PSP - Killzone: Liberation

Format
PSP
Publisher
Sony
Developer
Guerrilla Games
Country of origin
Holland
Release date
October 2006
Genre
3rd person action

Updated First Look at Killzone : Liberation

By David Rasmussen
5th Nov 06

If you’ve thought about it, it seems few PS2 to PSP games have done well.
What with the failings of Me and My Katamari, Ape Esc-- No, no, no, don’t start crying! Don’t cry! This isn’t the end of the world… ok, considering how other PS2 to PSP translations have gone it does seem like the end of the world and all, but… ok, I’ll stop “cheering” you up and give you the scoop on the first Killzone for the PSP coming in November 2006 (anyway there’s always the positive work of X-Men Legends II on the PSP to show that not every game coming from the PS2 to PSP sucks).

Because somebody over at Guerilla thought this would be a “good” idea… oh, wait, I’ve seen previews of this and this (wow) DOES seem like a good idea! Anyway Killzone : Liberation for the PSP launches as the first of the franchise bringing the frantic fast paced action of the so-called “HALO Killer” into the world of the 3rd Person Shooter from the PS2 to the PSP.

The game has totally been given a complete makeover, no longer the 1st Person Shooter of old, Liberation takes the Champions of Norrath style overhead viewpoint game system and makes it sing as you trudge through enemy territory six months after the events of the original Killzone. Yes, though you thought you had the Helghast on the run last time it seems they have since regathered their forces and are on the offensive once again which means you are (yes) back on duty once again doing Helghast whacking detail. However this time it seems you have a new duty ahead of you as several high ranking members of the ISA (the organization you belong to) have been kidnapped and it’s up to you and your allies to “liberate” them (hence partially the name of the game, “Liberation”, no doubt).

Sony, promising that Killzone would be packing an array of downloadable content, packs in a Campaign slash Multiplayer mode into this game (with Campaign mode promising multiple paths to objectives as well as the ability to apply multiple strategies to clear any obstacles with each section promising to take about 10 to 30 minutes per area… give or take a dozen or so possible deaths from the challenge of each level).

Missions promise a satisfying mix of the action and strategy as you plow through the Helghast opposition, as you’ll use the analog pad (stick) to move your character while using the “face” buttons (which I take means the X, triangle, square and O buttons) to throw grenades (now you can see the path each tossed grenade will travel making each toss ultra accurate), reload your weapons, and perform context-sensitive actions like open doors and pick up items.
The R button is for crouching (which you’ll be doing abit of for cover as well as improving your aim) while double tapping the L button has you rolling to avoid incoming fire. Pressing both the L & R buttons auto targets destructible things such as exploding barrels (a staple of many a game) and mines.

This version also featueres an increased need for you to learn the proper means to cook and toss a grenade, as well as the need to roll effectively as well as how to crouch behing obstacles for cover against enemy fire. Hopefully you’ll be able to pick up all these skills while “on the job” (so to speak). This, by the way, means you’ll be using all the skills the game teaches you which is good, since other games seem to give you unnecessary abilities that are more useful for style points than for real applicable use.

And then there's Multiplayer… too bad I never seem able to review multiplayer… gosh, wish I could. But we’ll see more from this promising game, and how it fared under close scrutiny, when I review it later this year.

-- David Rasmussen 5th Nov 06

PSP Killzone: Liberation Images