TSA’s Top 100 of 2011 – #9 Killzone 3

Arguably the best FPS exclusive on the PS3 (sorry Insomniac), Killzone 2 had a hell of a lot to live up to upon its release back in February 2009. Not only did it need to fulfil the prophecy of being a AAA FPS so many PS3 fans clamoured for, but there was that infamous double-edged target-render trailer Guerrilla released back in E3 2007. Simultaneously damning and blessing the title in one breath, what amounted to a declaration of graphical intent roused up an insane amount of anticipation among PlayStation fans, while also representing an almost impossible goal; a stick naysayers would so gladly beat over the head of both the developer and fans of the game for not living up to the hyperbole.

Amazingly, the actual Killzone 2 stands up quite favourably against the designer’s grandiose vision for the title, a testament to the creative genius and technical acumen over at Guerilla Games. Even now, Killzone 2 fares incredibly well against competing titles released over a year later. But that was Killzone 2. Looking forward, and what Killzone 3 promises is the prospect of how the Dutch masterminds have faired with even more time and knowledge of Sony’s powerhouse system.

We’ve already witnessed first hand just what is in store for everyone come the end of February, and we believe that those who immerse themselves into the lumbering, weighted soldier or Helghast in Killzone 3 will be more than happy with what Guerrilla have produced in their third Holiday on Helghan offering. In other words, you won’t really be surprised, insomuch as the graphical fidelity and gameplay depth in Killzone 2 was also something that you expected and dutifully relished. This should not be viewed as a critique, as Killzone 3 is awesome. We’ve played it so you can rest assured that you will not be disappointed. We’re confident that it is exactly what you’re expecting, a riveting experience that delivers the chaotic, blitzkrieg hell of war at a pace and intensity that will literally leave you shaken.

Guerrilla have also listened to their fans and detractors (and, yes, there are those who really didn’t take to Killzone 2’s relatively sluggish controls and jingoistic overtones) and injected some pep in the control system, while also adding in more than a few modes that fans have been begging for since Killzone 2 arrived. Split-screen offline multiplayer and online co-op will feature, sure to sate the throng of Killzone zealots who’ve lamented their omission the first (technically the second) time around.

It’s not all good news (for some) it seems, as Killzone 2’s Custom Games multiplayer modus operandi has been dropped in favour of the more standard Matchmaking norm. As mentioned in the Q&A forum on www.killzone.com:

We have chosen for Matchmaking for a couple of reasons: to reduce the large amount of exploits, to make sure players are put in better competitive matches and to make it easier for people to find games. As we have noticed Matchmaking is not working properly yet. We are working hard to fix that, but it doesn’t mean the choice is not valid. Custom games created unreadable lists with a plethora of different games, but very often not the game that a player is trying to find. Yes, we have taken away some of the freedom, but we’ve replaced it with a much easier, user friendly system.

Not happy about this decision? Sign the petition. To us, we’re not that bothered by the change. We’re pretty confident Guerrilla know what they’re doing, and if they say their version of Matchmaking is better than the customised games of yore, the empiricist in us just goes: “Okay, prove it to us. We’re open to the idea.” If it doesn’t, well, we’ll be the first to mention it.

Throw in Move and 3D support (whether you want it or not), not to mention jet-packs and an overhauled multiplayer system that looks to balance some of its predecessor’s shortcomings, and February 2011’s return to Helghan with Sev, the despicable Rico and those pesky orange-eyed bastards, looks like the ultimate Valentine’s Day killer. S/he won’t mind, it’s a made-up holiday anyway.

And finally, and in a vain attempt to preempt the expected backlash of why Killzone 3 is not numbers one, two and three on our list of Top 100 2011 games, please read this paragraph before voicing your dissent. If we’re being honest, we really don’t feel the need to justify why a game has appeared where it has on this list, though we do appreciate some people might genuinely be curious. For those people (and not the ones who will invariably call upon the Fail Gods to curse us for our ineptitude), please recall that this list is based on anticipation. It is also a list that is based on the democratic principle that everyone’s vote that was cast enjoyed equal weight. Ask yourself: do you know someone who doesn’t care that much for Killzone 2? Chances are you do. Chances are you’ve probably talked to him or her in our very own forum.

The fact is, we’re really looking forward to Killzone 3. Seriously, as mentioned before, the gap between numbers one and ten on this list is literally fractions of a full rating point. That means the top 10 are incredibly close, with their final ordering decided upon by, in one instance, not the final mark but how many maximum scores it garnered.

The votes for Killzone 3 saw a number of staff members here at TSA cast somewhat indifferent marks for Guerrilla’s big dog, as is their right. Will I name them? No; because that’s not the point. The point is: some people are really not that bothered about Killzone 3. And that’s cool. The game also received a number of full-marks and a rake a 9/10s. Out of the hundreds of games we looked at, anyone that says that a top ten placement for any game isn’t pretty fantastic is a crazy person.