PS3 Informer

Killzone 2 Hype Reaches Astronomical Levels

The first-person shooter title is set to arrive in North America on February 27, 2009. To hear Sony fanboys and the gaming press talk about Killzone 2, it is easy to believe that the game will be one of the absolute best to land on the PS3 this year. It was not always this way; early in the game’s development cycle many observers worried that it would not live up to the high expectations of Sony fans. Early screen captures did not match the famously optimistic target render shown at E3 2005, and this led many to believe that the game would under-deliver. However, as we approach the official release of the title, many are saying that the team of coders at Guerilla Games has not only met fan expectations, but exceeded them. We take a tour of the Internet to capture some of the buzz surrounding this title.

Screenshots for the upcoming Killzone 2 from Guerilla Games.

First, Community Manager for Insomniac Games, J Stevensen, said that the game impressed him. This is pretty big praise coming from the company that created the Resistance games on PS3. Insomniac is in friendly competition with Guerilla, having helped lend technical assistance to the development team behind Killzone 2. On the notoriously critical message forum NeoGaf, Stevensen said the game not only looked great, but that it was fun, too:

“I did indeed beat KZ2 tonight and it is indeed awesome. I know there will be plenty of comments, opinions, accolades and nitpicks, but for me, the game was fun. Anyways --- major props to all the folks at GG.”

The graphics on Killzone 2 have been a major source of worry, but just about every source close to Guerilla and Sony says that the team has delivered a graphical powerhouse that sets a new bar for console gaming. Some have even compared Killzone 2 with last year’s PC-hungry resource hog, Crysis:

“I did not think I would say this so soon, but Killzone 2 may be the first console game to surpass Crysis. When Crysis first launched on the PC it was hailed by many to be the best looking game on any platform. It certainly was the best looking game in terms of sheer graphics, but the game still received some criticism for presentation. Killzone 2 shatters Crysis on all fronts not only with presentation but physics, details and graphics.”

So, while the graphics have evidently been turned to 11, they aren’t the most important aspect of the game. Most journalists so far have praised the team for its attention to gameplay and fun above all else. The folks over at Playstation Extreme have played some demo code from the game and they corroborate this sentiment:

“Killzone 2 isn't just a blockbuster. It's not just a great game. For this generation so far, it may be the great game; the one production that becomes an instant measuring stick. In other words, everyone will compare future games to KZ2 for many years to come.”

Wow. All of the good things said about Killzone 2 from so many different sources convinces us that there is definitely truth to the hype surrounding this game. We can hardly wait until next month, when the press embargo surrounding the game formally lifts, and journalists can weigh in on all the juicy details. If you would like to get yor hands on the title before the official release of the game at the end of February, a Killzone 2 demo is available by pre-ordering at Gamestop.