Summary
TheKillzoneseries is one of Sony’s most divisive IPs, and one that many easily forgot about following the launch of Guerilla’s smash-hitHorizonseries. Originally created as a counter-move to Xbox’sHalo,the franchise failed to gather the same level of attention, as many players perceive it as a mostly unremarkable series of games with little to nothing exciting or unique to them.
However, while no game in the series has had a lasting impact on the gaming world, the franchise has its share of fans, which granted the series many sequels over the years, and there are indeed some good entries in the series. But which games can be rightfully considered the best games in theKillzonefranchise?
The firstKillzonewas originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 as Sony’s answer toHalo.While there was some ambition in this, the game already felt outdated when it came out, and it holds little to no value today. Simply put, the game is a really generic futuristic FPS, with a below-mediocre plot and cast of characters, a far cryfromHalo’slegendary world-building.
Visually, the game looks pretty bad, even though this may be attributed to the hardware it runs on. Gameplay-wise there’s nothing interesting going on either, and the game feels lackluster when compared even to the firstHalo.While there aren’t many better FPS games on the PS2, this is still the weakest entry in the franchise, and it’s surprising how Sony decided to move forward with the series after this game’s tepid response from critics and players.
Released in 2011 on PlayStation 3,Killzone 3is a huge leap in quality from the first game, but it’s the second-weakest entry in the franchise. The game feels like a step down fromKillzone 2, which is a shame because it seemed like the series was gradually starting to find its own footing. This entry feels like it’s lacking in personality when compared to its predecessor, as if the developers were too busy trying to copy a few ideas fromCall of Dutyinstead of focusing on enhancing their own product. This is one of the reasons why theKillzonetrilogy isn’t as fondly remembered asother trilogies in gaming history.
At the time of release,Killzone 3enjoyed a positive reception, mostly because of its visuals,which were groundbreaking for the time. Even if it still looks good from a visual standpoint,Killzone 3today has little to offer for players, as the plot is seriously lacking in excitement, despite being the final game in the original trilogy, and the gameplay hardly brings anything new or interesting to the table. It’s a shame because if the developers had managed to give this entry a more unique flavor, things might have gone differently for the franchise.
Killzone: Shadow Fallwas released in 2011, and it’s the only game in the franchise released on PlayStation 4.It was even a launch title for the platform. Set 30 years after the events ofKillzone 3, this entry introduces a new set of characters and a new plot line, which is still pretty lackluster, a common trope for this franchise. At the time of release, critics were dissatisfied with this entry because it failed to bring anything new to the table, failing to live up to the hype as one of the launch titles for the new generation of consoles.
While it’s true thatKillzone: Shadow Falldoesn’t do anything particularly exciting or ground-breaking, it still brings some fresh air to the franchise, especially in terms of level design. Levels feel more open-ended instead of being linear corridors like in the past, giving players more choices about how to approach every given situation. While this may seem too little too late, it’s still a step in the right direction for the series, and if Sony ever decides to bring it back, this game should act as the foundation for its future.
Killzone 2was originally released in 2009 for PlayStation 3, and it’s still the best entry in theKillzonefranchise as well asone of the best FPS games on the PS3. At the time of release, the game was perceived as a huge improvement over the original game, and its visuals were considered a landmark for the system. While it may look outdated by today’s standards,Killzone 2still shines in the gameplay department.
After striving to copyHalowith the first game, Guerilla finally found their footing with this entry.Killzone 2is very satisfying to play, for reasons that are very difficult to put into words. The game just feels a lot better than any other entry in the series, and even later entries failed to capture the same level of excitement and fun. The campaign is also the best in the franchise; while the plot isn’t anything to write home about, there’s a great atmosphere to this game. Plus, it’s not so easy to complete all the levels, as the game provides a good challenge even for more seasoned players. If players had to choose just one entry to play in this franchise, it should definitely beKillzone 2.
