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First Impressions - Killzone 3 Multiplayer Beta
Alex Tretrop
Killzone 2 released back in 2009 to critical acclaim, boasting fantastic graphics on the PS3, an enjoyable single player, and one of the deepest multiplayer experiences ever. Unsurprisingly, Sony’s released a multiplayer demo for their latest iteration in the franchise, Killzone 3 on the PSN. It contains one large map, all classes and three game modes — an extremely large package for the “Beta” title thrown on it, but if what I’ve played is any indication, Killzone 3 is shaping up to be one of the year’s best shooters out there.
Classes
As I mentioned above, the demo feels like an extremely full package. Although there’s only one large map, Frozen Dam, it’s very well designed and looks great. Killzone 2’s class based multiplayer returns here in full force, with your standard fare of choices: Medic, Engineer, Sniper, Assault are all here. The interesting way the game plays comes in with each classes powers which, while a little derivative, keep the action flowing and spicy.
The medic can revive dead allies, the sniper can turn invisible for a short period of time, and the scout can disguise themselves as the enemy team. It’s been done to death but somehow Killzone 3 still makes it meaningfully impact the game, thanks to certain weapons only being equipable by certain classes and each class feeling very different from one another.
Modes
Moving onto the modes on display; Bodycount is your standard Team Deathmatch, which is perfectly functional and fun but it’s nothing too surprising or special. Warzone makes a return with little refinements here and there but even so, it still remains one of my favorite multiplayer modes to date in any console shooter. For those not in the know, Warzone takes every game mode in Killzone’s repertoire and dishes them out randomly in one big battle. You could be playing Bodycount for one minute, only to switch to Capture the Flag the next. This mode really reinforces the war like feel of the multiplayer, with each team completing, or failing to complete, many different objectives as the game progresses.
Finally, the latest and undoubtedly the greatest mode is called Operations, which adds a narrative element to the level you’re playing. It’s actually really cool how it’s implemented, with the game beginning with an ISA attack on the Helghan base in cinematic form and all the players scrambling to get into defensive or offensive positions. As your team succeeds or fails objectives, it highlights the best players on the team in the majority of the cutscenes. The gameplay aspect of it is simply a three stage “Plant the Charges” mode that does the job right and is extremely fun to play alongside the aforementioned cutscenes.
Experience
So how does the shooting feel? Exactly the same. There’s a nice variety of guns in the demo and each class that’s available for play feels similar to their Killzone 2 counterparts. The sound design is probably one of the best parts of the demo, with guns feeling like they pack a punch and the distant whiz of shots fired off in the distance sounding genuinely realistic.
That being said, the controls still feel way too lose and sporadic, to the dismay of those who found them to be a bother in the last game. Granted, you do start to get used to them after a while but if you’re looking to be precise, especially when using a sniper rifle or long range weaponry, you definitely won’t find it here.
Killzone 3 is looking better and better as each day goes by and I’m much more excited to get my hands on this beast when it comes out later this February. You guys can look forward to T3chh3lp’s full review in the coming weeks as well!
