Killzone: Shadow Fall: The First True Next-Gen FPS?

     With every new generation of console there is bound to be at least one exclusive launch title that is hailed as the definitive game to get. The type of game that you have to have if you are wanting to show off your brand new console to your friends and family. When Killzone: Shadow Fall was first shown last year it was clear that this was that game for the PlayStation 4. As the months went on more videos were shown and the hype continued to build. So now that the game has been out for a while (I know, late review) and tons of people have been playing it, the question can finally be answered. Is this the true next gen first person shooter?

     First off let's get into the story a little bit. Killzone: Shadow Fall takes place after the events of Killzone 3. The war between the Helghast and Vektans has left the planet in ruins, the people in fear, and even a wall is built to divide the two sides apart. Many people will recognize the similarity with the Berlin Wall. You play as Lucas Kellen who is a shadow marshal. Once again you are tasked with taking down the Helghast, but soon discover a group known as "The Black Hand" are also behind some vicious attacks. The campaign has characters that you will both like and others you will despise. Without giving too much more away you will end up completing assigned missions on both sides of the wall throughout the campaign.

     One new addition to your character's arsenal that I enjoyed is the OWL. Basically the OWL is a little robotic friend that I found very helpful throughout the game. It has a multitude of uses of course. At some points you use it to hack into enemy systems and shut down alarms. Other times you use it to shoot out a zipline to reach distant areas. But what would a robotic friend be if it didn't protect you? The OWL has you covered there too! It can be sent out to either stun enemies with electrical shocks or simply shoot them. If you have adrenaline packs it can swoop in and heal you. The OWL can also deploy a shield to create some much needed cover from enemy fire. It's like a Swiss Army knife!

     The level design is great because it has a more open feel to it. You aren't simply going down a narrow path. You can venture off different directions which in most cases is the best thing to do. Thankfully the traditional industrial, gray look the Killzone series has fallen into has been changed. You'll travel through large open outdoor areas filled with large rocks and lush trees and plants. Then you'll find yourself in cluttered and claustrophobic space stations were innocent civilians lay in hiding from the war. There are also very colorful and bustling cities that you'll discover. It all comes as a breath of fresh air and a much needed change to the overall look to the series.

     Speaking of the overall look to the series, the game is simply gorgeous looking. This is definitely a PS4 title that shows off the power behind the console and a big graphical difference between PS3 and PS4 games. Character models are detailed and move smoothly. The details on the environments, weapons, and effects are sharp and vivid. The design on the weapons themselves are great and offer a nice variety. Colors are bright and the lighting and texture effects in both the outdoor and indoor levels are amazing. It also helps that the game runs so smoothly which makes everything else much better.

     The multiplayer portion of Killzone 3 was a surprise hit and thankfully the developers took what made it fun and expanded on it. Of course the popular Warzone mode is back and tends to be the main type of multiplayer match to play. The fun thing with this mode has always been the changing objectives in each round. It keeps things fresh and players on their toes. You can customize your own rules for Warzone matches, but you can also choose to play traditional modes like team deathmatch too. There are also plenty of weapon and class loadouts to choose and customize to your liking.

     The multiplayer maps are diverse and pretty large too. Guerilla Games have said they will be releasing new maps free of charge in the future. A new change for the multiplayer is the way your progress or level your character. Usually you rank up by earning points in every match which in turn allows you to get better weapons and gear. In Killzone: Shadow Fall you rank up by completing specific challenges. This adds a new level of difficulty because it makes players rely on skill and not just being able to own a better weapon with points or ranking up to the next level.

     The complaints I have with Killzone: Shadow Fall really only come from the campaign portion of the game. There are a couple moments in the campaign where you have to reach a certain point and you are free falling. They are cool moments but they can be difficult. The problem comes from there not being a checkpoint. So if you die in that section you start all the way back. This becomes very frustrating if you have to retry the section multiple times in a row. The other campaign complaint I have is with the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but I will say it left me a little disappointed and wanting more of an ending. The campaign itself isn't bad, but at the end I was left with a kind of "that's it?" feeling. Overall I felt the campaign was good, but it doesn't do anything new.

     In the end I was pleased with Killzone: Shadow Fall. It's not only a feast for the eyes, but it controls well and moves extremely smoothly. Regardless of my complaints the campaign is definitely worth playing. The multiplayer portion of the game is fun, has diverse maps, and plenty of customization. Killzone: Shadow Fall is both a solid launch title for the PlayStation 4, and a good game in general.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

Written by: Alter Ego 83