 Preview By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | Guerrilla Games |
| Publisher: | SCEA | |
| Genre: | Action | |
| ESRB: | Teen | |
| # Of Players: | 1-6 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | Memory Stick Duo, Wi-Fi (local) | |
| Estimated Release: | 10/30/2006 |
I do have some reservations about the game, though, namely with the controls. I must admit, when I first started playing this game, my first thought was, boy, this could be great on the DS, using your stylus to tap and target and that sort of thing. But once I got over that, I actually had some real concerns for the PSP controls. While some of the button placement, such as using the circle button to use grenades, seems to fit, other controls just seem out of place, especially for the frequency with which you use them. Examples of this include the square button, which is used to fire. Also, some controls, such as tapping the left shoulder button to evasively roll in any direction, felt a but iffy and not nearly as responsive as one might hope...but I suppose this is where the disclaimer from the previous page comes into play.
While there might be some questions about the controls, it is also quite clear that they were designed for the system and not just tacked on to the first unassigned button. Likewise, so are the graphics. Put simply, Killzone: Liberation looks impressive. The developer felt that, despite repeated attempts from other games, first-person shooters simply do not work on Sony’s handheld, most likely because of the single analog stick. So instead, Guerilla chose a top-down, third person perspective for the game, and it works wonderfully. Sure, things may be small, but there is an incredible amount of detail and, what’s more, it is all very, very clear.
The perspective is of a little concern, as you can usually see what’s coming in a game of this sort on a console, and you almost wish there was a way to freeze the action and scan your surroundings freely, or at the very least an icon for enemies on your map. Even without that though, the map is actually surprisingly informative. It might seem a little cluttered at first, but each map is drawn for each section (so you aren’t scanning a behemoth for your current location and destination), and there are icons aplenty with easy to decipher details. There are lots of little details not only to be seen but also heard, right down some bits of ambient noise that you might not even find in some console games. There is even some voice acting, so to speak, with audible, if not oft-repeated, sound bytes that chime in every now and then. Other than that, though, there isn’t too much to say about the audio except that this game sounds great.
Like quite a few games today, part of the fun of this game will be playing it over and over again, trying different strategies and trying to make it to the end quickly, stealthy, or whatever else. However, the real replay from this title will certainly come from the multiplayer. While it unfortunately limited to offline only (a true shame since this is, after all, published by Sony), it does offer up a variety of different features that should keep PSP owners coming back for more. For the most part, the game includes most of your typical multiplayer modes, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag, but multiplayer gaming on the go is a great way to pass the time, and Killzone: Liberation also allows players to select from a handful of maps, time limits, weapons, and multiple characters from each side of the story.
In the end, though, no matter how you decide to play, you are bound to have a great experience. This game takes a popular console game and successfully translates it into portable form, which is great to see, not only because the PSP needs more great games (as do all systems really, but this one more than most...), but because at long last game developers are starting to realize that you can’t simply port a PS2 game to the PSP and expect everything to work out alright. The two systems are far too different, particularly in the controls, and something is often lost as a result. With Killzone: Liberation, however, the game was built ground-up for the PSP and the developers have taken special attention work with the system’s graphics, controls and limitations. Extending the story beyond the PS2 original, this game throws a variety of new things into the mix that should come as treat to fans of the series and, at the very least, whet their appetite for the PS3 game to come.
Posted: 2006-10-17 18:23:15 PST