FruitOfDoom, our Killzone 2 Clan Captain, recently spoke with Radboud, one of our finest Killzone 2 players ahead of the conclusion of the TSA Killzone Pistol Duels. If this all makes perfect sense to you, well, you’re probably here too often, but it’s great to see TSA’s unbeaten Killzone 2 clan continuing to grow and improve.
Fruit: So Radboud, tonight is your pistol duel final for the chance to be in the first clan tournament squad. How confident are you about winning this duel?
Radboud: Erm well, I don’t know really, pOOp has killed me a lot with his magnum. So I think it’s going to be close, and more like a lottery for the both of us.
Fruit: It will be very exciting to watch I am sure. What do you think of the pistol duels? And the progress of the TSA Killzone clan?
Radboud: I like the pistol duels, especially the fact that you can watch the ongoing duels and the people go frantic when the duel is over. Just waiting for the last round to finish and having already selected a head in the crowd to shoot is really funny. Furthermore, about the clan progress: I think the clan is really strong. We have some extra players that are awesome (like pOOp and Flux99). Everybody is doing what they are supposed to do I suppose. But there is some minor stuff to work out. For instance, I noticed some squads are working great and others aren’t. This is not due to the strengths of the individual players, but rather, how they work together. The way some play styles add something to the other styles within the squad.
I don’t really know yet what the ultimate squad layout is. I guess it’s somewhere to be found. Teamwork is still something that needs to be upgraded in some instances. I must confess that I too am guilty in this. People just running for objectives without communicating with their squad, and squad members running over the maps separated from each other. That is something to be worked on I guess. I love the clan and think it is going to be a tough opponent for all clans. They better watch out when we join the tournament mayhem.
Fruit: Some valid points you raise there, and stuff the clan should work on. You were a member of the squad that beat PS3Attitude. Tell us how you felt before, during and after the match.
Radboud: Mmmm, let me think. Well, I didn’t know what to expect, and I sure didn’t think of me being good or anything even near that. With Jaimelopez, Maneorix and yourself, although you stepped down due to their 4th player not showing, which was actually cool and stuff. But I felt like, man – you were steamed up and ready to go too. For a second I considered stepping down, as I was the last to enter, but then you had already left.
Then the match began. We started of nicely, and close together. Later on we moved to more separate positions, which worked out nicely. It wasn’t planned though, it just happened. Communication between the three of us was great, letting each other know what actions are being taken and so on. And we won!
Fruit: Well, what does a victory feel like? Especially the first clan-match?
Radboud: It was great to actually win a fight where there is something at stake. Although I felt bad for missing that last assassination target from three meters away. In the end it felt good to win, and it was fun!
Fruit: It was a great 6-1 win, and the team did well. What are your views on the importance of the boot camp and the use of the forums?
Radboud: Boot camps are great fun, and improve your overall gameplay. I do think that there must be more specialized boot camps for squads to train in, with no faction balancing. This way you can try out different squads and compositions to see which work best. And to see which squads can play in a clan match, you can have squads battling it out rather than individual players.
The forums are a great way to keep connected. But I think the messages and events page in Killzone itself could be used more for clan related matches.
Fruit: Again, some good points and views. You are, without doubt, one of the most active clan members. What are your views on Killzone as a game? What do you like and dislike?
Radboud: I think there are clan members more active than me, but what do I think about Killzone? Basically I think the visuals are great, the gameplay is good, and the whole atmosphere in the game is great. But the most I like about Killzone is the multiplayer. The fast pace of the game is something you don’t see with every shooter out there. And it’s a good pace to play multiplayer on, especially the closer maps with stairs and corridors. Like Blood Gracht and Visari Hammer. The enemy is never very far away and you don’t have any trouble finding them.
On the other hand it is great to see the same pace making it possible to do exactly the opposite. Like on Pyrrhus Rise, there you can run around a lot without even coming close to an enemy. I like that there are multiple classes and the badge system is great. Furthermore, I like that you can adopt different play styles and all of them have a winning chance.
I dislike the absence of the crosshair in the single player campaign on elite. Although you learn to shoot without having to keep an eye on the crosshair in multiplayer. I would like to have some bigger maps, and a better zoom on the sniper rifle so you can shoot someone from 1000 meters away. That would be awesome. If you had a map that big, you could add vehicles and stuff. I also dislike the fact that headshots are way to easy with the rifles, what is the point in body armour.
Fruit: The maps, as you say, do cater for a good mix of play style. What do you think about the release of new maps on the 30th April (this week)? What do you think about their release timing? And what do you expect or would like to see from them?
Radboud: Well I haven’t done any deep research on these, but from what I’ve seen and heard, they should be great. I heard the trains are indeed moving and you can jump between them. But your timing is crucial as there are pillars flashing by. Another great melee map I think, and it gives another level with corridors and passages.
The cruiser level looks awesome too, as I liked it in the campaign. I hope you can use the elevators in the cruiser. It would be awesome to switch floors with your squad to wipe out the enemy deck by deck. But I fear the elevators won’t be operational in the cruiser map.
The release timing is good. By now you should have good knowledge on all the original maps, so new ones to explore are welcome. It would be great if they put in new maps or weapons and other stuff every two months. Keeps the game alive and fresh. Sure it’s a shooter, and will always be a shooter, but it would be fun to get new stuff over time. You know what I mean? The pricing is good too. You can’t expect this sort of DLC to be free! People worked hard to release them, so it’s only fair.
Fruit: Ok, great stuff. Thank you very much for your time, very much appreciated. Just one last question – What advice or message would you give to anyone looking to join the TSA Killzone clan?
Radboud: A clan is not a bunch of individuals, but a team. Greatness is not achieved on your own. Fun is the greatest when shared with others. Respect for others increases the fun. By playing nice and as a team, you will be respected.
Fruit: So there we go, one of the TSA Killzone clans most active and seasoned player gives his verdict on all things Killzone and clan related. And some sound advice at the end there too.
If any clan wants to challenge us, please get in touch. The Steel and Titanium expansion pack is out this Thursday.
