killzone
Latest
Killzone 3 celebrates DLC release with triple XP weekend
The Killzone 3 team is celebrating the release of the From the Ashes DLC this week with a triple XP party this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, all of the XP earned in multiplayer matches will be tripled, whether it's in the new DLC maps or just in the standard game. Hopefully this also means that the Helghast forces will learn three times as fast that you just can't keep the ISA down. Sometimes that's a tough lesson to learn.
Guerrilla considered 'on-rails version of Killzone 2' for PlayStation Move
In an interview with Ars Technica about implementing PlayStation Move support in the developer's latest FPS epic, Killzone 3, Guerrilla Games lead programmer Tommy de Roos revealed that it once toyed with the notion of a motion-controlled Killzone 2. "One of the first ideas was to create an on-rails version of Killzone 2," he told the site. (We can see it now: "Killzone 2: Extraction.") What killed the idea was a simple matter of practicality. "Once we realized how much work that would be, since all encounters would have to be re-scripted, we decided against it," Roos said. While that's a valid reason for sure, maybe Guerrilla should have at least considered making an FMV light gun game out of the original, pre-rendered Killzone 2 trailer. After all, it was practically born for the part.
NGP Killzone in development at Sony Cambridge
The next Killzone game is the first not to be developed by series creators, Guerrilla Games. Instead, Gamerzines has learned that they have passed on development to Sony's Cambridge studio. While fans of the excellent Killzone Liberation for PSP may be disappointed to hear that Guerrilla isn't working directly on the game, senior producer Steven Ter Heide told the site that "we'll still oversee it because the universe is something we've built up, we know the war and the rules that have been established, but they're driving the development." The Cambridge studio has worked on the MediEvil franchise and, most recently, LittleBigPlanet for PSP and TV Superstars for PlayStation Move.
Watch two sizzling minutes of NGP games in action
Wasn't it so boss when Sony showed off a full two-minute clip of gameplay footage on its just revealed "next generation portable" last night? You know, the clip that showcased Uncharted, Killzone, Gravity Daze, LittleBigPlanet, Reality Fighters, and all those other games? According to excited attendees of Sony's press conference, the clip was rather thrilling -- unfortunately, Sony has yet to release it. Thankfully, a rogue cameraperson captured the whole thing and, at least for the time being, has made it available on YouTube (with remarkably steady hands, we might add). Call us weird, but Reality Fighters has us more excited than anything else. Maybe you didn't notice there's a banana suit? See for yourself after the break.
Killzone 3 contains over an hour of cutscenes
The "3" in "Killzone 3" might as well stand for the quantity of cinematics in Guerilla's latest shooter -- three times the amount employed by Killzone 2. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) said in its bestowing of an "18" (mature) rating on the game that its cutscenes total 70 minutes. Its predecesor, by comparison, contained 25 minutes worth of story sequences, according to the BBFC. Let's see: We know that characters voiced by Malcolm McDowell and Ray Winstone will be chewing up the scenery for a good chunk of that hour and 10 minutes; the rest will therefore be composed of shouting space marines and other guys who are also shouting but have red "eyes." Someone get Michael Bay on the phone!
Fan transforms Killzone into a card game
Love the Helghast, but hate getting schooled in Killzone's online battlefield? Then you may want to try your hand on a fan-made CCG adaptation, instead. Created by "thepineapple1," the Killzone card game has you dueling one-on-one against another player. With your "Action Points," you'll be able to command and promote soldiers, equip weapons, and even use vehicles. But don't expect to jump into the game immediately. Like many other games in the genre, you'll have to sit down and learn the rules; the downloadable starter kit includes a detailed nine page rule book. With some patience (and a decent color printer), the Killzone card game looks like a rather interesting diversion. Download the Helghast starer pack here, and the ISA starter pack here.
What Killzone looked like before it was Killzone
The E3 2005 trailer for Killzone 2 quickly became well-known (infamous, even) for its supposedly unatainable levels of in-game graphical prowess. But the initial trailer for the game that would become the original Killzone has been much less well known ... until this past week at GDC Europe. Guerilla Games Managing Director Hermen Hulst showed off the circa-1999 concept video in a keynote speech in Cologne earlier this week, calling it a "showcase of technical competence" prepared for their first meeting with Sony. Even though Hulst admits there's "nothing really 'Killzone' about it" at this early stage (for instance, the Helghast and their glowing eyes don't even make a cameo appearance) we thought it was an interesting look at the pre-history of one of Sony's biggest exclusive franchises. To see the video in full, follow us past the break.
Killzone 3 multiplayer trailer power-armors up
Sony couldn't possibly stage its Gamescom 2010 press conference without spotlighting its FPS mega-sequel, Killzone 3. So we've gotten a new trailer for the game -- the same one screened for attendees -- that provides a first glimpse at the new game's multiplayer component in action. Big, metal, stomping action. In addition to the usual running around in squads shooting the bad guys, this footage shows something we wished Killzone 2's multiplayer featured but never did: the ability to use giant powered exoskeletons to smash your opponents. (The single-player mode's jetpacks are in there, too.) Sadly, the exoskeleton doesn't appear to transform into a jeep or other vehicle -- that's for Killzone 4, obviously. For now, we'll just have to make do with what you can see in the video after the break.
Killzone 3 coming in 3D in 2011, Move-enabled
Sony has announced at its press conference today that Killzone 3 will arrive on store shelves next year, and when it appears, it'll come with both Move functionality and full 3D. 3D will, of course, require a 3D television and glasses, and the Move functionality necessitates the actual Move system (so if you want to play the full Killzone 3 experience, you'll have to murder your wallet first). The game is dated for February 2011. A mere eight months from now, you'll be able to make your way back to the Helghast Empire.
Killzone 3 teaser trailer is a great big pile of carnage
Sony and Guerrilla Games have updated the official Killzone 3 website with a short teaser trailer for the game -- one which places a heavy focus on the "brutal melee system" we were introduced to during our preview last week. Check out the trailer above, and watch as series protagonist Sev applies tremendous amounts of force to Helghast troopers using his feet, elbows, knees and rifle. We can't help but marvel at the structurally questionable pile of pummeled dudes he's built. Seriously, that must have taken a while. It's a pretty stylish trailer, though the ending just leaves us confused. Why would he don one of the Helghast's iconic, glowy-eyed helmets? It cannot smell good in there.
Hands-on: Killzone 3
Following yesterday's presentation by Guerrilla Games at a San Francisco media event, in which the developer outlined its ambitious plans for Killzone 3, I played two sections of the featured demo. Described as "extremely early" by Guerrilla and Sony staff, the segment I played, "Frozen Shores," is actually a level from later in the game's campaign. It takes place in the frigid Helgan arctic, which is home to iced-over oil rigs and, according to the mission description, an arms factory. I headed toward one of the rigs, riding in on an Intruder dropship. I manned a gun turret during this on-rails sequence, picking off enemies and destroying sections of the oil rig as the ship swerved to avoid enemy fire. Massive pieces of the rig bent, collapsed and fell into what I can easily say is the best-looking ocean I've ever seen in a game. The scene was stirring, if not somewhat bleak due to the near absence of color in this stark world. As ISA Intruders seem wont to do, the one I was on crashed, kicking off the on-foot majority of the mission. Thus began a gameplay sequence so incredibly intense that I was barely able to focus any attention on surveying the details in an attempt to draw distinctions between this experience and Killzone 2. It was all a blur of red, white and glowing eyes. Blood soaked into the snow and oil barrels exploded all around, as those creepy Helgast goggles haunted the scene. %Gallery-93774%
Guerrilla demonstrates Killzone 3; promises a more epic, varied experience
Guerrilla Games showed Killzone 3 in action for the first time tonight at an event in San Francisco. Managing director Hermen Hulst was on hand to lay out some key details about the sequel -- unfortunately, any sort of release date wasn't among them. Saying that the team was inspired by the ambition exhibited by other Sony Worldwide Studios releases, specifically Uncharted 2 and God of War 3, Hulst detailed planned improvements across the board for Killzone 3. Chief among them is more variety in environments, weapons, vehicles and enemies. Promising more epic, unique moments throughout, he pointed out that the first three minutes of the demo featured more cinematics and scripted events than the entire first level of Killzone 2. My full hands-on with the game will be published tomorrow afternoon, but for now you can read on after the break for more on Killzone 3's new environments, weapons and other features.
Killzone 3 officially announced, screenshots revealed
Guerrilla Games recently held a small press event in Amsterdam where the studio finally and officially announced Killzone 3. PlayStation Blog Europe's James Gallagher was in attendance and has reported on a handful of the revelations made during the event. Gallagher has confirmed a few of the features spoiled by forumites who had received subscriber copies of GamePro's Killzone 3-centric July issue, which is due out on newsstands June 1. Most of the details we heard last week -- for instance, the game will have a 3D mode and feature jetpacks, which seems like one heck of a winning combination to us. You can check out the first several Killzone 3 screens in the gallery below. Rest assured, we'll be seeing a lot more of the game when it's undoubtedly featured during Sony's E3 2010 press conference next month. (We'll be sure to pack our 3-D specs.) %Gallery-93599%
GamePro leak reveals Killzone 3 will be in 3D
Besides sports and movies, videogames are expected to be another huge driver for 3DTV, and Sony is apparently ready to get behind it with one of its showcase franchises for the PlayStation 3, Killzone 3. Featured as a cover story in this month's GamePro the entire game is compatible with today's 3D HDTVs using active shutter glasses (of course) but there's no exact word on the formats being used. Check the Gamespot forums or look for the issue on newsstands June 1 for more info.
Killzone 3 revealed in next GamePro -- and it's 3-D
One of Sony's major E3 titles has been revealed slightly ahead of time. Sony and Guerrilla Games are delivering on Jack Tretton's impromptu promise: Killzone 3 is real, and you'll be able to see it for yourself in the July issue of GamePro, on shelves June 1. A subscriber spilled the Helghan beans on the GameSpot forums, also revealing that the game is playable in 3-D, with the effect requiring the use of glasses (oh, and a 3-D-capable television). GamePro has confirmed the cover story to Joystiq. That means that Killzone 3 is going to be a showpiece for Sony's 3-D technology, and therefore we should probably expect to hear a lot about it at the company's E3 presentation.
Killzone's Helghast invade Lost Planet 2
Not content on simply golfing, the Helghast are making their way into yet another PlayStation game. Like its Xbox 360 counterpart, the PS3 version of Lost Planet 2 will feature its own console-exclusive characters. In addition to the PS3-only Monster Hunter characters, two Helghast skins will be made available as a free download via the PSN in June. As noted on the PlayStation.Blog, this will be the only game ever to include the Helghast, a Monster Hunter, Dead Rising's Frank West, and Resident Evil's Albert Wesker all in one place. We wouldn't be surprised, though, if Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 manages to reunite all of these characters for a second time. Check out a trailer after the break.
Hot Shots Tennis: Get A Grip on June 29
It feels like it's been too long since the last Hot Shots game. That'll change in late June, though, with the arrival of Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip for PSP. According to PlayStation Blog, this isn't a port of the 2007 PS2 Hot Shots Golf spin-off, but rather a new Hot Shots Tennis game, featuring an "all-new tennis adventure." And by adventure, they mean it. The new Story Mode will require exploration, as you travel the world "spreading tennis love to everyone and anyone you meet." Sounds a bit like Mario Tennis, no? New to the US version of Hot Shots Tennis will be the Killzone Helghast character (pictured). Finally -- a Killzone game filled with color! Get a Grip will launch simultaneously on UMD and PSN on June 29.
Sony's Jack Tretton: 'I can promise you a Killzone 3'
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/sonys-jack-tretton-i-can-promise-you-a-killzone-3/'; He doesn't know exactly when the third Killzone game will be announced, but SCEA prez Jack Tretton does know that it's gonna happen. When pushed by GTTV host Geoff Keighley about a sequel to last year's Killzone 2 on last night's episode, the Sony exec openly answered, "You know, we own Guerrilla Studios, and uh, they did a great job on Killzone 1 and 2 ... I don't know when you'll see announcements about it, but I can promise you a Killzone 3." Pretty straightforward, Jack! Though he didn't make any promises regarding Killzone for E3, he did additionally note that the news from Sony out of GDC was "the icing on the cake," referring to big announcements at E3 this year as "the batter." And if there's one thing we really, really like, Jack, it's cake batter. You've won this round.
Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009
Halo Wars Yeah, that's right, Halo Wars. I've already caught enough flak for putting this on my best-of list for 2009 (it's hard to even remember that it came out way back in February), but it deserves to be recognized ... so pay attention once your laughter has died down. Ensemble Studios (RIP) proved that you could bring a real-time strategy game to a console, and still make it enjoyable. Sure, you'll never have 1:1 parity mapping everything a full-sized keyboard offers onto a controller, but this game came close. It's a pity Ensemble closed, since we'll never see any expansion packs or a sequel. The good news is that, since it wasn't received with blaring trumpets and the sounds of cash registers ringing, you can pick this up for under 20 bucks for some good fun.
Best of the Rest: Andrew's Picks of 2009
Flower This year had a number of terrific downloadable games (this list is a testament to that), however no game -- retail or digital -- connected with me like Flower. Jenova Chen's flOw was an interesting experiment, but Flower is an actual game. In fact, Flower is one of the few experiences I can think of that show the true potential of games as a unique storytelling medium. No other non-interactive art form will ever be able to replicate what thatgamecompany has managed to create.
