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Is Killzone 1 worth at least a rental?

Rodeo Clown said:
With all these Killzone 2 E3 trailer/gameplay footage shenanigans, I've been kind of wanting to try the original due to how good 2 looks. Now, I've read some reviews that say the game is average to above average, but I'm curious as to what Gaf has to say about the game. Is it worth a rental or a purchase, or should I just skip the game all together?
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I'm sure some people have some good reasons for hating Killzone, but I'd say the overwhelming hate directed at it is more of a fad than it is genuine criticism.

I played Killzone knowing about the hate and "technical issues" that everyone was bitching about. There were some minor things that I didn't like; like the sniper scope and the lack of ammo present for the ISA rifle, but overall none of the shit I read people pissing and moaning about bothered me in the slightest.

Killzone is simply a decent game with some trivial downsides, nothing more, nothing less. It's worth a rental for sure and it's worth buying if you're a series completist or you just want to beef up your PS2 collection.
 
Not even worth a rental. If you want to get ready for Killzone 2 then play Killzone: Liberation. You get everything thats good about Killzone (aka the universe and feeling) but packed with good gameplay. Actually if you play the original Killzone you may even get so disgusted and not even want to try Killzone 2.
 
The combat in the urban areas is pretty entertaining, it's when the game goes beyond the confines of bombed out cities that the original Killzone falls flat on its face. I loathed getting shot at by enemies from beyond the draw distance in the overly ambitious (for the hardware) outdoor environments by enemies spewing the same ****ing lines they'd been using all game.

The game was far from unique, but it had some really interesting ideas. I really enjoyed how they handled the immersion with how they conveyed various actions via the first person perspective--like how you'd vaulted over objects or throw grenades; the screen would tilt with the motions and you'd see bits of you avatar while doing these actions. It was really cool.

I'd say it's definently worth a rental, or a buy if you can find it cheap enough. Just know that it's a flawed game.
 
FrostuTheNinja said:
When it comes to single player, it was a, "Halo killer".
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Sorry, just no. It was hyped as a Halo killer.. back when that was de rigeur.

FrostuTheNinja said:
Yeah, the game has some GLARING technical issues, but why can't you some of you admit that this is an extremely competent game?
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Halo had some level design issues, but the gameplay was just so fantastic, it almost didn't matter (reference nails in dick penny arcade joke). As for KZ, I was actually really impressed with what they managed technicaly on the PS2.

That said:
- the gameplay got stale really fast.
- the controls were just ****ing awful compared to Halo.
- the AI didn't even hold a candle.

I'm glad you enjoyed it - but it was no Halo.
 
Fatghost said:
There are even many better PS2 FPS games to rent.
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Despite it's flaws, Killzone is still the best PS2 fps package. Black is probably the most technically refined but the enemies are so stale (in KZ they are glitchy but they are aware of their squad and they know how to use cover..etc) and not to mention Black is pretty short and without a multiplayer component.
 
I'd say skip if you are planning on playing Killzone 2 without a bias. The original is a great idea executed terribly (although given the hardware...) Controls are terrible, the gameplay moves like a stuck pig, "KILL 'EM ALL" gets really annoying.

And anyone that says Killzone is on par with HALO needs to put the crackpipe down.
 
Wollan said:
Despite it's flaws, Killzone is still the best PS2 fps package. Black is probably the most technically refined but the enemies are so stale (in KZ they are glitchy but they are aware of their squad and they know how to use cover..etc) and not to mention Black is pretty short and without a multiplayer component.
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Red Faction and Timesplitters greatly disagree.
 
Dahbomb said:
Red Faction and Timesplitters greatly disagree.
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Have you played Red Faction in the last years? It looks terrible.

I have to agree though that RF had the best & most impressive fps campaign of any PS2 fps at the time of release. Timesplitters is just so, cut & dry & slick & boring imho. ;)
 
KZ has some serious problems with game play and level design. Half the time the enemies are situated behind some barbed wire or they are attacking from somewhere you can't physically reach. Combined with the clunky controls it gets old pretty fast.

edit; Just to be fair I can barely stand the Halo series and the Half Life series is my favorite.
 
Warm Machine said:
It came out against Halo 2 and Half-Life 2. It was self fullfilling prophecy for it to get killed. It had the same technical issues of Halo 2 but that game got away with them.
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I've played both, but only one of them gave me motion sickness. Only one had levels where knee-high walls were impassable, and only one had reload animations that jacked up where I was aiming at.
 
Even Area 51 is better than Killzone. Black is better than Killzone too for example. Killzone is by no means Ps2 best shooter.
 
Some harsh opinions here. Gamerankings Avg Ratio: 73%, sounds like a solid title. I got the game a few weeks ago. Played some and my first impression wasn't that bad, but I haven't seen enough for a more in-depth comment. Got the game for little money, so I'm happy. Killzone2 got me all hyped up and I want to learn more about the story/background.
 
Killzone is still the best PS2 fps package
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Timesplitters is just so, cut & dry & slick & boring imho. ;)
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Black is probably the most technically refined but the enemies are so stale (in KZ they are glitchy but they are aware of their squad and they know how to use cover..etc)
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It had the same technical issues of Halo 2 but that game got away with them.
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... people gonn lost their minds ...

Use the money to buy Killzone Liberation instead.
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Sanity at last!
 
I enjoyed it and so did my father. The best thing about Killzone is how every motion seemed to have weight to it. I especially liked the reloads, running and the feel of the weapons.
 
It's a terrible game in which I can't understand people hyping the second one.

I mean go ahead and rent it for terrible gameplay and the most annoying sounds ever( I HOPE to be in the second game too for humors sake).

Seriously, nothing like killing people and the same soundbytes over and over again like "Not Johnson, he was just a boy!" and "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".

Seriously rent this game if you like to hear constant mooing.
 
If you're really interested in the game, just watch the cutscenes on YouTube like I did. You'll be glad you didn't play it after that.

For reference, I did rent the game and wrote it off as not very good, half-way into the first stage. I can't remember exactly why but I think part of it was the inability to customize the controls.
 
G-Fex said:
It's a terrible game in which I can't understand people hyping the second one.

I mean go ahead and rent it for terrible gameplay and the most annoying sounds ever( I HOPE to be in the second game too for humors sake).

Seriously, nothing like killing people and the same soundbytes over and over again like "Not Johnson, he was just a boy!" and "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".
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Er, that first soundclip you mentioned only occurred once though. And what the hell is "MOOOOO" anyway? Helghan cow? Not saying the repetitive VA isn't annoying, but your examples don't make a ton of sense. Have you played the game?

If there was a way to get access to Luger right away and just play certain select levels, like the slums, you could probably have a good time with it.
 
FrostuTheNinja said:
Check it out... Rent/Buy/Borrow/Whatever.

At least it's better than Halo single player.
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:lol :lol :lol

Aside from the insanity, I'd say go ahead and rent it. It has a cool graphic style, and the game has some good ideas, it just doesn't execute them very well.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
You know what, just wait for Killzone 2. Killzone is like a bunch of great ideas thrown into a clown car that is then driven straight into a tarpit. For all of its artistic value and genuinely good ideas, there is bound to be a ton of bugs and repeated VA clips that shit all over whatever is good about it.
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Weird, I figured it must have been better than I'd heard given the anticipation/reaction to KZ2 here.
 
ElectricBlue187 said:
Don't let the Killzone 2 hype trick you into buying/renting the first one, it's not a good game.
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It's not terrible, though, and it almost works as a case study.

The PSP game, however, is very good and worth playing for certain.
 
Fallout-NL said:
No one sees the issue here?
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If you are implying that the quality of the original Killzone will determine the quality of the sequel, don't bother. Their PSP game was fantastic and, really, a lot of the issues with the original game were the result of hardware and engine limitations.
 
noire said:
Weird, I figured it must have been better than I'd heard given the anticipation/reaction to KZ2 here.
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The reaction following the E3 demonstration is based on all the potential of the first game actually looking to be realized this time around.
 
noire said:
Weird, I figured it must have been better than I'd heard given the anticipation/reaction to KZ2 here.
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Killzone was a game that had a lot of potential and was plagued by technical issues.

Killzone 1 minus technical issues plus money and 3x the number of people on the development team (potential to reach potential increased) = hype for KZ2.

It's not hard to understand. I bought DMC3 and I didn't buy DMC2. One was good. One wasn't. Crisis of conscience - not so much.
 
I really like the game. The gameplay was a little annoying, but it looked damn good, and was just alot of fun to pick up and play some levels. I found the story pretty good too.

Definitely worth a rental.
 
Sure it is worth a rental. It's has some faults, but still Killzone 1 gets too much undeserved negativity. Also, too often people try to take away from how amazing it's sequel is looking by pointing out the flaws of the first.
 
tanod said:
Killzone was a game that had a lot of potential and was plagued by technical issues.

Killzone 1 minus technical issues plus money and 3x the number of people on the development team (potential to reach potential increased) = hype for KZ2.

It's not hard to understand. I bought DMC3 and I didn't buy DMC2. One was good. One wasn't. Crisis of conscience - not so much.
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DMC is different, it had the first one to establish it's reputation.

Don't get defensive, I'm not subtly bashing the game, it was an honest comment. I was interested in KZ1 because of it's art style, but when the reviews came out, I decided not to bite. I tried KZ on the PSP and thought it was dull. I'm still interested in KZ2, because I think the game is visually impressive, but with the technical issues of the first one, and the (imo) dull gameplay of the second, it was a bit hard to understand the degree of hype surrounding it here.
 
Its worth a rental only because you can give it back i am just glad i bought it when i worked in a computer game shop so i could get a refund.
 
dark10x said:
If you are implying that the quality of the original Killzone will determine the quality of the sequel, don't bother. Their PSP game was fantastic and, really, a lot of the issues with the original game were the result of hardware and engine limitations.
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A lot, but not the ones which are relevant, the game being dreadfully boring and simple for instance. I think the problem is a bit more elementary, so Ill stick by my point. However, that isnt to say that it's impossible for KZ2 to be good. I just dont see much of a basis for the hype.

tanod said:
It's not hard to understand. I bought DMC3 and I didn't buy DMC2. One was good. One wasn't. Crisis of conscience - not so much.
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The major difference here is the existence of DMC1.
 
noire said:
DMC is different, it had the first one to establish it's reputation.

Don't get defensive, I'm not subtly bashing the game, it was an honest comment. I was interested in KZ1 because of it's art style, but when the reviews came out, I decided not to bite. I tried KZ on the PSP and thought it was dull. I'm still interested in KZ2, because I think the game is visually impressive, but with the technical issues of the first one, and the (imo) dull gameplay of the second, it was a bit hard to understand the degree of hype surrounding it here.
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The gameplay in the footage we have seen so far looks pretty ****ing good though, so it really shouldn't be that hard to grasp why there is hype surrounding it.
 
A lot, but not the ones which are relevant, the game being dreadfully boring and simple for instance. I think the problem is a bit more elementary, so Ill stick by my point. However, that isnt to say that it's impossible for KZ2 to be good. I just dont see much of a basis for the hype.
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I dunno, I really think there was some great potential in the original game and the PSP game was excellent. When you combine this with the amount of effort they are putting into the new game AND the impressive nature of what they've shown, it's not hard to see why it is receiving attention.
 
Fallout-NL said:
A lot, but not the ones which are relevant, the game being dreadfully boring and simple for instance. I think the problem is a bit more elementary, so Ill stick by my point. However, that isnt to say that it's impossible for KZ2 to be good. I just dont see much of a basis for the hype.
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The hype is because of how awesome KZ2 looked and how impressed people were by the demonstrations they saw. When people watch something that looks awesome and seems very enjoyable to play, hype is generated. KZ1 was a squad-based PS2 game, sent to die, and hardly resembled what we've seen from KZ2.
 
Even after reading this thread, I kept the game in my Gamefly queue and they shipped it today. So, I suppose I'll do a late to the party topic with my thoughts tomorrow. They also shipped Transformers, the Atari 2004 game, so I'll at least have something positive to write about.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
The gameplay in the footage we have seen so far looks pretty ****ing good though, so it really shouldn't be that hard to grasp why there is hype surrounding it.
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Gameplay footage of the first one looked good prior to it's release as well.
 
I literally could not stand to play it for more than an hour. I felt like the control was terrible and the framerate was even worse. I know FPS controls can be done on the PS2 controller because TimeSplitters2 was fine (although I have to admit that I feel the XB/XB360 pads were far superior for this type of game).

I didn't care for the darker, "dirty" palate the game's color's had in the levels I played, and I hate the design of the Helghast. They just seem so cliche, with their masks and glowing eyes and such. Then again I didn't like the design of the combine troopers in HL2 for the same reason.
 
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