Game Review: 'Killzone 2' Gives 'Halo' a Worthy Challenger

When Sony announced the PlayStation 3 at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, its centerpiece was a breathtaking chunk of footage from a game called "Killzone 2." The clip, which showed a squad of troopers descending on a city and battling alien forces, was so dramatic that many viewers questioned whether the game itself could possibly live up to it. Four years later, the verdict is in: "Killzone 2" ($59.99) is awe-inspiring. With crisp, cinema-quality graphics and immersive sound design, this first-person shooter feels like an interactive version of a big-screen war epic.n the first "Killzone," the ruthless Emperor Visari invaded your home, Vekta, with his red-eyed, gas-mask-wearing Helghast army. Now you get to return the favor.In "Killzone 2," Guerrilla has answered all those complaints -- and given the mighty "Halo" franchise something to live up to.Within this blasted hellscape, Dutch studio Guerrilla Games has carved out a clever variety of scenarios. You may begin a mission by sneaking through the cramped corridors of an abandoned building, then suddenly emerge into a full-scale outdoor brawl with dozens of other soldiers. You may have to battle Helghast aboard a speeding train, or take the controls of a relentless mech and start firing off rockets.