Killzone 3 – a Different Multiplayer Beast Than Killzone 2
I’m having a lot of fun playing Killzone 3 this day, a game that feels more like Guerilla Games’ answer to all the criticism about KZ2 than an actual refinement and advancement of the series. With all the five classes now available to play from the get-go, and with an easily manageable skill progression system, Killzone experience is now more accessible than ever, and even those used to the twitchy run-and-gun nature of Call of Duty games may be attracted to this shooter.
But I’m not a big CoD fan. When it comes to fps multiplayer experiences, I’m personally more into those tactical teamwork-oriented shooters, stuff like MAG, Battlefield 2, and of course, Killzone 2. That’s why I can’t quite put my finger down on how exactly I feel about KZ3. It’s a fun game, and I can’t stop myself from playing it, but something about it feels off. The more I play it, the more I’m left wanting, with this fear that KZ3 will never satisfy that want. There need to be more maps, more custom modes, more overall content. But that can’t be the only reason I’m feeling this way about this rather awesome game.
And then… I came upon this forum thread.
I read through the first original post and was shocked. Wow, I knew Killzone 2 and Killzone 3 were different games, but just… wow.
For the record, I really enjoy Killzone 3 and I find it highly addicting. The maps, for the most part, are designed very well, always with that Guerilla Games’ trademark verticality and chokepoints so expertly placed. I vehemently hate the two maps Corinth Highway and Turbine Concourse because they’re a haven for snipers and vehicle lovers, but the way all the maps can be adapted to various switching game types (from deathmatch to Search Destroy to Capture Hold) is just remarkable. The class system is rather amazing too, though I can complain on and on about the design choices Guerilla Games made with the engineer class and the marksman class. It’s a finely tuned shooter experience.
But still, what occurred between the Killzone 2 and Killzone 3 just baffles me. No more custom match types? What happened to the squad system? The website integration and stat tracking have been overly simplified, particularly with the removal of the replay function. And what of the proximity chat that was a very unique aspect of Killzone 2’s communication system? Why were all these things that worked so well in Killzone 2 removed? Many of these awesome features are community features, not gameplay features. To be stuck with such a simple matchmaking system just makes it seem like the game is somehow incomplete.
There are times when I’ll be playing Killzone 3 and I’m thinking in the back of my head, ”man, I really wish this match would end quickly so I could pop in my copy of Killzone 2 or MAG in here instead.”
See, I never agreed with the complaint that Killzone 2 brought nothing new to the table. Just the concept of spawn grenades was a unique concept really only found in a game like KZ2. The way each class had abilities that could be enhanced by mixing up different skills made the experience nuanced in ways that KZ3 will never be. The way the gunplay controls handled meant there will be elaborate gun battles between individual players. Killing an opponent was extremely challenging and in that light, just extremely satisfying and rewarding. The intensity of gritty dark light in the visuals of Killzone 2, the unpredictability of the enemies equipped with different kinds of skills, all that and more in a way makes Killzone 2 so much more complex than its sequel.
Does that mean KZ2 is better? No, not necessarily because KZ2 also has its share of problems. (and when I play KZ2, I sorely miss being able to do brutal melees.) But to me, it means that they’re more like two different games than like sequels of the same franchise. I’m glad I own both KZ2 and KZ3 and I’m glad I actually really enjoy both games because ultimately, though they share the same Guerilla Games logo, you might end up thinking that two different developers created each game. Well, after all this, you might need something different in terms of online gaming. If so, then you can try the minecraft world seeds, which is another really popular and interesting game these days.
