You'll no doubt have read our Killzone 3 review already, but now GamesMaster has thrown its score to the masses.
The mag has elected to give Guerilla's sci-fi shooter a 77 percent score, which comes after OPM's 9/10 and Edge's 7/10 evaluations.
While GM applauds Killzone 3 on a visual level - just like everyone else with a pair of working eyes has - it does conclude that if you weren't a fan of Killzone before, the third won't do anything to change your mind.
Among the complaints are "annoying difficulty spikes" and narrative and characterisation that hasn't progressed from the lacklustre level of its predecessor.
"Your fellow soldiers are still hard to like and worryingly generic," it says.
"The headline actors are great, as are scattered significant others, but the further down the ladder you go the cheesier it gets."
It concludes, however that these problems won't put old fans off simple because they aren't new, calling KZ3 "a great-looking, credible shooter without the depth needed to be a real contender".
Killzone 3 is due for release for PS3 on February 22 in the US and three days later in Europe.
I recently picked up KZ2 pre owned for about a tennor and I can honestly say I thinks it's one of the best FPS I've played, makes a change from the floaty feeling COD. All FPS are generic and repetitive, aim - shoot - kill : Repeat LOL
All FPS are generic and repetitive, aim - shoot - kill : Repeat LOL
Can I get a Hallelujah?
More opinions putting KZ3 in the 70-80% range, and yet the fanboys will still come in and declare the reviewers mentally retarded without a hint of irony.
I'm glad that reviewers are being hard on recent big titles like Killzone 3 and GT5, but they really should use the same cynical, microscopic eye on every other game too and not just the hyped titles. Most games have problems if you look for them, so we really need parity from reviewers in the future, otherwise the whole review system will become a farce.
The problem we have now is that any game that gets below a 90% rating is classed as a crap game by the formites. In truth, anything above a 6/10 should be considered as a worthwhile purchase.
I honestly think that it is time for reviewers to sing from the same hymn sheet. That means the same scoring methods from every reviewer so that we, as readers, know exactly what the score actually means.
Either that, or get rid of the scoring systems altogether. Therefore, it is essential for gamers to actually read the bloody review, rather than skirting to the score and basing their opinions on that.
Quite shocked at the low scores this has been getting but then again if they haven't really done anything with the campaign mode since the last game then i really shouldn't be surprised. Out of all the recent FPS games i've played this gen the story mode of Killzone 2 has probably been one of the worst (still haven't completed that even though i'm at the last boss), you have no interest in the characters or the story and the pacing is usually off.
MP is where this game will excell and going by the beta Warzone is still the daddy when it comes to online game modes. Though trying to get a game on that beta is becoming a f**kin nightmare, had a beast of a round yesterday only to be greeted by a blank screen when the round ended and had to end up resetting the PS3 after it, losing all my stats.
Still gonna be a first day purchase even if it is just for the MP, i might play the story to try get used to using the move controller before using it online.
More opinions putting KZ3 in the 70-80% range, and yet the fanboys will still come in and declare the reviewers mentally retarded without a hint of irony.
BLOPS got review scores of mostly 9/10, and that game is a BAG OF SH*T. Therefore the point i would make is that most reviews are not an accurate representation of game. Many reviewers seem to get sucked in by the HYPE, or lack of it in some cases.
Im not a fan boy of Killzone, Killzone 3 will be the first killzone i've purchased. I purchase it on the back of the beta, so i know this game is very good, i dont need some crap reviewer to try to tell me otherwise (LIKE WITH BLOPS, NO BETA CAN = RIPPED OFF)
Well I suppose they have played more of the game than I have but there doesn't seem to be any mention of the online modes. That may just be this cut down version of the review on this site but like the Edge online has been missed. Considering how much better KZ3 beta is online than KZ2 it's a bit of a let down really. I mean you wouldn't write a review about COD and not talk about the multiplayer would you?
Also nothing here about 3DTV support. Now I know it is only a very, very small amount of people that have 3DTV right now, but considering how highly the 3D effect has been rated in other outlets I wonder why Edge of Gamesmaster don't mention it?
Hmmm, most of those issues appear to be about the single player mode which, while I would no doubt be playing, would probably be taking a backstep to the multiplayer if it's anything like it's predecessor. It won't be a day one buy for me, but I'll probably buy it at some point if the MP is strong enough.
Quite shocked at the low scores this has been getting but then again if they haven't really done anything with the campaign mode since the last game then i really shouldn't be surprised. Out of all the recent FPS games i've played this gen the story mode of Killzone 2 has probably been one of the worst (still haven't completed that even though i'm at the last boss), you have no interest in the characters or the story and the pacing is usually off.
MP is where this game will excell and going by the beta Warzone is still the daddy when it comes to online game modes. Though trying to get a game on that beta is becoming a f**kin nightmare, had a beast of a round yesterday only to be greeted by a blank screen when the round ended and had to end up resetting the PS3 after it, losing all my stats.
Still gonna be a first day purchase even if it is just for the MP, i might play the story to try get used to using the move controller before using it online.
I pretty much agree with all your points. The story was rubbish, but then I was too busy marveling at the sheer spectacle of it all, that it didn't really matter to me in the end. I'm sure it'll be the same with Killzone 3, so the story is a mute point really.
In fact, I rarely understand what the hell is going on in most games, to be honest. Only Uncharted has ever gripped me story and character wise, making feel like I want to watch the cutscenes, rather than need to.
MGS4 was an awesome game, but if it was rated on story then I'm certain it would rate lower than 77%.
And the Killzone 3 beta is extremely stubborn in letting me have a game. I hope the full games online mode is a bit frendlier.
After Black Ops i will never trust a review ever again!!!!
Really liked KZ2 but am stuck on some boss that i can get passed so giving it another go now. Played the PS+ BETA and loved KZ3 so day 1 purchase for me.
Reviews just dont add up anymore and i seriously wonder where they get these scores from. It totally stinks of underhands £££.
I seem to remember living in a more secluded world. We'd buy a gaming magazine that we generally agreed with the opinions of and based our purchases on the opinions of people we could agree with.
Quite shocked at the low scores this has been getting but then again if they haven't really done anything with the campaign mode since the last game then i really shouldn't be surprised. Out of all the recent FPS games i've played this gen the story mode of Killzone 2 has probably been one of the worst (still haven't completed that even though i'm at the last boss), you have no interest in the characters or the story and the pacing is usually off.
MP is where this game will excell and going by the beta Warzone is still the daddy when it comes to online game modes. Though trying to get a game on that beta is becoming a f**kin nightmare, had a beast of a round yesterday only to be greeted by a blank screen when the round ended and had to end up resetting the PS3 after it, losing all my stats.
Still gonna be a first day purchase even if it is just for the MP, i might play the story to try get used to using the move controller before using it online.
I pretty much agree with all your points. The story was rubbish, but then I was too busy marveling at the sheer spectacle of it all, that it didn't really matter to me in the end. I'm sure it'll be the same with Killzone 3, so the story is a mute point really.
In fact, I rarely understand what the hell is going on in most games, to be honest. Only Uncharted has ever gripped me story and character wise, making feel like I want to watch the cutscenes, rather than need to.
MGS4 was an awesome game, but if it was rated on story then I'm certain it would rate lower than 77%.
And the Killzone 3 beta is extremely stubborn in letting me have a game. I hope the full games online mode is a bit frendlier.
If any MGS game was rated on story it'd be 100%, oh wait it is for quite a few people. But anyway, the story may not be good but give me a FPS story that is any good. (Not half-life/bioshock etc, but a military/war type fps)
I doubt half of the "fanboys" complaining about KZ3 getting 7/10 review scores would care about said "poor" scores IF games like Black Ops scored the same. My god how many times I've read that CoD has the best multiplayer going is just ridiculous considering the damn thing doesn't work half the time, seems to me if your game isn't called Call of Duty: Blah Blah you get harsher treatment. This is why I like Edge because at least they had the balls to give Broken Ops a fair and critical review, I'm certain Edge have been kicked off Activision's christmas card list now.
Personally I was buying Killzone 3 before I'd even played it because I was a big fan of Killzone 2, I guess this makes me a fanboy, just like everyone else on this site who screams GOTY or day one when they see a teaser/CGI trailer for Arkham City/LA Noire/Skyrim/Last Guardian/Rage or whatever the hype machine has latched onto this week despite seeing or playing no gameplay whatsoever, what a reviewer says about Killzone 3 doesn't concern me. I'll have a great time playing Killzone 3 and everyone else can enjoy whatever it is they enjoy playing.
If reviewers don't like Killzone 3, fine, just judge it by the same standards you judge every other game in that genre, its just these days I read too many reviews of great games that offer something different to CoD yet the reviewer says "it wont drag people away from CoD" then a CoD like game comes along that out does the CoD and I read "oh its just a CoD clone". This sort of attitude just makes reviewers come across like idiots on the take.
Double standards is what p**ses me off.
If this makes me a Killzone fanboy then I'm happy to be one.
So if the complaint is 'nothing has changed since KZ2' apart from the improved graphics, how come the score doesnt reflect the 91% Gamesmaster gave Killzone 2? Surely it's just as good as that, in fact better?
I pretty much agree with all your points. The story was rubbish, but then I was too busy marveling at the sheer spectacle of it all, that it didn't really matter to me in the end. I'm sure it'll be the same with Killzone 3, so the story is a mute point really.
In fact, I rarely understand what the hell is going on in most games, to be honest. Only Uncharted has ever gripped me story and character wise, making feel like I want to watch the cutscenes, rather than need to.
MGS4 was an awesome game, but if it was rated on story then I'm certain it would rate lower than 77%.
And the Killzone 3 beta is extremely stubborn in letting me have a game. I hope the full games online mode is a bit frendlier.
Tell me about it Mark, started playing beta, totally loving the vibe once I had got over the heavier movement, won promotion to the rank above Private and snap, connection errors for the next 2 hours (I gave up after that)
I would say to all the COD/Halo boys (include myself in Halo), once you get used to the heavy movements, honestly the MP is close to being excellent, the map on the beta has got everything you could want - campers, snipers, run and gunners, all are accomodated
Anyways - who getting the game and does anyone fancy going on-line for a couple of matches?
Planning to put in some serious on-line time with K3, the more the merry in terms of on-line matches
This killzone is better but I still don't like it the controls they are to light now I cant always make out which I spawn on in the beta and why does your player sound like a retard who just electrocuted himself when he gets killed.
I still like uncharteds mp better than this also I hope resistance 3s mp is better than killzone 3.
Well, Gamesmaster are usually generous when it comes to reviewing games, usually choosing to write an overly positive review and then gloss over the major flaws in a tiny paragraph at the end making the rest of the review redundant. Giving a game 77% when it was widely expected to be one of the great PS3 exclusives is a surprise. However, I still think they're 360 biased. They always review multi format games on the 360, always. When they mention the controls in a paragraph, most readers will just gloss over that. They're not a good mag at all, they're not even average, they suck ass.
Loved Killzone 2, to me, this one looks the b*****ks aswell. Every game has it's pros and cons. It just depends what you prefere and look for in a game.
Well, Gamesmaster are usually generous when it comes to reviewing games, usually choosing to write an overly positive review and then gloss over the major flaws in a tiny paragraph at the end making the rest of the review redundant. Giving a game 77% when it was widely expected to be one of the great PS3 exclusives is a surprise. However, I still think they're 360 biased. They always review multi format games on the 360, always. When they mention the controls in a paragraph, most readers will just gloss over that. They're not a good mag at all, they're not even average, they suck ass.
Maybe they prefer the 360 pad? Like normal people do.
Killzone 3 will be beastly. The review isn't necessarily bad. KZ2 was amazing online, and this is a huge improvement. Regardless of the reviews, the fans will be getting exactly what they want with this game. Bring it on, ISA scum!
I'm not upset with the score at all, it's the crap coming out of the reviewer that gets me.
All shooters are generic, the thing is they don't tell you how well put together KZ3 is or isn't. How does it play? Comparing it's controls to CoD and it's clones is automatic, but considering that KZ3 has a distinctive feel to it's merit. This isn't touched upon, and there is like no mention of MP which is obviously the largest part of the game. Can't remember the last time I player a FPS shooter with a great story that I was so immersed I had to play it multiple times. In fact i find SP to be a chore at times, especially since it is almost never as quickly paced as the MP and I have more fun playing against live individuals versus playing a scripted single player FPS. Anyway after playing the Beta, this game looks to be pretty awesome. Visually it looks incredible, and the sounds so far are up there with BFBC2 in fidelity and overall depth.
Take reviews with a bucket of salt, don't put your full trust in them as they can be filled with hype for a game and not actually notice problems until the hype has died down after release.
The only thing that might come across as striking is the gameplay in KZ3 is much faster, it's quick compared to BFBC2. Some of the heft of the original is lost, but not to much. Seems like there might be some issues with orienting yourself in the heat of battle, but it does feels pretty solid. I haven't even changed my default settings as yet. Definitely worthy of being one of the top FPS's on PS3, until BF3 that is.
Call me a fanboy all you want I don't care but i have been waiting nearly 3 years now for a top class playstation game to take me away from my 360 and I am still waiting Gran turismo before you say it, is undoubtedly a class game but Forza 3 really does leave it behind and didn't take 7 years to make and that is just one of many examples.
This is just yet another let down in a line of PS3 games I was looking forward too and have been let down, the beta was rubbish and with the standard of games coming out these days YES it is important to tick all the boxes if you want to get ahead in this market including a solid storyline, I had no reason to shoot people in killzone 2 because I didn't ever know whyi was shooting them it was boring and I won't beshooting any more of those things with this one.I hope the enemy win the war so another one of these won't come out!!!
To all you poor people who still believe the playstion will finally come good just think of it this way KILLZONE 3 was only 23% from being the greatestgame ever made!!! I'm with you guys, i too am still waiting for a return on my very heavy investment!!!!
While you'r here, what did you think of this video I posted on CVG (the last 10 seconds apply to you): http://www.computerandvideogames.com/286844/news/eas-call-of-duty-spoof-played-through-in-full-video/
Call me a fanboy all you want I don't care but i have been waiting nearly 3 years now for a top class playstation game to take me away from my 360 and I am still waiting Gran turismo before you say it, is undoubtedly a class game but Forza 3 really does leave it behind and didn't take 7 years to make and that is just one of many examples.
This is just yet another let down in a line of PS3 games I was looking forward too and have been let down, the beta was rubbish and with the standard of games coming out these days YES it is important to tick all the boxes if you want to get ahead in this market including a solid storyline, I had no reason to shoot people in killzone 2 because I didn't ever know whyi was shooting them it was boring and I won't beshooting any more of those things with this one.I hope the enemy win the war so another one of these won't come out!!!
To all you poor people who still believe the playstion will finally come good just think of it this way KILLZONE 3 was only 23% from being the greatestgame ever made!!! I'm with you guys, i too am still waiting for a return on my very heavy investment!!!!
You've been waiting 3 years? so you must have missed Uncharted 1 & 2, God Of War 3, LBP 1 & 2, Yakuza 3, Heavy Rain, Infamous and both Resistance games all coming out then. If you already have both consoles why would you need something to "take you away from 360" you can pick and choose from both line ups. Out of curiosity what recent games have ticked all your boxes?.
Always amuses me how ps3 exclusives get picked apart by a fine tooth comb and xbox exclusives pretty much get away with murder and don't get slated for half the stuff they should.
Always amuses me how ps3 exclusives get picked apart by a fine tooth comb and xbox exclusives pretty much get away with murder and don't get slated for half the stuff they should.
"cough" Alan Wake "cough"
Hmm loved the 1st Killzone found the 2nd one to be a bit meh and I have only just downloaded the Killzone 3 beta so will give it a bash tomorrow. Oh and I love Blops sorry if that is against the Hate campaign that the same old peeps seem to like to run on CVG but I feel Treyarch have done a bloody good job especially with zombies.
While you'r here, what did you think of this video I posted on CVG (the last 10 seconds apply to you): http://www.computerandvideogames.com/286844/news/eas-call-of-duty-spoof-played-through-in-full-video/
I feel really sorry for Sony sometimes. I'll hold my hands up and say I'm no fanboy, own all 3 but that my preference is the PS3.
Why do I feel sorry? Well it seems that when ever it releases a first party title a certain section of the media can't wait to jump on it and rip it apart all for the sake of webhits or keeping the overlord that is MS happy.
I mean come on, Killzone 2 in terms of story wasn't all that bad. It was no Uncharted / Dead Space but it wasn't that bad. I mean not MW2 bad.
I feel really sorry for Sony sometimes. I'll hold my hands up and say I'm no fanboy, own all 3 but that my preference is the PS3.
Why do I feel sorry? Well it seems that when ever it releases a first party title a certain section of the media can't wait to jump on it and rip it apart all for the sake of webhits or keeping the overlord that is MS happy.
I mean come on, Killzone 2 in terms of story wasn't all that bad. It was no Uncharted / Dead Space but it wasn't that bad. I mean not MW2 bad.
I am a PS3 fanny boy and I have to say the story in Killzone 2 was pretty bad. I felt no connection to any of the characters and I only enjoyed 1 cut scene (The ship going down). The graphics were very nice and I'm one of the few that actually enjoyed how the game played. The online mode was not bad (except for stupid mods) and it was at least better than BioShock 2's online...a lot better!
Also I read an article in a PS3 magazine once about the "true" story about the killzone universe. Turns out the Helghast are the good guys...which (in my memory) has never been mentioned in the games. So playing 2 games, I still don't know what's going on.
Always amuses me how ps3 exclusives get picked apart by a fine tooth comb and xbox exclusives pretty much get away with murder and don't get slated for half the stuff they should.
"cough" Alan Wake "cough"
Hmm loved the 1st Killzone found the 2nd one to be a bit meh and I have only just downloaded the Killzone 3 beta so will give it a bash tomorrow. Oh and I love Blops sorry if that is against the Hate campaign that the same old peeps seem to like to run on CVG but I feel Treyarch have done a bloody good job especially with zombies.
I feel really sorry for Sony sometimes. I'll hold my hands up and say I'm no fanboy, own all 3 but that my preference is the PS3.
Why do I feel sorry? Well it seems that when ever it releases a first party title a certain section of the media can't wait to jump on it and rip it apart all for the sake of webhits or keeping the overlord that is MS happy.
I mean come on, Killzone 2 in terms of story wasn't all that bad. It was no Uncharted / Dead Space but it wasn't that bad. I mean not MW2 bad.
I am a PS3 fanny boy and I have to say the story in Killzone 2 was pretty bad. I felt no connection to any of the characters and I only enjoyed 1 cut scene (The ship going down). The graphics were very nice and I'm one of the few that actually enjoyed how the game played. The online mode was not bad (except for stupid mods) and it was at least better than BioShock 2's online...a lot better!
Also I read an article in a PS3 magazine once about the "true" story about the killzone universe. Turns out the Helghast are the good guys...which (in my memory) has never been mentioned in the games. So playing 2 games, I still don't know what's going on.
I remember reading that as well, but like you said, it's something that isn't really known. It sounds as if K3 isn't going to resolve that either, going by the reviews.
How many FPS's have a good story though it isn't just bad writing to blame but that when a game consists of mowing down wave after wave of generic enemies it is very hard to tack on an emotional, guiding narrartive which makes you feel for the people involved or at least form an emotional bond with the characters / situations.
Halo, Gears of War, Call of Duty, Borderlands, Borthers in Arms, Quake, Doom, Wolfenstien, Killzone et all all have very weak storys that consist of the same core nonsense stickling together the killing of the masses.
Killzone 3 follows the same basic them vs us premise as every other FPS, personally Killzone 2 was OK, Halo 3 was OK Gears was OK but Call of Duty not so much.
It just feels that when you read reviews for firsty party Sony games or games that are Sony exclusives then the critics are laughing pen in hand to tear them down.
All the problems from KZ2 have been addressed, multiplayer is massivley different and they managed to make and amazing game look and sound even more amazing. The story arc is broken up nicely with some classic "on rails" vehicle moments so I don't really see what the review had to complain about especially when its gauged against other games out there. Games like Halo, Gears and COD have done little to progress with each title while KZ appears to me making an effort.
I'm personally hoping that these slightly lower review scores are a sign of the already massively bloated and overexposed FPS genre reaching tipping point...
I'm personally hoping that these slightly lower review scores are a sign of the already massively bloated and overexposed FPS genre reaching tipping point...
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS 77% IS A GOOD SCORE? KILLZONE IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE, I LIKE IT. MY FAVOURITE GAME OF THE YEAR VANQUISH GOT SCORES MAINLY AROUND 7 and 8/10. YOU DON'T HEAR ME COMPLAINING EVEN THOUGH I'D GIVE IT A 9!
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