Killzone 2 is a Perfect Sequel - An Extensive Retrospective

[@AvalancheReviews]

Man, that fake trailer cast such a dark shadow over this game. It was insanely impressive visually. My one and only issue with it is how ass I am as playing FPS games with a controller.

[@evprince]

This game, in particular, was a rough play on controller to be fair. Guerilla really got hurt by those claims about that trailer too it's a shame.

[@TheHAMMER91]

In hindsight, I can’t believe anyone actually thought it was real game footage.

[@lutherheggs451]

@@TheHAMMER91 You do realize the actual game wasn't that far off from the graphics in the trailer. It will never stop being hilarious when some people try and pretend that there was this huge massive difference and the full game ended up looking like a PS2 game or something

[@SENATORPAIN1]

This game was just arse on controller.I basically only ever used a shotgun close range because aiming was terrible.

[@TheMrCHELL]

​@@lutherheggs451 And there are some things that look better in the game than in the trailer.

[@TechnoCocoa]

2 is a masterpiece, imo. 3 is a slight step down but it's visually great and ends on a high note. Shadow Fall though... well just get there and make your own judgment.

[@krono5el]

Might have been the origin of the bullshots, then they became normal.

[@9ine7even3hree]

This series needs to be resurrected

[@alexanderstehl7737]

Nice Game

[@richardsix4473]

This is the best and most epic „ending“ of a videogame I ever encountered, besides Resistance 2! And you are damned right: they don’t make games like this anymore!!

[@cheeseballjh]

I played Killzone 2, Killzone 3, and Shadow Fall exclusively until the servers closed. These game were under appreciated especially 3. It had 3D support, PS Move, and probably the best visuals at the time. In total I clocked in over 8000 hours into the series, I still await its return.

[@evprince]

Bro fr you're a genuine fan! Hope we wall see those ports some day

[@charaznable8072]

I love the one mode in 3 I think it was called operations.

[@steelbear2063]

Killzone 3 took a full on freaking Marvel approach, but it had couch coop, so for that alone it's great

[@Tacos299]

Considering the rumor brewing around "Selective PS3 backwards compatibility" being developed for the PS5, it's possible that Sony is planning to rerelease their PS3 exclusives like Killzone 2 or Resistance 3 to be playable natively in the future. Especially when they have been rereleasing PS1, PS2, and PSP games for the PS4 and PS5 recently. As for PC ports, that remains doubtful to me as these ports have yet to leave the PS Store.

[@kuba_wasikowski]

I like it. Can You please make retrospectives avout: burnout, motorstorm, driveclub, order 1886

[@robzo87]

I’ve owned this game 3 times on the PS3, and being my 3rd time was gaining a copy for free in discovering it at a landfill in perfect condition!! I actually found a whole box filled with PS3 classics on the verge of being destroyed by tractor. This game is still impressive in the year of 2024. The controls take a little bit of time to getting use too, but once you take ahold of it…it’s pretty fun. Definitely felt like this was competition with Gears of War in its dark theme. Awesome video.

[@PIMPTD]

I really hope with resistance mention that you review them after killzone. It was the reason I bought a ps3 after getting my first job.

[@evprince]

I'm really hoping to!

[@jayescapeplan]

I had fun with this game and its chaotic multiplayer. I think killzone 3 addressed a lot of the issues we had with 2.

[@ghostofmoredishesmorebitch1507]

Kz3 ruined mp

[@2xRainb0w]

First trailer is arguably uglier than the actual reveal. Also people that actually believed is wasn’t pre rendered were silly. This series needs a reboot back to the start of the first assault on vekta from a different POV. Edit: sevs pov is cause the character model holds the gun at his waist lol

[@5hane9ro]

Killzone is forever one of my favorite shooter series with Kz2 being a top 10 favorite games for me. I miss playing this series online

[@fallingtree123animations9]

Actually you can play killzone 2 online with fan servers even on emulator. It’s easy to setup and there is a decent sized community of dedicated players still playing online

[@AlexLoeding]

We need a collection or a new Killzone. Please! Ha

[@shadowviper46]

There is a collection, but I'm assuming you mean for PS4/PS5 and and not PS3 and that I agree with

[@hollowatelier]

Been looking forward to this one. I remember Killzone 2 much more fondly than the first game. Better controls, better environments, more grounded plot and characters. As you've said, it feels more like the plot is taking itself seriously rather than being a Saturday Morning Cartoon, and the world got so much more depth because of it. The Voice Actor for Scolar Visari (Brian Cox) really kills every line he has. You really get the feeling that if something happens to him, the whole Planet is going to erupt into chaos. One of those foundational knots that if it's cut: the whole system falls apart. I actually forgot about the fight with Col. Radec, and his nonsense sprinting melee knife-stabbing one shot insanity. Looking it up, he isn't teleporting (I had to look this up to confirm I was remembering correctly) he's actually cloaking and sprinting around the arena. It's a huge moment of catharsis taking him down before the penultimate cut-scene and it's ramifications. Especially because you're going to fight him at least a few times with that obnoxiously lethal stabbing attack. I do feel it's strange that they removed Hakka and Luger from the story. Considering how important they would be to have for an Invasion. Gathering more intel would have been really helpful to the whole operation. Even if they didn't show up visibly, you could at least reference them going on in the background. Missed opportunities I suppose. As for porting: I wholly agree. I'd love to play this on modern hardware. The fact that the game still looks good despite the passage of time is due to, I feel, some stylistic decisions. Both factions have futuristic designs for their forces that make them clearly identifiable. You'd think re-releasing the First Three Games in one collection, would be a an avenue to make at least some money and maybe revitalize the series, but who knows why they don't do it. Guerrilla Games did move onto making Horizon (Zero Dawn). So maybe they just told everything they wanted to tell in the series, and have no intentions on trying to revitalize or work on older projects. I dunno. Thanks for the video! I was fun to retread through this.

[@evprince]

Ohhh he's cloaking. If that's the case he can sprint REALLY fast!

[@hollowatelier]

@@evprince Yeah, I believe they mention it in one of the Intels, but I could be wrong. I don't readily recall if any regular trooper can Cloak, so it does feel rather unique that he can move around like that. They do have him as a playable character in the Playstation attempt at Smash Bros. Where he can cloak. Still, it makes for a menacing encounter and a dangerous fight for supremacy.

[@Oppen1945]

​@@hollowatelierIn the opening scene there's a moment where a couple of Helghast Commandos decloak and Snipers can cloak too but I don't remember if they do it in the trilogy or only in Shadow Fall.

[@kamilciura7953]

​@@hollowatelierKillzone Mercenary for PS Vita takes place between events of 1st and 2nd game and personal clock technology is there, although not in widespread use.

[@coreywallace8726]

They probably added the "X" for Jump promt due to the fact Killzone 1 didn't have Jumping. For the type of shooter Killzone is, it was a real pet-peave not being able to jump. It was also off-putting not being able to melee. I was very glad they added these features for Killzone 2. When I saw that "X" prompt, I literally said out loud "Haleluja!".

[@LateNightHalo]

It’s funny, to me, Killzone 2 felt like an attempt to ape off of Gears of War. The presentation, banter, tone, attempt at cover shooting, etc all felt like they played Gears of War 1 and hard pivoted away from the attempt at a Sci Fi WW2 game that Killzone 1 tried to be. The issue is that Killzone lacked the charisma of Gears’ cast and the sharp dialogue. Killzone had very stiff/bland dialogue and the unintelligent AI for both the Helghast and friendly soldiers did the game no favors in-motion. After KZ2 was met with lukewarm results, they tried to lighten the tone and emulate Cod with KZ3 and the series just sort of then died a mediocre and unimpressive death with Shadowfall. Killzone was a series always struggling to find an identity for itself. KZ1 was too uninteresting, KZ2 was too messy and unintuitive, KZ3 was-again too uninteresting and Shadowfall was just extremely mediocre. If Killzone got a reboot, I’d love to see someone else take a crack at it. Guerrilla Games makes great tech but their games have always felt mediocre at best

[@evprince]

Yeah I've been playing through 3 for the video on it and I am kinda bummed that they changed tones AGAIN to make it more light hearted. Should have stuck with what 2 started and refined it.

[@mammothmk3355]

The entire Killzone series was mean to showcase the power of Sony's Playstation. Flagship title. Like Halo. Instead it chased trend of popular shooter at that time. ( Halo for KZ1, Call of Duty for KZ2-3. And Shadow Fall is... yeah.) I played all of these Killzone recently on emulator except Shadow Fall on my friend PS4. And man, now I know why Xbox 360 wiped the floor agianst PS3. You know it's bad when the only flagship game which managed to boost PS3 sale, is *Metal Gear Solid 4.*

[@tacos4419]

@@LateNightHalo It looks like you are heavily biased towards xbox/halo/gears. Comparing Killzone 3 with Cod is just ridiculous as they are nothing alike. AI wasn't unintelligent all, in fact it's still better than in most games out today (flanking maneuvers, taking cover effectively, throwing grenades if you are at one place for too long, etc.). For example Cod ghosts AI is braindead when compared to the AI of Killzone 2, 3 or Mercenary. The dialogue wasn't bad at all. Dismissing the whole game as uninteresting is just wrong and shows your bias and lack of actual criticism.

[@CondemnedMarine]

I recently played this and 3 on RPCS3. Was able to barely scrape 40 fps on 2, but playing without the post processing (which makes the game looks even more amazing) and an extended FOV is phenomenal. Killzone 3 ran like a dream, hitting 120 fps without any trouble, and still looked incredible.

[@evprince]

I've started 3 and can confirm it runs way better than 2

[@JustFeral]

Which is the opposite of how KX3 ran on actual PS3s. MAN that game lagged hard.

[@Inuzumi]

I don't know why tf Sony won't remaster these games for PS4/5. Both the Killzone and Infamous series are still stuck on the PS3 for no reason.

[@quatreraberbawinner2628]

So many memories, who could of thought a meat headed shooter could have such an impact on my life

[@shreksnow1918]

That’s really too bad that you need a PS3 for the game to work properly. I was REALLY hoping to play it on my Steam Deck since I’ve seen others emulate it. I agree wholeheartedly that Sony NEEDS to start porting over a bunch of their older games to PC and newer consoles (plural since they’re porting Lego Horizon to Switch, so if we’re lucky they’ll do the same with other upcoming/older titles). I watched a play though of the series and it was definitely interesting. Rico quickly became my favorite character since his anger plays a MASSIVE role in how the story plays out. It adds nuance to the story by having that trait result in good, questionable, and VERY bad outcomes. Killing off various main characters AND the villain was definitely a bold move, but I think it paid off since we got to see the Helghast have a power struggle in his absence that better fleshes their society out. It’s kind of like how having the Arbiter as a playable character in Halo 2 allowed us to see the game from the perspective of the Covenant and turn them from 1 dimensional bad guys to being a genuinely interesting faction (too bad since 2 was so rushed we missed out on the INSANE original ending where Truth’s plan actually made perfect sense, the Arbiter would’ve had a complete character arc, and Forerunners would’ve been firmly cemented as ancient humans with that being what the Human Covenant War was started to cover up. It’s also too bad we didn’t fight against humans and alongside Brutes as the Arbiter prior to the Great Schism). I REALLY like how the conflict in the game is morally ambiguous. There are no true “good guys” or “bad guys” in the setting with both sides having PLENTY of blood on their hands and horrifically corrupt leadership. I’m not going to spoil anything , but I will say that by the end of 3 the ISA are arguably just as bad if not worse than the Helghast because of the way they “resolve” the conflict (unfortunately, Shadowfall would basically ruin the ending with how they took the story). I also like how 2’s ending isn’t triumphant and it shows how war is often a BRUTAL mess where nobody truly “wins”. I REALLY like the visual design of basically everything aside from the ISA’s air transports. Everything else at least makes sense within the setting, but those vehicles are completely nonsensical. A lot of the vehicles in Halo are arguably nonsensical, but they at least look like they’d be practical within the setting. I really wish there was more vehicular combat to break up the normal encounters and several more vehicles to better flesh out both militaries.

[@MrTOM845]

Don't expect this to run any better on original hardware. It was limited to ,30 FPS and had a lot of trouble maintaining that plus whenever entering certain parts of level You would get a complete freeze for like a half a second which really is annoying

[@HotSizzleTV_]

I still play killzone 2 online on ps3 it’s still active

[@R1ck_Ryder]

Loving these videos bro! Keep it up you're one of my favorite new KZbinrs

[@evprince]

Thank you that means a lot! More coming!

[@AlexGreat321]

You know Rico was one of my favourite characters in the first one. But by god I hated him in 2 and 3. He's such an idiot in those games. He literally causes Garza's death and him killing Visari causes the whole of 3 The thing I didn't like about 2 was the fact you basically only had one gun. The second one always being a pistol. They changed it for 3 but went back to it for Shadow Fall for some reason

[@evprince]

I hear you, but I kinda liked that he was flawed. That was a real reaction, and it wasn't his intention to cause these negative outcomes, but he's a flawed character which is not only cool, but also increasingly rare in games these days.

[@AlexGreat321]

@@evprince i guess him being an actual character (no matter how flawed) is commendable in comparison to the cardboard cutouts we generally get nowadays

[@franciscor390]

Main characters are horrible, they stand for absolutely nothing, team Helghast all the way.

[@steelbear2063]

He was always an idiot

[@cropathfinder]

Instead of a straight port the KZ series imo deserves something atleast on the level of halo:MCC treatment (hopefully better tho). I'm surprised sony hasn't done an up to date remaster of 1 and 2 as it feels like its about time for them to get one. Sony has also started moving their exclusives to PC over time with fairly good ports for games like days gone and ghosts of tsushima. Same goes for some other non-sony PS exclusives that got re-releases on PC in the last decade like various SEGA properties like for example valkyria chronicles 1&4 games getting amazingly good ports that are so well done that they feel like a native PC game in terms of how they control (i just with 2 and 3 would get ported)

[@MacyP]

Replayed the whole series back in October and November. This was my first killzone game back in the day and in even in 2011 this game made me shit myself

[@ChairmanKam]

4:40 Question, did you have to use a PS3 controller? I got trapped by the stupid 6-axis stuff.

[@ChairmanKam]

11:16 Nevermind. 😔

[@DalazG]

Not a fan of the direction they took the franchise from the end of killzone 3. Essentially killed any lore. They need to remake it entirely. Use killzone 2 as a design to focus on. - keep helghan, don't destroy it. Use it now for gameplay elements (imagine being dropped into a mysterious alien jungle with alien life) - keep helghast a mystery. The less you know, you more you want to know. - stick to 1 timeline and add lore - keep it gritty People kept criticising killzone for it being too weighty. Guerilla took it to heart and turned shadow fall into a generic twitch shooter as a result

[@evprince]

Id honestly settle for a remaster/port but I mean. You're still right.

[@DalazG]

@evprince i would like a remaster too, but i fear if they did that. There would not be a big enough audience/sales to continue the franchise. It'll likely just confirm with Sony that people aren't really interested in the franchise anymore. A full blown ground up remake imo is the only way, guerilla seem focused on horizon for at least 6 more years though so might be a while. Assuming their team still has enough of the original team culture to keep it the same

[@tomhibbert6486]

Sean Pertwee is perfect has Radec he brings a calm but frightening presence to the character

[@jmfowler9062]

Im certain you tried different controllers, but it looks like classic stick drift and I HATED that on ps3. Those controllers weren't terribly long lasting.

[@SENATORPAIN1]

It’s not ur fault this game just had god awful aiming.

[@thegoodsherman]

A Remake would be great..and a PC realese

[@IHLWonk]

Still my favourite game of all time.

[@JustFeral]

Actually it also supports PS5 controllers and if you run the emulator through steam it also support WiiU, Switch, Steam Controller, and any other controller with a built in gyroscope.

[@guerrillagames7279]

Id love a new killzone for ps5 and pc

[@Bluberyline827]

I'm gonna stop you right there no its not a perfect sequel. disregarding the trailer(because I never seen it before I bought the game). I like this game but a bunch of things were just straight up worse from its prequel. they straight of removed a bunch of weapons from the first game. they removed secondary fire on a lot of weapons for no reason(you cant tell me they did it for mp balance because the assault class exists). some weapons are unnecessarily inaccurate (looking mostly at you sta3 lmg). luger and hakha are just gone from the plot. and the controls just feel bad it (should have been more like kz3). I'm not saying the game sucks because I love the multiplayer and general story but it is far from perfect.

[@luiztrindade]

I remember being so into Halo back in the day, that I didn't give Killzone the amount of attention it deserved. Watching these video now, put me to work on them on pc e revive the stories.

[@MrRagemanPL]

4:20 - Killzone 1 runs much better through PC emulation than on the PS2. That was the only Playstation game I have ever emulated, because I couldn't stomach its terrible performance on console

[@yozora1047]

man i loved this game when i was little. also can't wait for halo 3 and future sw games :D

[@evprince]

Another sw video is in the works right now! Very excited to share it

[@aaroncalderon5513]

I played the crap out of this game. It was so beautiful… honestly a lot of ppl didn’t like it because of the controls… they were slow and difficult to get used to

[@bradblohn8779]

The game was designed to be weighty and hard to aim. It’s not an emulator issue

[@ImGonnaFudgeThatFish]

"Designed" is a stretch. It's the insane amount of post-processing added to the final image that added the high input delay. They specifically addressed this for Killzone 3 by removing most of the post-processing. It's why it looks more aliased than 2, but has far less delay. We don't need to hide behind the "it's supposed to be weighty" excuse anymore, we know the reason now. They REALLY tried to make the game look as good as the CGI and did even better, at cost of playability

[@erikheijden9828]

I'll remember, next time I see a game that runs like crap I will just call it "weighty". Don't forget to turn off gamemode in your tv for extra weight!

[@kamilciura7953]

Killzone 2 have an insane amount of input latency compared to shooters of its era and I don't even have COD games targeting 60fps in mind, but other 30fps games. Like... play Resistance games, any X360 Gears of War, Halo 3, 4, Reach, Killzone 3 even and compare. Yes, over time you do adjust, but it doesn't change the fact that latency is dreadful.

[@honeybadger6275]

@@ImGonnaFudgeThatFish That kind of crap is typical of every console exclusive, they always sacrifice gameplay for graphics so they can claim that games on their box look better than they actually do. Its why uncharted/last of us/god of war are always hallway walking sims interspersed with small arenas and a ton of pre-rendered cutscenes. They have to design them that way to get the games to look as good as possible. The order 1886 was probably the most egregious example.

[@lutherheggs451]

@@ImGonnaFudgeThatFish They literally said DESIGNED....The guns were DESIGNED to have weight to them, looking was DESIGNED to feel like you were holding something heavy. I don't were you get this notion that "post processing" would have anything to do with anything beyond a graphical look. Protip: the weight of guns was removed in the third game because of the COD kids and whiny babies who cried that it didn't feel like COD

[@Steeboohken]

I wanted and tried to like this game, but the control layout was horrible and I couldn't get into it.

[@dreammaker252]

l played killzone 2 many many times love game its was my favourite game, no don t make games like this no more, remaster does need to be made its been call for few years now but sony does not listen to players in end may be their down fall ,

[@ColorMeDoubleZ]

17:54 Aiming in this was always super sluggish and delayed, however i can imagine emulating only made that aspect worse.

[@Dasistrite]

Looks stunning to this day! Phenomenal Lighting work by the devs!

[@bolojohnson711]

Can you do transformers war for Cybertron, fall of Cybertron, and rise of the dark spark games

[@RainBird88x]

I'd forgotten how mid 2000s cringe the dialogue in this game was.

[@LuxAurorae]

Figured you’d enjoy this one. This was one of my favorite shooters of the period based on the aesthetics alone, but from the sounds of it our tastes are quite similar. I remember thinking that Radec was just the coolest villain; Pertwee’s voice with the distortion was so god damn perfect. While I think the general consensus is that KZ2 is the best in the series, that input delay and inertia you experienced was very much a thing on PS3, it’s not (at least entirely) an emulation issue. They tried to simulate a sense of trying to move and shoot in full combat load but they kinda overshot the mark a bit. I think they struck a much better balance with KZ3’s controls and one of the aspects that would excite me most were this series ever to be ported to PC would be streamlined M+K controls. Anyway great video as usual, it’s always a pleasure to see the spotlight shone on older titles that may still be of interest to people who never experienced them.

[@evprince]

Yeah I've been seeing that thr input delay was an issue even on the original so that's interesting. Definitely excited for 3!

[@isaacfrith9457]

Still outshines current gen games

[@MrLaafish]

a remake or remaster of these games wouldnt hurt, they should put Bluepoint on it

[@Rhythmattica]

Mate.... great content..... definitely alot of work....subbed

[@evprince]

Thanks so much! I'm hyped to do Killzone 3.

[@orange-g2g]

Carl.

[@evprince]

Carl the Brith indeed

[@dominicspizzirri4399]

“Press R1 to fire.” Me: *flabbergasted* WHAT.

[@dreammaker252]

is sony mad not making remaster of killzone 2

[@danielkong6767]

Im so glad ur style of videos decided to tackle the killzone 2 franchize

[@evprince]

Yeah in super excited about doing Killzone 3!

[@JesseVideos]

I remember on PS3 way back in the day the sticks in KZ2 had a lot of momentum to compensate the controls for the slower than normal frame rate. It was really weird and I remember getting used to it after a bit on the six axis but it never felt great. They really highlighted the controller change in KZ3

[@DP12321]

I loved the weight in it. Felt heavy, whereas KZ3 felt too light, like they were copying CoD.

[@ShimaS-0079]

I was big fan of the weight of controls

[@dreammaker252]

great game play love watching it well done

[@zapdosmtr4961]

I played K2 before the big RPCS3 updated. Before I was playing 1080p and with average of 40 fps. I leave POst processing because i enjoy the effects and ambience of the world

[@dreammaker252]

l have to get ps3 out play game again

[@dreammaker252]

makes me what to get my ps3 out again

[@Krondon-SSR]

Looks like one of the coolest shooters, wish we had something similar on PC BUT DAMN that 40 fov is insane

[@22infection]

I really want a Killzone RTS

[@Evobed562]

Been replaying this on my rog ally with rcps3 averaging 30-40fps this game still holds up well. I was in middle school when this was announced and I remember it blowing my mind how insane it looked , I played the hell out of the first killzone on ps2 and even then it blew me away how good it looked when it was first released lol first one didn’t age well as 2/3 did, mercenary on vita was also mind blowing to me back in 2013 I think

[@ChairmanKam]

17:54 Nah, that's just the SixSense/DualShock3. I remember the same problem when I played it on hardware.

[@dreammaker252]

best game l ever played

[@RndomGye016]

I remember the developers saying that people wouldn't see the same thing twice, like characters in different places with each playthrough. Not much changed, but I just noted it each time I finished the game

[@biohazarduncovered]

That London joke got me 😂😂😂

[@xcrack6364]

however, you have to justify it. That being said, this could make for an incredible remake.

[@benw4401]

What a great game.

[@K1LLeRc0ck]

I really hope we'll see Killzone 4 on PS5 one day

[@steelbear2063]

It's...you can play PS4 games on PS5, you know

[@K1LLeRc0ck]

@@steelbear2063 A proper Killzone 4, not Shadow Fall

[@SENATORPAIN1]

It’s weird how the halgast aren’t actually the bad guys.

[@seanoggy5889]

I didn't like KZ2. The first KZ is better in my books. Can't speak for their multiplayer.

[@saschaberger3212]

I will never forgive them for the fabricated trailer.

[@meatbeatmania]

Tbf that was all of Sony's fault it was never meant to be shown to the public but Sony took it claiming to be real gameplay

[@erikheijden9828]

I was so dissapointed by this game. Choppy framerate, excessive motion blur, a lot of input delay. Even looking at it as video is uncomfortable.