Halo 2 (to me at least).

[PotNoodle]

.. Yeah, when it gets old for you.. its old for everyone, right? I'm not a halo fan, but what you just said was pretty stupid.

[bomboclaat_gamer]

sorry to inform u, but i like halo 3. and what u said was stupid. hell, maybe u r stupid

[kurochi]

you guys are definitely showing your age. calling someone "stupid" doesn't change my opinion that Halo 3 is old for me.

[jadenkorri]

every game is old after the first... Halo Combat Evolved was the best FPS shooter I've ever played, but afterwards, just like most sequels, repeats itself.. Halo 2 and 3 were Halo 1, same Master Chief, similar but updated weapons of course, a few new ones, etc, etc... Samething with HalfLife 2 with all the episodes, its the same game, nothing new...Halo series is no better than any other fps, just like Killzone 2 and any other FPS you want to name...

[PotNoodle]

kurochi, learn to read.

[s8anicslayer]

thats because like many other franchises (Tony Hawk) halois milked asmuch as possible and tha tmight be good for ms because it will sell a ton of anything halo the bad is we get tired of it

[Sony Rep]

Yeah. GT already kills Halo.

GT3 sold almost as much as two Halo games. fact

[George Sears]

Are you talking about Grand Turismo? Now work with me here. What the hell does GT have to do with Halo?

I mean a Racing Sim series and a FPS series, where is the resemblance?