http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/977/977762p1.html
The Grudge Match is a long running series on IGN and over the years the most heated response has come from the old battle between Microsoft and Sony. While Nintendo reaps the rewards of mass market appeal, these two juggernauts are firmly entrenched in the battle for the hearts and minds of hardcore gamers. That's why we've kicked of a series of Grudge Matches that pit the two consoles against each other in every aspect of gaming. Today we start with everyone's favorite genre: the first-person shooter.
Both Halo 3 and Killzone 2 are more than just pieces of software. These brands represent everything Microsoft and Sony tout as the reason for owning their gaming consoles. For Microsoft, Halo is the flagship that roped millions of gamers into becoming Xbox Live Gold members. Its online co-op modes and massively popular multiplayer keep the title atop of the Xbox Live popularity charts over a year after its release and alongside huge brands like Call of Duty and Gears of War.
Killzone 2 is no slouch when it comes to multiplayer but its hook is that it just might be the prettiest game you've ever laid eyes on. Ever since the infamous CG trailer debut at Sony's E3 press conference, gamers have been obsessed with this game's visual detail and its ability to do something that probably isn't possible on rival hardware.
We rounded up IGN Xbox and PlayStation editors-in-chief Hilary Goldstein and Chris Roper to give their thoughts on what makes these two shooters great and how they help define their respective platforms. Insiders can watch Hil and Chris battle it out on video by clicking the image below.
Chris Roper: Killzone 2 puts you in the middle of a war unlike pretty much any other shooter out there. The environments are packed and incredibly detailed, the gunplay is extremely rewarding as the Helghast react to every bullet with body jerks and the overall visual presentation is simply unmatched. While the single-player is fantastic, the online multiplayer is in a league of its own. Halo 3 may have more customization features, but earning your way up the ranks in Killzone 2's online mode while unlocking new classes and weapons will keep you coming back for more over and over again. It's addiction defined.
While Halo 3 relies largely on its name and main character, Killzone 2 provides the whole package to PlayStation 3 gamers - amazing visuals, stellar gameplay and a level of presentation and immersion that is rarely seen.
Hilary Goldstein: Halo 3 ups the ante for first-person shooters in just about every regard. Not only are the campaign and multiplayer experiences superb, but there are some innovations that have yet to be matched by any other game. The biggest of these is the amazing replay function, which allows you to replay any campaign level or online match, view it from any angle, record clips and take photos -- all of which can be uploaded for others to enjoy. Add to that unparalleled stat-tracking on Bungie.net and you have a game that gives far more than a standard shooter like Killzone 2.
For me, it's not much of a contest. I agree that Killzone 2 is a great shooter, but better than Halo 3? Please. Halo 3 has better controls more dynamic and entertaining gameplay, superior multiplayer and the coolest replay system of all time. Plus, it has Cortana, the hottest AI program around. Game. Set. Match.
