Killzone 2: Gear of War Clone

Having enjoyed "Killzone" on the PlayStation 2 "back in the day", I was keen to finally see what its sequel on the PlayStation 3 was like 12 years after it was released (I have actually played "Killlzone: Shadow Fall" in the interim but we'll skim over that). 

"Killzone 2" sees us pitted against the Helghast once again but introduces the concept of taking cover and reviving downed comrades. These new gameplay mechanics are borrowed from other titles of the period such as "Gears of War". Much like "Gears of War", one of the initial selling points of this game was the multiplayer, but alas we can't test this experience as the servers were turned off in 2018. 

As you progress through the campaign you begin realise the graphics look a lot like "Gears of War" too (even down to the vehicles having blue tail lights). A bit further on it dawns on you that the font used for the subtitles is similar to the one used by "Gears of War". Maybe I'm showing my Xbox 360 bias here, but I have to state my opinion that this is a "Gears of War" clone that is just utilising an old Sony IP to give it some legitimacy. 

But does that matter? Who wouldn't try to copy a game that sold almost 6 million copies? Anyway, isn't imitation the most sincere form of flattery? I guess you can't afford to be bashful when money of this magnitude is involved and your biggest rival has stolen a march on you. As it turned out, "Killzone 2" didn't even come close to the sales of "Gears of War" and its easy to see why. 

"Gears" took an innovative approach to reloading weapons that became a satisfying and strategic component of gameplay.  In comparison, reloading in "Killzone 2" takes an inordinately long time and each magazine feels like it holds 5 rounds. In a fast paced first person shooter this becomes quite tiresome. Similarly, the need to manipulate and tilt the SixAxis controller to arm explosives feels like it was included as a contractual obligation and really doesn't work all that well. Unlike "Gears of War" the characters here are generic and the story inconsequential. The loading of new areas is hardly seamless and long pauses are often triggered as you transition between areas on the map. But maybe my expectations have grown too high and this should be expected given the limitations of the hardware - I'm already dissatisfied with the load times on PS4 games since the PS5 came on the scene.

On the plus side the game is easy to navigate and thanks to its copy cat design, it looks pretty good too. There is a nice variety of weaponry, and whilst the enemies are a bit generic and their AI almost non-existent, they just about pass the bar as cannon fodder. The music on the game is good and the voice acting competent (in the hokey way that seemed de rigueur when the game was released anyway). As a distraction to idle away a few hours this game is competent. But nobody can pretend it rivals the visceral excitement and innovative gameplay of "Gears of War".