Sound Off: Killzone 2 Demo

Now before we begin, let's all remember what Adam Sessler had to say about Killzone 2 discussion last week. Let's keep it clean, thoughtful, and on-topic.

It's a rare thing when literally every pal on my PS3 buddy list is playing the same game, let alone a demo. But that's exactly what happened this weekend. To call the Killzone 2 demo a watershed moment for Sony's mammoth console is an understatement. Attracting more attention than any other demo this generation, the eyes of all gamers are all focused on Killzone 2's first public outing, wondering if all the waiting and CG trailer controversies were worth the wait.

Let's not beat around the bush here. The visuals seen in this demo are far and away the best seen on any console. No other game can come close to matching the amount of detail put into every nook and cranny the way that Killzone 2 has. While it's a little too "next-gen grey" for my usual tastes, there is no denying that Guerrilla makes it work.

The all too brief demo picks up in the middle of assault mission on the Helghast from the perspective of Sev, the game's 4'10" hero. Over the course of the demo Sev will take on a handful of very traditional FPS objectives: blow this up, open this door, cover your buddy while he hacks something, etc. You'll run through a variety of indoor and outdoor environments as you blast through one Helghast trooper after another before an abrupt ending. The demo shouldn't take you much longer than 10 minutes to run through, but provides a good amount of insight into the title.

A lot of previews have noted the games slower or "laggy" controls. While Killzone 2 feels noticeably slower from FPS twitch-fests like Halo or Call of Duty, this element serves to make the game much more deliberate. Unlike the recent Resident Evil 5 demo, the reliance on methodical gameplay isn't easily confused with poor control schemes and is an effective way to change things up. That said, the other gameplay elements seen in this demo are nearly indistinguishable from any game in the genre over the past five years. The level layouts aren't anything particularly special, the AI is just as predicable as any other title, and the weaponry, along with their functionality, is standard sci-fi gadget fare. For diehard fans of the FPS genre, this game will no doubt be an earth shattering experience, but those not enamored with the genre may not be so impressed. Honesty, during my playthrough I couldn't help but wonder what a Killzone: Liberation-style game would look like with this engine, and if it would be a better game.

Does the demo get me excited for the full game? A little. I definitely want to see what other visual splendors the full title has in store, but I'm not sure that the mediocre gameplay justifies the $60 entry fee. I'll likely pick up the game once I can find it on sale. How about you? Did you fight the Helghast this weekend? Are you more or less excited for the game after playing it? Hit the comments section after the jump.