Killzone 2 (PlayStation 3)
UK Release Date: 25/02/2009 Developer: Guerrilla Games Publisher: SCE
Killzone 2 isn't a good game: it's an outstanding game. Chaotic and satisfying from the very first bullet, Killzone 2 not only sets a standard for technological performance, it manages to teach a new lesson in creating a convincing theatre of war.
It'd be flirting with irrelevance to mention the 2005 CG trailer and the apparent importance of the game to the PlayStation 3; this was covered in the preview. For this reason it'd be hypocritical to say that Killzone 2 'saves' Sony, so I'll refrain from that.
With that out of the way; Guerilla Games has done technical wonders here, really showing off the virtues of working this closely to the platform holder and hiring the right talent. It could even show the virtues of targeting a CGI trailer...moving on...
The opening cinematic is glorious in laying your task out before you - the war has already begun and you're diving straight in.
It's not until you land on the war torn planet of Helghan that the visuals truly start to impress. Landscapes layered with geometry and buildings built from cement and corrugated iron act as the background to refracted light, thick smog and battlefield chaos.
It's the attention to detail that impresses. There might be a smattering of low-resolution textures here and there, but every element has been laboured over to create a living planet that's dense with detail and alive with Hollywood-style presentation.
Film grain, camera-lens light spots, impressive motion blur and realistic first-person movements add that final polish to a graphical and artistic filmic experience - Killzone 2's immersion is unsurpassed.