DF Retro: Killzone 2 Ten Years On - An Iconic PS3 Tech Showcase

[@LE0NSKA]

the way the enemies react to bullets hitting them is still impressive and missed in most titles... you don't need hitmarkers with animations like that..

[@APE029]

Guerilla games Ai is top notch, they flank they move they frag out they communicate so many AAA titles that dont do that

[@mannamanam8233]

I have a bad case of nostalgia I had so much fun on PS3 not to say ps4 was bad or anything i have a PRO but PS3 was the greatest gaming part of my life I nearly left PC gaming for good Holy sheeet i really want to play killzone2 right now 😋

[@pistachiodisguisey911]

@@mannamanam8233 Don't blame you, ps3 got the uncharted trilogy, little big planet, infamous, resistance, metal gear solid 4, motor storm, too many to count

[@sean8102]

If I remember correctly Rage was pretty good about that detail as well. Tons of different animations that flowed smoothly that differed on where and how you hurt or killed a enemy.

[@LE0NSKA]

@@sean8102 yes it was. I also liked that game way more than the general public as it seems

[@Antonio-yq8uo]

Man... Killzone 2 was such a beautiful game. The graphics were out of the world for that time

[@TheGravityShifter]

I'm legit impressed with how good KZ2 looks in today's standard.

[@jamielee8845]

Same remember it so well was a great game

[@Kinoksis]

It looks as good if not better than some PS4 games released today. Killzone 2 and 3 deserve remasters.

[@TheGravityShifter]

@@Antonio-yq8uo KZ2 was no doubt ahead of its time. All because they took the pre-render trailer controversy thing very seriously and did not want to disappoint. If it weren't for that, I'm willing to bet that KZ Shadow Fall and Horizon: Zero Dawn wouldn't have been so visually stunning. As for gameplay... I feel the only game that has done it very well in a realistic sense when compared to KZ2, is probably Red Dead Redemption 2. I can't wait to see how the next KZ or Horizon game will look... Especially now with the sudden boom in amazing technical prowess recently, really taking advantage of current gen hardware. RDR2 looks like a high range PC game for goodness sake. XD

[@superstarDJ537]

Yep, love it when devs have the time and resources to push their talents to the limits.

[@anthonyfellows390]

I'm still baffled that there wasn't a Killzone collection or Resistance collection for PS4.

[@pancakeninja445]

Yeah me too, I hope we see one for PS5

[@lemming9984]

Killzone on Vita is pretty good too.

[@MK7.5_GTI_TCR]

Try PS Now all 4 Killzone games are playable via Stream on PS4.

[@GortonIma]

Yep. All those games in 4K60 would be a gift. Even if they're a gift I have to pay for.

[@Adasioadasio]

I'm still waiting for both games to have that :C

[@aleefmohammed244]

The graphics for this game was way ahead of its time

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

Gears 2 and Crysis were out around the same time, and they were ahead of their time also.

[@isaacjones2914]

but they have bad frame rate

[@isaacjones2914]

@Amer ikr ive gone back to replay older titles on my ps3 and my god its horrible, motion blur, depth of field bad frame rate its horrible, guess nostalgia is better left alone sometimes, tho i do love the ps2 colections and persona 5

[@okaybutwhythough7456]

In my opinion it was ahead of it's time just for PS3 and somewhat console gaming in general. Xbox 360 had Gears of War 2 already just a few months before Killzone 2 was released and it also features visuals amazing for the platform. Meanwhile PC had Crysis Warhead in 2008 which ran and looked better than the original, while still having physics way ahead of both of them or pretty much anything else on the market for the next 5 years and even now.

[@88oscuro]

@@christopherwalkinalloverya5824 several games can be ahead of their time, especially when all three games mentioned are for different platforms =)

[@SuperHns]

it is funny because I think Killzone 2 final product looks better than the pre-rendered video

[@metalgearsolid418]

Me too.

[@NegitoroIsBestShip]

Same.

[@c-samleystudios1573]

Negitoro Is Best Ship yup

[@agamaz5650]

hm idk both look amazing in their own way

[@UltimateAlgorithm]

I think the problem is not technical but more ethical. Using pre-rendered as a gameplay demo is kind of dishonest. Even when the final result is better than the demo.

[@SoNGY8888]

KZ2's rumble is also very underrated, every weapon had its own individual rumble, i fkn loved them

[@ecp4500]

So true. Try playing without rumble. It's surprising how much of a role rumble has to the recoil and sense of weight and makes the sound and animation really gel.

[@GT-22]

I want to play it again now 😝

[@Cyber_Helghast__]

Same. ​@@GT-22

[@juanblanco7898]

Rumble is hugely underrated in general. Though I think it sucks on PS5. Too weak

[@zedsdeadbaby]

Technical masterpiece, for its day it looked so ethereal and unreal. Even today it looks unique.

[@hellcatdave1]

Same with Gears of War. Two games that absolutely nail the gritty aesthetic of war, and two games with sequels that fail to hit that same mark.

[@remasteredretropcgames3312]

Hi. Im a modder from the future. Use them.

[@angelvalentinmojica6967]

I would like to play killzone 2 in 4k 60fps

[@pizzagateisreal]

Not on the ps4 pro you won't

[@pombomaldito]

@@pizzagateisreal Yes It's possible!! TLOU 4k 60FPS PS4 Pro

[@jamielee8845]

@@pombomaldito that TLOU 4k is a little dynamic but differently 60fps, I'd take 1440p with a solid 60fps it's all down to the dev's choices not just the hardware

[@CrowCZ]

It will happen once RPCS3 emulator gets good enough to run it.

[@angelvalentinmojica6967]

@@pizzagateisreal don't see why not. Ps4 pro has way more demanding games that runs at a decent resolution at 60 fps. Killzone 2 can runs at native 4k 60fps on the pro or at least 1800p 60fps.

[@TheFly212]

the dynamic lighting and physics are what impresses me. Cause today we have better particle effects, textures, shadders, meshes and so on and so on. HOWEVER, dynamic lighting really took a hit with the Xbox One and PS4 and physics were non existent in most games. So Killzone 2 really is timeless cause it does lighting and physics better than many "AAA" shooters of today.

[@dariosandoval3608]

Well it was horrible idea using shitty APUs on Xbox One and PS4. However, i was done because they were cheap

[@baxter009]

@@dariosandoval3608PS4 was initially planned to feature a Cell 2, 4 PPE 32 SPE processor. That would have been overkill for physics, but devs complained. They had these engines ready for the CPU already focus on multithreading.

[@PlutonianPrince]

Bad Idea. They were better off using Open-CL GPU Physics or Nvidia's Physx GPU Engines. This would have freed up more head room for the CPU. Instead of the dreaded PowerPC based architecture you listed. They could have gone with a Fx6300 or FX8350 custom with an APU.@@baxter009

[@vojislavjankovic-q4i]

@@baxter009 Cell 2 would have been several times more powerful than the jaguar but also more expensive and Sony wanted a sure thing, they didn't want to risk anything. First party wanted the cell 2. Mark Cerni said that some teams wanted as many cores as they can get (most certainly naughty dog, guerilla and santa monice).

[@MerryBlind]

I’d buy a remaster of this in a heartbeat.

[@remasteredretropcgames3312]

Wait for zen 3 refresh, buy it, then use my mod.

[@danisaksson3214]

Word.

[@thisnoize7]

3 years later and I still can't emulate this or play it on PC. feels bad man.

[@paumarin977]

@@thisnoize7 ive tried yesterday and game got freezed at the end of first mission, not even 2023 hardware can emulate the madness of ps3 memory allocation and functioning as it's max

[@thisnoize7]

​@@paumarin977 I only recently learned how difficult and resource intensive it is to emulate PS3 games on PC. I just assumed modern hardware would be more than enough.. you need a supercomputer and it's just not worth it. It's like buying a sports car and using it's engine to run like an electric bike.

[@chrisj514]

This game deserve a total remaster on ps4 pro. 4k HDR 60 fps!

[@Horrorfreak86]

PS4 Pro 4k 60Fps 😂 Not on a pro. Maybe PS5.

[@nickmotsarsky4382]

4k/60 would be too much to ask for from a remaster. Probably 1440p, checkerboarded to 4k.

[@jamesisaac7684]

@@nickmotsarsky4382 resident evil 2 did it.

[@nickmotsarsky4382]

@@jamesisaac7684 Resident Evil wasn't a PS3 graphical showcase now was it..

[@JustAnotherGamer1005]

Or PSVR support. Would definitly want to play Killzone 2 & 3 in VR. PS3 games are "perfect" to convert for VR, which Wipeout has proven.

[@paweldurczok]

Right, time to connect the PS3 to my OLED. I almost forgot how impressive KZ2 is. I always found KZ3 to look a bit pedestrian next to it - it just lacked that thick atmosphere of 2. Excellent video Mr. Linneman.

[@CarsonCote]

@Ioannis Stf Man I hope the ps3 emulator gets this game running well so we get to see what this game will look like in 4k...

[@alex.starostin]

Damn that game was impressive back in 2009 and it still is. And it was fun too. I'd buy a remaster for PS4 in a heartbeat

[@kennethfegley7552]

Alex Star would be nice to have Liberation with console graphics too, maybe as a collection

[@jamielee8845]

Same the whole series, just for the single player I would, Guerrilla games doing great work horizon plus they new engine used for death stranding too.

[@AlphaladZXA]

It probably is too late for a ps4 remaster at this point a "ps5" remaster is more likely by this point

[@QcK0101]

I wouldnt. That last fight at the hardest difficulty was pain in the ass... I still get nightmares. I remember to hit my head with the controller everytime I failed.

[@alwingarside2828]

Jamie Lee They didn’t make a new engine for Death Stranding. DS is using the same Decima engine that Guerrilla used for Killzone 2, 3, Shadow Fall, Until Dawn and Horizon: Zero Dawn.

[@Gr4yF0x]

I wish more fps games copied Killzone's 2 cover system.

[@dominicsawicki6943]

Killzone 2 was and still is my favourite FPS of all time. I played the campaign so many times, challenged myself on Elite (and fuck Radec was a challenge!), memorized all the maps, found all the collectibles. The multiplayer was phenomenal too and I put countless hours into it. I worked my way into getting Valor Rank #3 but I wasn't able to get #4 and, ultimately, the platinum trophy. Regardless, I loved every single thing about this game. The visuals, the heaviness of the guns, the grit, the interactive load screens, the music... Even the cringey-at-times dialogue and barebones story grasped my full attention. Coming off of KZ2's perfection, I expected a lot from Killzone 3. Unfortunately, it really did not live up to expectations. The visuals were incredible and the gunplay was still great but the story lacked the grittiness that made KZ2 so visceral. Instead of improving on the bits of KZ2 that worked like the gung-ho squad, the WWII allusions and the serious tone, they took the over-the-top action film-esque elements and put them to the forefront. The multiplayer also felt weaker and comparatively pared back, even with the jetpacks (which were admittedly fun). Then came Mercenary, which was a fantastic portable shooter, and Shadow Fall, which missed the mark in every way. To me, Killzone lost its way with 3 and SF and never managed to return to grace, despite a great spin-off in Mercenary. I think if one game in the series were to deserve the full remastering treatment, it's Killzone 2. Thank you for the great analysis and taking me on a trip down memory lane. :)

[@neonpop80]

Dominic Sawicki I platinumed this game and so proud of it!

[@Atare617]

Shadow fall multiplayer was really good

[@MariuszGruszkajamaniek]

Killzone 2 is still one of my favorite games of all time. The multiplayer was absolutely amazing! I haven't played anything like it since then.

[@Lionrisesproductions]

Agreed. One of the best.

[@colofthedead6101]

Yes - agreed - the multiplayer was a fantastic blend of Team Fortress but with its own unique elements. The biggest disappointment for KZ3 for me was the multiplayer took a step backwards.

[@DualPurpose]

@@colofthedead6101 Bingo

[@ZerodragYT]

It still looks stunning today.

[@bingobongo1615]

The Silent Snake In what regard? I see many comments like that but yet any details...

[@ZerodragYT]

Vinnisl a for one it had many visual techniques that have only started becoming commonplace this generation

[@scottylans]

@@bingobongo1615 Just watch the video? For a PS3 game shipping a decade ago, it looks great.

[@deedeemerry1295]

KZ2 showcased just how much more powerful PS3 was over the Xbox 360. The 360 doesnt have anything that can touch games like Uncharted 3 and KZ2. the 360 looked like a ps2 by comparison

[@ZerodragYT]

DeeDee Merry Gears of War 3 and Forza Horizon were damn close, but when a developer puts the PS3’s hardware to good use....there’s no turning back.

[@DavidAlfredoGuisado]

My fav multiplayer game ever, that *chirp* sound when you got a headshot, so satisfying. I have such fond memories of KZ2.

[@luckymouse1988]

Also loved the statistical part of the multiplayer, being able to see match stats on the killzone website and all that, really a great experience.

[@pampampiro]

Without doubt the best multiplayer experience I had on PS3.

[@dominicsawicki6943]

Also my favourite multiplayer game of all time. I lost countless hours to it. I made it to Valor rank #3 but never the coveted #4. I was so close to the platinum too. KZ2 is undoubtedly in my top 10 games.

[@ShadovvGovernment]

Oh man same here. I still played online when I had a PS4. KZ3 unfortunately lost what made it feel special. To reminisce some more, that feeling when you boost the last speaker in to win the round and game, the sniper battles on Pyrrhus Rise, the rocket and bot spam fest in Radec Academy, being an evil bastard with C4, intense 1v1 games, using the LMG to light up fools coming out of spawn grenades, being a hero by using spawn grenades tactically and in the right direction. Great times.

[@Tinseltopia]

@@pampampiro Uncharted 2 Multiplayer was where it's at. Before the 1.05 patch!

[@SawBlood45]

I can write a short essay about what this game meant to me. How it captured my imagination and had me daydreaming in class about the lore the Helgan environment, the beautiful dark atmosphere. I was in love with the art direction. Huge fan of the first game, hell yeah it had issues but I wanted more. GG out did the 2005 trailer and delivered an outstanding game that holds up well. My only gripe with it is the dialogue in the campaign could be cringey at times, I don't have a problem with cursing at all in a war game but the way it came out alot of the time from the characters seemed awkward and forced. Other than that it was a great game. Beautiful world. LOVED how heavy the game felt. It had weight and gravity. The Helghast A.I was great too different soldiers had a slightly unique tactic. I would love a PS4 remaster with online so I can play on the beach map again.

[@goob8945]

Epic

[@lifeclip9878]

Was exciting to be a ps3 owner when this came out

[@seth-nico]

It was exciting to be a PS3 owner in general. It did have a rough launch but it ended up getting so many instant classics that were also exclusive to the platform like Little Big Planet 1 & 2, Killzone 2 & 3, MGS4, Infamous, Uncharted 1-3, God of War 3, WarHawk, All the Ratchet & Clank games, Beyond Two Souls, MAG, Heavy Rain, Journey, Resistance 1-3 & The Last of Us.

[@quatz1981]

@@seth-nico Still remains to this day to be one of my favourite consoles of all time.

[@sean7332]

@@quatz1981 k

[@Ozzianman]

​​​​​​@@seth-nico Enjoyed the PS3 as a teen, but I don't hold much nostalgia for the games. I have tried replaying Uncharted 1 - 3, and I just don't find it fun. I generally don't find movie games to be fun because games ain't movies. Ratchet and Clank remains fun to play, but if memory serves me right, it does not quite have the same edge as the PS2 titles.

[@xxnike0629xx]

I wouldn't mind a 4K Killzone Collection on discs consisting of: Killzone Killzone 2 Killzone 3 Killzone Shadow Fall Killzone: Liberation Killzone: Mercenary The same for the Resistance series: Resistance: Fall of Man Resistance 2 Resistance 3 Resistance: Retribution Resistance: Burning Skies

[@VariantAEC]

I was very disappointed with Burning Skies visuals and some of the level design... Even the story I felt was dry mostly because the characters story was squandered compared to the other games. I mean I know why he's fighting but I couldn't care less about him or his family on an emotional level. Retribution was underrated game in the Resistance universe and its MP was really fun definitely needs a remake!

[@jackyyo1998]

Killzone mercenary is amazing. Best shooter on vita

[@motoemnk3839]

Not possible because the ps4 cant even handle 4k :D

[@theninjamaster67]

@@motoemnk3839 actually it can since there are games like knack that run at 4k but killzone would be a difficult one to have at 4k if they actually remastered it and did higher res textures not like it needs a remaster though since all remasters are is cash grabs and emulation is a thing so playing most of these games at 4k 60 on pc will be easy once ps3 emulation is completely up to snuff

[@motoemnk3839]

@@theninjamaster67 yeah, ps3 Emulation Made big steps lately

[@DiogoExMarques]

The weapon handling animations and lighting looks better than many games releasing today, it's crazy.

[@jamielee8845]

So true, cyberpunk 2077 weapon animations look close with the little touches

[@MostafaMaher98]

no it's not crazy, it's just developers are slacking as f*ck. Look at GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 for example of great animation and immersion

[@Charles-hy6gp]

That because consoles are holding back gaming, have you seen a PS2 game with better animations, lighting than a PS3 game? Nope A PS2 game with better AI, physics than a PS3 game? Nope

[@GrippeeTV]

Charles 8777 it’s more the fact that consoles are cheap alternatives for people who don’t want to shell out $1000 for a high end gaming rig. And actually it can be argued that PC’s are holding back gaming; as a game designer myself, making games for consoles is incredibly easy compared to PC. Sure you have less powerful hardware, but it’s far easier to account for them because EVERY console will have the EXACT same hardware and optimizing for that is soooooo much smoother than optimizing for the RIDICULOUS range of PC hardware people have. If PC’s didn’t exist for gaming and EVERYONE simply owned a $1000 console that all have the same specs, games would be through the roof technologically.

[@astubbornonly]

@@GrippeeTV bs

[@Shadow4192008]

Guerrilla Games are top tier developers. HZD with their new Decima engine is beyond amazing and looks stunning. Can't wait to see how the finished version of Death Stranding looks like cause Kojima is using the same engine.

[@IngrownMink4]

In fact, Until Down used the Decima Engine too

[@dialmightyspartangod6717]

IngrownMink4 And so did Killzone SF

[@rulewski33]

@@IngrownMink4 Officer Down? XD Sorry

[@jokerzwild00]

@@IngrownMink4 I didn't know that, thanks. UD looks great, at the time it came out it was one of the best looking games I had ever played, but it had framerate issues. It's a shame it never got a Pro enhanced patch. At least I don't think it did, I haven't played it in a long time.

[@dialmightyspartangod6717]

hey yo Fun fact the Decima Engine was renamed and was originally called the Hurst Engine

[@hj-hv6rt]

Still the most impressive looking PS3 game imo. The attention to detail, the animations, the way all the post processing effects and the art style come together. Nothing else quite like it on that generation of consoles imo

[@NicGoldenEddie]

I remember when it came out I was really impressed and it felt like they did not promise to much. It felt truly next gen. Still the feeling is very vivid. I remember trying to tell my friends that this is something very special we are playing right here. Just look at it. So many details and things. They seemed to be astonished too but not the same way. This game felt like a grommet dinner at a really good restaurant. And they shoved it in the, like it’s a cheap burger but a tasty one they admitted. I want play it now for the first time again. 😅 maybe I will hook up my ps3 and have some fun. I’m very towards that 🥰 KZ2 PS3 🥰

[@Noah-Lach]

Uncharted 2 looks great and all, but this game has aged much better. Just a masterclass in art direction and technical accomplishment.

[@lagginswag]

Crysis 1, at least on pc 😊

[@muslimmetalman]

@@Noah-Lach god of war 3 let alone ascension. UC3. stylistically FF13 beats them

[@SonnyFrisco]

Motorstorm Apocalypse is pretty close if not better.

[@TheDust69]

The meta in the online for KZ2 was really unique for console at the time. A lot of crouching to increase the hip fire accuracy instead of your typical ADS for every kill like you saw in CoD. Players really fought like hell in this game back in the day!

[@GraveUypo]

crouching for hip accuracy is a counterstrike thing and goes way back to early 2000s.

[@blondeboi2132]

@@GraveUypo but i was a unique meta for a console shooter in the mid 2000s

[@Ozzianman]

@@blondeboi2132 Counter Strike was also on the original Xbox. But KZ2 certainly shares the spot with Xbox Counter-Strike for having a unique meta on console.

[@jogre900]

Ads on kz2 was too clunky thank to input lag, hip fire more easy

[@chrisogrady28]

The physics were and still are so impressive, I played sections over and over just shooting gas bottles and watching them fly around and interact with things. Apart from the input lag and frame rate it’s my favourite looking & feeling FPS of all time.

[@coleshores]

I agree, it’s still a technical show piece even to this day

[@dem0man21]

Crysis (2007), Killzone (2009),and F.E.A.R (2006) were 3 awesome games, especially for their time 3 great games made almost 2 generations ago now. The physics on these games and the graphic technology was so far ahead of it's time. Crysis physics were so amazing you could throw a grenade in a building and they building would explode different every time. Almost everything in the world was damageable. Killzone was almost the same. F.E.A.R had bullet time effects and physical particles flying everywhere during firefights. I really expected to see better games with the physics of yesteryear with better graphics by now. Crysis with a Texture mod looks better then 95 percent of games now days still. Here is hopeing RPCS3 gets killzone working smoothly so I can revisite it in 4k.

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

Gears 2 was amazing for that same time frame also.

[@geezgoddamn]

I remember playing the KZ2 demo when I came out and I couldn't believe how good the graphics were. It legitimately felt like a generation leaps from all the other games at the time; with the HUD and crosshairs off it was the only game at the time that looked like a CGI movie.... I haven't felt like that with any of the games this generation

[@ColonelRoge]

Until RD2 dropped

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

I guess you hadn't played any of the Gears of War games up to that point. Gears was the first game to look "next gen" in that generation.

[@ColonelRoge]

@JoaK what were you playing it on a snes?

[@philipvalenzuela4969]

Call of Duty..

[@outlander234]

Killzone had some things like enemies reacting to bullets, the best reloding animations and maybe animations in general while also having great physics... makes me think Cell processor was very underrated.

[@scotty28653]

They squeezed every bit of CPU and GPU (APU) power to run this game. It set the bar for its time, and still looks good today.

[@jukins6543]

Ps3 did t have apu they had cou and gpu separate hence the 256 memory limit for system and 256 for gpu

[@thanksbetotap]

scotty28653 An APU = AMD'S SoC brand = CPU + GPU + integrated memory (more or less).

[@fancyslimoshady]

No Apu on the PS3 .. Just an unorthodox CPU and a inferior GPU.

[@TheAlex3712]

@@fancyslimoshady Found the PC Elitist guy !

[@fancyslimoshady]

@@TheAlex3712 that makes absolute no sense.. please elaborate?

[@marcusmclendon686]

The skyboxes in kz2 and 3 are true works of art.

[@datacentre81]

You guys should eventually do a DF Retro about Killzone Mercenary. It was shocking how much they managed to pull off on the Vita, and a technical breakdown of how exactly they did it would be great.

[@JoshEckerman]

eedobaba7726 Yes! I still play it today either on the Vita or PS TV.

[@Der-Kleine]

KZ:M is definitely one of my favorite Vita games, it was really quite unbelievable what they managed to pull off given the hardware. Would love to see a DF Retro episode on that as well! Edit: One thing I really want to mention: Mercenary isn't just impressive on the visual front, but the audio in that game is top notch as well. It's one of the few games where you can really get a ton of information based on what you hear, with distant sound effects convincingly being modified to fit their environment.

[@adawg3032]

this game has always had a place in my heart. killzone 1 as a kid roped me in and killzone 2 was the dream when it was announced.

[@mannixmd]

The best multiplayer shooter on ps3 hands down

[@buckroger6456]

The train level was so amazing when you just stopped to look at what was going on.

[@Nightmare78hAlo]

I'd honestly prefer if Guerrilla went back and made a new Killzone on the level on the 1st and 2nd game's art style. Shadowfall was okay-ish but the colorfull nature just didn't suit the killzone mood imo.

[@Dorraj]

Shadowfall was literally just a tech demo for their new engine. They had been working on it, but were mainly focusing on developing a new IP. (Horizon)

[@flyingplantwhale545]

This is what I need in my life now. A great callback to my teenage years.

[@bingobongo1615]

Elvijs Krūmiņš Its interesting to see so many people have good memories of this game/series. I remember many people simply being underwhelmed by the end product but apparently it had lots of fans.

[@EposVox]

I didn't get to play much of this, but I remember it looking good. Thanks for making this! Getting to play this high res would be neat. It's funny how the softness of the image and some of the color cast immediately made it stand out as a PS3 title as soon as I saw footage.

[@EagerSnake]

The sense of weight was and still is, until this very day, the best in any game in my opinion. That alone made the game incredibly realistic, considering the sci fi setup. The only thing that I've never found realistic was the sound. It was like... not connected to what was happening in game. It was the right sound, but it wasn't loud or precise enough. Maybe that was just me, but the 5.1 was really nice butthe subtletieswere disapointing. Aside from that, probably the best Killzone to date.

[@somethingwithsam4388]

Exactly! I always thought the sound of Killzone (or any Guerilla Games game for that matter) was off. The intro of Killzone 2 for example: they descend upon the planet, but the difference between the voices and the thunder, explosions etc... is really strange. Same thing in Horizon Zero Dawn.

[@EagerSnake]

@@somethingwithsam4388 I'm glad I'm not entirely crazy, or the only one at least haha.

[@weses2]

My god, I'd love to play a remaster of this. I remember how stunning it was back then, and can't believe how stunning it still is today

[@kennethbergan]

This is one of those times when your prayers are answered, I've been thinking about this game a lot lately, and hoping that John would make some kind of video about it highlighting it's excellence. Thank you John! This is one of the best series on youtube from one of the best channels.

[@SlickOnTop]

Even today, this game looks unbelievable!

[@coffee7180]

you mean good, don't forget we have Metro exodus.

[@SlickOnTop]

@@coffee7180 this game is running on 10% of the ps4s power.

[@ajdaniel8128]

@@coffee7180 Lol u comparing a 10+ year Sony Game to Metro Exodus which is a 2019 game shows how much ahead Sony games were and still are to this day when it comes to cutting edge graphics

[@JoaoVictor-hk7iv]

@@ajdaniel8128 Nah, Halo 4 on the 360 looked better than Killzone 2 and 3.

[@SlickOnTop]

@@JoaoVictor-hk7iv having played Halo 4, I'd have to disagree. Halo 4 looks great, but no where near as good as kilzone 2 & 3.

[@elwingy]

this game looks better than a lot of current gen games. That speaks volumes for its achievement. Guerilla are a top tier dev.

[@IAMSAINTVEGAS]

Everything about Killzone 2 was absolute fire. The way Guerilla supported this game over the course of the online's lifespan was especially notable. The map packs and weapons were great and the balance tweaks really did perfect the experience. Great job and best musical score!

[@campos3452]

Honestly I like the finale game trailer better then the pre rendered trailer. Great job GG 👍🏻

[@metalgearsolid418]

I fully agree

[@SanchezS1998]

Proof that, in the right hands, art style can compensate for technical limitations.

[@betonman9]

cuz youre blind....

[@johanneswetzler2861]

Sony a remaster of killzone2 please

[@stahlseuche]

A blast from the past but a welcome one indeed. Loving all this content DF. Keep it up!

[@johnkeane320]

Its amazing they got visuals like this on ps3 hardware

[@gracecalis5421]

That Killzone 2 intro speech still makes me want to pick up a rifle and don my Helghast rebreather.

[@Lionrisesproductions]

Given the year so far. I think it would be acceptable to wear one in public 😂

[@rkgibbons]

“Sons and daughters of Helghan...”

[@bc913]

crazy that ps3 games are already considered "retro" lol

[@Jerry4050]

yeah I was only 25 when I got this game lol

[@camilofuentes7056]

In my heart ps3 still next gen

[@ILLRICARDO]

PS4 will be retro in 10 months

[@mpforeverunlimited]

I don't think so, it's last gen but not retro. Usually people wait until something is like 2 or 3 gens old to call it retro. I'd say KZ 1 is retro, but not 2. Maybe if the PS5 is a huge leap then you could consider this retro

[@visionop8]

@@mpforeverunlimited I think "retro" is a buzzword that likes to get thrown around when talking about older games. There's nothing honestly retro about Killzone 2 yet as it still resembles modern games (of course theres been improvements in resolution and physics). Its an old game but it isnt retro yet.

[@brutalschel]

I’m an Xbox player since the 360 but always loved Killzone and played the third on my friends’ PS3. And man, Killzone 2 and 3 were incredibly good looking! Still are. Games that look good in their launch will always look good. They may be dated, but when you keep in mind “these are some of the best real-time graphics from (insert year and gen)”, you can still appreciate their beauty. I’m even a big fan of the first game (don’t @ me, I know about the controller response delay) to this day. Still a great game.

[@MegaRayland]

André Schelgshorn The first game was much better than it usually gets credit for.

[@brutalschel]

Right!? I wish more people would play it and see for themselves. Specially Xbox fanboys. People don’t understand that you can love Halo but also enjoy Killzone or any other game on different platforms before saying crap. OG Killzone is great!

[@nhkk2893]

@@MegaRayland It was met with average reviews because it is a average game. Just because you like it doesn't make it objectvly better. I am sorry.

[@Fey-ml6qs]

I'm glad you loved it man.

[@dragonfistX200]

@@nhkk2893 what may be average game to one, it could be gem to another. Not everyone has to accept general consensus

[@mrmariomantube]

played the shit of of this game back then. that gratifying *chirp sound when shooting an enemy.

[@deaconstj19]

That sound was exclusive to the multiplayer, but yeah I agree. It was awesome, especially when you get a headshot.

[@raiza0666]

Omg yes, most satisfying kill sound ever

[@KingMatiCBeats]

My favorite killzone of all

[@VariantAEC]

@@deaconstj19 Nuh-uh you can also hear it in botzone, but I guess that's only available in Killzone 3...

[@yotube155]

Recently a team of dedicated fans actually got some servers up and running again for Killzone 2. It is, as you might expect, a minuscule player-base, but it's amazing that it's up and running at all

[@TomyHaven]

The peak of 2000s videogame graphic potential possibly. The series that made me long for a PS3 more than any other being an Xbox player. What a wonderful and special game

[@alsopsarchive5384]

Still better destructibility than Crackdown 3.

[@frequencyatom7052]

Havok physics 😏

[@minners71]

Better visuals all round than cackdown 3

[@gnarkillguch]

And they didn't even need "cloud computing" to do it.

[@frequencyatom7052]

@@minners71 😏

[@azzaprime7257]

Its even funnier that Killzone 2 is a better game than Killzone Shadow Fall.

[@themajesticspider-man6116]

One of the greatest shooters ever made, imo. Such wonderfully crafted multiplayer - at least to me.

[@Lionrisesproductions]

Agreed. Had massive amounts of fun with that game. It might be my favorite online experience ever.

[@rappa4297]

for me at least, was way better than Cod and BF3

[@ИисусХристос-ы3ь]

I love this game, where is remaster kilzone 2,3

[@ooquis]

YES!!!!

[@xDARKSHADEx]

I'd buy it in a heart beat if they fixed the input lag and increased the output resolution. Wouldn't be hopeful, but higher resolution textures would also be greatly welcomed! Like he said though, I doubt this will every see a port...

[@Yokonato]

Because the games were overhyped by a majority and sold to a minority, no offense to you just posting the facts. Take killzone 2 for example Sony said it had like 1 mil preorders in the UK come release it took 2 months to sell 1 mil world wide... what type of math were they doing when they were building the hype? Quite honestly aside from shadow fall the franchise overall never sold very well

[@kennethfegley7552]

And liberation

[@jamielee8845]

Guerrilla games probably just busy on horizon 2

[@badazzboxer]

Has better graphics than most PS4 games.

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

That's easy to say when the game is running at 30fps.

[@MrJPM1992]

fps doesn't mean shit compared to textures

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

@RealityCheck And??? He never said most PS4 EXCLUSIVE games. The Last Of Us II, Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted 4, God Of War, Death Stranding, The Order 1886 all look amazing (and better than Killzone 2 though every game I mentioned don't all have the same art direction) graphically because they run at 30fps which again I say: That's easy to say when developers are targeting 30fps AND both PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are held back by shitty Jaguar CPUs hence the 30fps target for most games on both consoles.

[@farsjamal6865]

Clean your ayes

[@praveenormayank123]

You need to put down your nostalgia goggles.

[@Racer-X-090]

It would be cool to have a killzone remaster collection similar to the Halo master chief collection.

[@obidahasdia4095]

Remakes trilogy

[@cralo5431]

Watching this I just noticed how much Killzone reminds of the ps2 game Black

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

The Xbox version of Black looked better, but it was still held back by PS2 being the lowest common denominator.

[@joewhitlow5799]

@@christopherwalkinalloverya5824 it's backwards compatibile on xbox one x and it looks great. Not sure if there is a PC version but that probably looks better

[@VariantAEC]

@@joewhitlow5799 Hmmmm. Don't remember if BLACK released on PC or not.

[@Sonyboj]

@@VariantAEC Sadly not :(

[@AvatarEquis]

Black had a Xbox 360 version. Back then, It was the best version around. After that, the Original Xbox version was the second best thing.

[@MerryBlind]

Man that game was mindblowing when it came out! The environmental details, lighting, gun animations and details, and enemies AI and animation were all a step above the competition. I remember how many people complained about the heaviness of the controls because it didn’t feel as twitchy as CoD but for me that was exactly why I found it so much better to play! I would definitely buy a remaster for it but please add split-screen co-op!!

[@VariantAEC]

It's funny that DF mentioned Resistance 2 as Killzone 2's controller response reminds me of the very first Ratchet and Clank's much slower input feedback.

[@labounti]

The last mission's level graphics blew my mind.

[@VariantAEC]

@@labounti Of which game? Killzone 2 or Resistance 2? Killzone 2's final mission took place in Visari's uh castle (I guess that's what it's called) and don'tget me wrong what they did with that area was really neat but I'd say Killzone 2 had much more interesting moments. For Resistance 2... Yeah being onboard a Chimeran ship while others are floating around and then running around blowing people up after taking care of Shepard using your new psychic abilities while the ship your in was falling apart was pretty freaking mindblowing!

[@labounti]

@@VariantAEC I assumed the final mission started before the boss fight. The red sky was breath taking.

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

KZ 2 had top tier graphics for sure, but the input lag was bad. Gameplay>>>graphics

[@conanc3570]

Can u make the metal gear solid 4 analysis video ? Plz...

[@dark1x]

Yes. Yes I can. Not sure when but I will do it!

[@sabmu757]

@@dark1x MGS4 retrospect please!

[@OjeOjeaga]

Oof. That's going to be a 6 hour summary at least. But of anyone can do it, John can.

[@Dasaltwarrior]

That would be interesting. Mgs4 always felt like a game built with ducktape and chewing gum.

[@chrisalvarez1321]

@@Dasaltwarrior what?

[@Greez1337]

Should take another Look at Killzone Mercenary. Was amazed at how that thing looked on Vita.

[@JhustineProvido]

It just hit me again that I'm 30 years old what happened? We're getting so old. I remember just like yesterday I was playing games on my PS1 😂

[@Lionrisesproductions]

same her brother. Same here. Good ole days

[@pegasusdrive12]

Any Killzone Liberation fans here?

[@gnarkillguch]

Not my favorite game in the franchise, but still a fun addition.

[@MajorisMons]

Here, here!

[@BackyardEpicMovies]

A great little game in it's own right.

[@AlexisLemesianos]

Right here bro! Still play it on my Vita

[@hermanjohnson9180]

I remember that one. It was good fun.

[@sabmu757]

I didn't expect a 10 year old game to look better than modern FPS games.

[@jakestocker4854]

Yeah it doesn't. It holds up well but you don't gotta lie

[@sabmu757]

@Subi_fan To me it looks better than Cod bo4.

[@dannonyogurt98]

@Subi_fan Beat me to it.

[@CarsonCote]

@@sabmu757 Well something like blackout mode, they had to sacrifice to hit 60fps but the main game does look better than this game but this game still looks very good.

[@sabmu757]

@@CarsonCote Yeah I understand that blackout is a battle royale mode which requires 100 players on a map running on consoles which is not an easy task, although my comparison is only from a graphical perspective.

[@Salomon_G]

This was one of my most played shooters ever. Just wish the multiplayer would be remastered. Take all the best MP maps from all the games and just call it Killzone Online or something.

[@azmihakam]

The graphic style never gets old, still looks good today

[@tremblez1]

Digital Foundry, absolutely loved this video! The tech of the PS3 is so interesting to me. The way first party developers took advantage of the hardware, and had to adjust their engines around the platform is incredible to me. Would love to see a video on the tech behind Killzone 3, and what changes/improvements were necessary to create that game 😃

[@RantKid]

Say what you want about KZ2 - one thing is true: most satisfying shotgun EVER

[@ytmB4HyU4kUq]

My favorite first person shooter! The visuals of killzone 2 and 3 were absolutely amazing and all of that was on a playstation 3. Just wow...

[@DelcoAirsoft]

This game, Far Cry 2 and Medal of Honor 2010 are 3 of the best FPS games ever made.

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

@@DelcoAirsoft lmao. The original Halo CE is 5 x funner than any of those games.

[@DelcoAirsoft]

Sick Game Squad Yea right. Maybe for an xbox fan boy. Not for someone who finds real world conflicts and superb technology exciting.

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

@@DelcoAirsoft Superb technology? You mean only 256mb VRAM? Lmao. There's a reason why you can only see about 50 ft in front of you in KZ2.

[@christopherwalkinalloverya5824]

@Ulrich Khan Lol

[@megazenn22]

those hand placed sun-rays will always look better than the automated ones that glitch out!

[@Smowling]

I always loved the feel of weapons. You could tell by turning time how heavy is each weapon. For me this is the best shooter I have ever played.

[@winlover37]

Outstanding game, glad you covered it! A lot of folks seem to discredit the game's visuals with the whole "smoke and mirrors" argument, but why does that matter? All that matters is the end result, KZ2 and 3 still look great to this day.

[@blackflame4506]

Killzone 2 was and still a fantastic shooter with a few minor problems but it was a showcase for the PS3 in terms of visual detail.

[@topvines7949]

Is the only shooter I liked, I usually hate shooters but this was so good

[@Cezar_Wolf84]

really was a game far ahead of its time

[@HuGiv5]

You're amazing John! Killzone 2 Remaster 4K 60FPS on Ps5 please.

[@ProjectLunarTV]

Always got jealous when my PS3 mates would talk about Killzone 2/3. Still looks amazing! Might pick up a 2nd hand PS3 at some point.

[@10secondsrule]

I did exactly this to play kz2 and 3 again.

[@Ozzianman]

Probably a bit late. Get the PS3 slims. Less prone to hardware faults and more power efficient.

[@Rossatron]

Still one of my favourite PS3 games. Everything came together so well. This was a fantastic look into it, the wizardry that made it happen was fascinating. Man I miss that weighty small scale multi too.

[@ThibChap]

Thank you for the video John ! That game basically made me buy a PS3 back in the days... It still holds a special place in my heart as favourite FPS. Though I have to admit that Killzone 3's multiplayer felt better, due to the reduced input lag.

[@PunishedV]

Please do a DF Retro on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and the X-ray engine

[@barulicksama3838]

And metro. And tell us if it's a same engine.

[@lasarousi]

Yes.

[@lasarousi]

Yes, the stalker series educated me that most developers are lazy and usually work backwards. They thought me about ranged optimization and scalability, things console retrograde devs simply disregard on favor of a preestablished experience.

[@tomaterasu700]

HELL YES!!

[@Horrorfreak86]

I love Stalker!

[@tonandon]

Kz2 got it's way into my heart. I'll never forget. I'll always want a new one. I'm proud of my platinum trophy. Few videogame experiences were so complete to me. This will stay with me.

[@Siosal01]

I didn't have any internet connection back then. Huge respect on getting that platinum. Well done! I'm forever envious.

[@ScribblyDave]

Pound for pound this is the most impressive game I've ever seen. I remember being absolutely shocked at how much of a leap this felt above anything else I'd seen at the time and to this day I still think the tactile look and feel of this game feels nicer than any of their later games - I prefer the artistic feel of this game to Horizon Zero Dawn ... it just looks like you could choke on that smoke for real. It's fantastic.

[@ArchangelExile]

I remember being satisfied with the final release's graphics even in comparison to the prerendered E3 2005 trailer. They were fantastic at the time and still are.

[@ignaciogarcia7806]

I played it last week and I was wondering if they were going to make a video about the 10 years of the game ... I did not expect it.

[@zywypl]

I hope one day Sony will release a remaster, with 1080p, 60FPS, and higher res textures. That's the only upgrade the game needs to keep up with newest games as far as graphics go.

[@Burning_Typhoon]

With next gen consoles coming soon, it better be 4k 60.. -_-

[@nikolaosouzounis860]

why do we ask about remasters anyway?i have in my library killzone 2 and 3 and i would love to see ps5 with some sort of upscaling like xbox one x does with enchanced games...so i will have that remastered version for free.i dont think anybody will pay again full price for the same games...

[@Burning_Typhoon]

@@nikolaosouzounis860 You have a point, but maybe we should be more specifically asking for a remake, instead. Remasters can still improve on the game in ways an emulator can't.

[@nathanventer7334]

There's a great camera bob used when walking around it make it feel like you are inside the game

[@senorsnipey1595]

Wow this is more impressive than anything I played on 360 back on the day

[@TboneTenEighties]

I got a very late start with the PS3. I was on the Xbox360 that gen. Got a PS3 slim from my nephew a few years back. Didn't play it much but now I have collected some of the heavy hitter exclusives and KZ2 & KZ3 are some of them. I started KZ2 this week and really liking it so far. The sound effects are pretty good when firing weapons, explosions.. or in big battles in general. The weighted feel to controls is unique. Took me a few minutes to get used to. Guns sound different when firing indoors than outdoors which is pretty cool.....So far I went through The Last of Us..great game..really enjoyed it. Little by little I shall play / experience all of these gems. PS3 is a very solid console. The 360 PS3 gen was terrific time for gamers.

[@mrratchet]

Excellent! Been waiting for this since you tweeted about it John!

[@ngu0061]

I loved the mutliplayer in this game and how the objectives periodically switch in the matches. Especially the time when you're randomly selected as the VIP after a huge skirmish and you gotta go run and hide somewhere with or without players bodyguarding you ahaha.

[@chrisparkes]

ngu0061 exactly and it meant the losing team had a chance to shift the balance of the match.

[@ULTRAWIDE.]

My people...sons and daughters of Helghan! Love deferred rendering in games.

[@glossedghost]

I would if there was a proper AA implemented when they were designing that.

[@TVAlien]

I just want to say that these look backs at old games is much appreciated and I'm always happily surprised when a DF Retro video pops up in my feed! Quality work once again!

[@tootall1999]

Killzone 2 is a personal favorite. I still remember the first time I played it. Thank you for creating a new video on it!

[@robbert4550]

Amazing looking game for the time. One of the few games with uncharted 2,3 and the last of us who showed ps3's technological advantage over the xbox360.

[@farsjamal6865]

No

[@Dev-nr4dw]

Halo 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider still look better than most ps3 games even though xbox 360 is weaker.

[@KekiBF]

1st game i played on the ps3,still looks great,wish kz3 kept that dark & gritty look

[@d4t6ix]

I actually prefer the look of Killzone 3 over 2; Don't get me wrong, i think Killzone 2 looks great but by the end of the game i kinda got tired of only seeing shades of brown and gray;

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

21:14 I disagree. The final game's fire/smoke trail looks better to me.

[@DualPurpose]

Thank you. Im like what is he even looking at?? The final game smoke trail looks more realistic while the other one looked very video gamey.

[@MrBurtbackerack]

The demo version looks like a repeating picture of a pizza to form a trail

[@ddmmmm771]

the fact this is 5 years old now...man time just dont stop

[@stew360]

Killzone 2 release beside smoke effect was way better looking than the pre rendered E3 2005 trailer