Playing Killzone 3 was deja vu all over again. When I got KZ2 along with my new console, I was aware of the claims of its graphical supremacy and the high ratings it was getting. As in the case of KZ2, the expectations haven't quite been met.
Killzone 3 holds nothing more than mundane, by the number gaming for a non-fps enthusiast. As far as fps games go, it competes strongly with the best. As a game by itself, I feel it falls rather flat.
The campaign holds some special moments. The jetpack levels with the incredibly rendered snow environments will raise a few eyebrows and certainly impress the friends. Variety is introduced by controlling gattling-guns on moving vehicles, driving certain vehicles, or even the control of a mech in addition with the jet-packing mentioned above.
It's over all too soon though. The standard 8-hour campaigns of today are merely a supplement to the online component of the game. That said, the story of the campaign mode leaves a rather bitter taste in the mouth as the elevated levels of emotive story telling reached in games like Uncharted are never challenged in the least.
The controlls are a hot debate. As with all things in life though, they are subjective. Personally I haven't nearly reached the level of comfort, control and precision I have reached in Halo, Bioshock and Resistance. In Resistance 2 I am able to pull off phenomenal head shots with a sniper rifle at times, but sniping in KZ3 seems clunky and slow. The same principle applies to all the longer ranged weopens.
In terms of continuity and flow, things tend to feel broken up and there are various instances where the sound and music just stops or starts abruptly. This irritates me about many games and I wonder if some designers just don't know/notice this. Portal 2 is another example of a 'non-smooth ride' so to speak. Even the new addition of brutal melee seems to break up the action. It doesn't feel organic enough.
While everyone praises the graphics, I haven't been overly impressed. I don't like jaggies at all. I prefer a smooth game with no pop-in or flickering. Thus KZ3 isn't exactly my taste of visual flare. I am very happy that the grey/brown monotone doesn't apply as it did in KZ2. The characters are modeled very nicely however, and there is an insane amount of detail in some environments. Overall the graphics are of a very high standard, but a few irritating niggles hold it back.
The online is polished, but with SO many fps games fighting for your time, it doesn't really stand out or scream ESSENTIAL in the way KZ2 might have when it launched early in the PS3's lifetime.
Gameplay 6
Longevity 8
Graphics 7
TOTAL: 7/10
