Killzone 2 single player review:

          Killzone 2 has proven it's worth as an online FPS, but as always that is simply half the battle won. Has Killzone 2 delivered on both fronts and given us a genuinely good game both offline and on? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Well sort of.

The ISA are the game's 'good' guys, just roll with it.

          Killzone's original story and background, although solid, had little flare and the characters lacked a decent injection of humanity to make them relatable. Templar was not funny...and neither was Rico...and he still isnt...no shock there. Still, Killzone has added three new characters for us to get to know. Sergeant Sevchenko - simply called Sev - , Lance Corporal Dante Garze & Corporal Shawn Natko. They, along with returning Master Sergeant Rico Velasquez, to form up Alpha squadron.

          This time round the game has left Vekta as we follow the ISA, under the command of the now Colonel Jan Templar, as they invade the Helghast planet of Helghan in an effort to bring this war to an end. What was expected to be a simply 'smash & grab' where Alpha would take the Helghast leader Scolar Visari. Voiced - brilliantly - by Brian Cox, Visari's ideals and charm will influence you as you listen to him dictate and belittle your cause. Starting from a war call at the games introduction, to a simply breath-taking finale at the end.

On first glance I got the Helghan mixed up with the Darth Vader appreciation society...but they soon taught me better

          The game itself is based on battles that, if your up to date on your history of war, will seem almost familiar to you. Starting with a D-Day like invasion of the Helghan coast, the game takes you through urban and desert conflict similiar to that you see in todays major warzone Iraq. The game is explosive and fast paced, requiring strategy and skill instead of favouring time. Killzone 2 forces you to put thought into every bullet you shell out.

          Unlike the online component, Killzone 2 has a unique cover system where Sev takes cover in first person by simply holding the L2 - Or whatever setting you have it on - to stick to cover. Another difference is the total absence of a constant HUD. The only thing you will see is the occasional reminder of how much ammo you have left.

          Killzone 2 is a knuckle whitening ride, but that said it's not a very long one. Pacing the game on Trooper difficulty, I clocked in around 7 hours of play time. Not a very impressive length, but Guerilla seemed to be aware of that and so took measures to make you play through the campaign. These include several levels of difficulty, achievements for locating intel & destroying Helghan artifacts, trophies, and offering real life rewards for collecting in game achievements. Although saying that the rewards are - in my opinion - quite pathetic.

The single player is a well tuned road to hell, and it ends in one of the most annoyingly difficult boss scenarios ever thought of

          Nevertheless, Killzone 2's single player holds the beautiful look it is now famous for and has a fantastic story that is filled to the brim with great plot twists and scenarios along with an epic sound score and voice cast. It portrays the image of an epic struggle for victory flawlessly and I'm now on my 4th playthrough if that is anything to go by, now only if it had co-op!

          Scores:

Visuals: 9.8, stunning. Simply stunning.

Gameplay: 9.3, heavy and may need tuning but addictive and fun nonetheless.

Sound: 10, Brian Cox has made Scolar Visari one of my all time greatest gaming villians and an epic musical score is provided by Jois de Man & the Nimrod Studio Orchestra.

Story: 8.9, not very detailed but what it has is very good and will have you wanting more by the end.

Lifespan: 8.4, once you play through the story and maybe get all the tropies you won't look back once you hit the online.

Overall: 46.4 of of 50, 92.8 of of 100, 9.3 out of 10.