Killzone: Liberation Review

Official website: Killzone: Liberation Developer: Guerilla Games Publisher: SCE Genre: Tactical isometric shooter Modes: Single-player, 6-player ad-hoc multiplayer Platform(s): PlayStation Portable Media: UMD Release date (US):   October 31st, 2006 ESRB Rating: T Rating:

Editor's Review

Killzone: Liberation is the sequel to the PlayStation 2 video game Killzone. It was released for PSP on October 31, 2006. It is not a port of the original, nor a lesser version of the much anticipated PS3 launch game, but an entirely new chapter to add to the Killzone series. Killzone is reborn in this consistently intense, periodically infuriating, yet undeniably enjoyable handheld tactical shooter.

Though 2004's Killzone for the PlayStation 2 might not be the most fondly remembered of sci-fi first-person shooters, Killzone: Liberation for the PSP is bound to make a more lasting impression. For one thing, Liberation has just about zero to do with its PS2 predecessor from a gameplay perspective. It's still a shooter, but the viewpoint has been switched to an isometric, top-down view and the action itself has improved exponentially. This is a game that provides a great deal of intense shooting action, with tough enemy opponents that don't lie down a nd die easily. Throw in an ad hoc competitive multiplayer component and co-op play for the whole campaign, and you've got a thoroughly excellent package.

The Killzone name redeems itself with this high-octane shooter for the PSP. For those uninitiated to the Killzone universe, the series takes place in a futuristic society where humanity has taken to the stars. A militant subset splinters off from society to form its own government on a planet called Helghan. However, over time, this planet turns these people into something other than human--a race known as the Helghast. In Killzone, you were neck deep in the battle between the Helghast and the human race, fending off a Helghast invasion on a planet called Vetka. In Liberation, you're going in the opposite direction. Picking up where the first game left off, you're once again playing as the human soldier Templar. Now on the offensive, the human army is going after the Helghast, and you'll take on a series of missions, as Templar, to bring down the enemy. In truth, there's not much story progression for the Killzone universe to be found here. The game spends a small amount of time setting up the objective for each mission, and there's a basic plot involving a pesky Helghast general named Metrac and some key members of the human political and military system getting kidnapped. However, for the most part, the focus is very much on the action in Liberation, and not on the storytelling.

Were the action not so good, that'd be a real problem. Thankfully, you'll probably be too neck deep in fending off hordes of Helghast soldiers to care why you're doing it. Though at first glance Liberation looks like a Killzone-themed dungeon crawler, it's very much a shooter, and a challenging one at that. You begin each level with a specific gun--you start out with a weak assault rifle, and as you play through the game, you'll unlock more powerful starting guns--and a basic mission objective or two. Along the way, the Helghast will come at you in all forms, from groupings of grunt soldiers to rocket-launcher-wielding baddies to massive tanks. Killing them is challenging for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that they're very smart. Though you'll see occasional bad guys stand around in a stupid spot, just waiting to get shot, most of the time enemies will find cover the moment you start firing at them. They'll duck, they'll dodge, they'll launch grenades at you to try and flush you out from cover, and they'll even shoot an exploding barrel if you happen to be standing next to one.

As thrilling as the shooting can be, and as much depth and variety as there is to the action, the gameplay has one notable flaw. Specifically, the core mission designs simply aren't up to par with everything else. It's not that they're bad, so much as they are very linear and generic. It's a lot of get from point A to point B scenarios, basic escort missions, and gameplay of that ilk. The basic level designs are good, but it's usually overly clear where you need to go at all times, to the point where exploration is largely unnecessary. The only times you might be confused are when you mistake a section of the scenery for an obstacle, when it's actually the path to the next area.

Our verdict: While the single-player campaign is ultimately too short and devoid of story, and the multiplayer suffers from the lack of infrastructure play, Killzone: Liberation is still an excellent and engaging shooter. Its tightly woven shooting mechanics and tough enemy opponents create some of the most intense battles you'll find in any game on the PSP, and its great presentation and duo of multiplayer modes give it plenty of longevity. Some people might be put off by the difficulty and the brevity of the game, but most will find a thoroughly unique and enjoyable experience in Killzone: Liberation.

Detailed Features

	Tactical shooter
	Sequel to the original Killzone
	Single player and multiplayer
	GameShare mode
	State-of-the-art, tough AI
	Possible to control non-player characters
	Steep learning curve, a lot of trial and error
	WiFi-enabled multiplayer mode
	Deathmatch, team deathmatch, assault, and capture the flag multiplayer modes

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