Killzone 2 - multiplayer preview

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The invite-only beta trial splits opinion

You may have missed it sinceonly a select few gamers were invited, but the Killzone 2 closed beta trial has been well underway and word is the first hands-on raises more questions than it answers. The past three years have seen hype swell around Killzone 2 like no other game before it, so the chance for Joe Public to get hands-on and vent some opinions was a brave move by Sony. Brave and confident.

The eight beta maps on offer are massively detailed and packed with hidden depths, sniper spots, vertical vantage points and tight interior spaces to battle through. Every level features real-time physics on the scenery, ensuring that these maps feel less like pre-rendered backdrops and more like living worlds. Make no mistake about it, this is an incredible achievement. The only gripe seems to be that everything is so grey. Killzone on PS2 featured some lush locations once you%26rsquo;d left the initial city battle zone, and included a swamp, snowy mountains and a finale on an orbiting space station. This sequel appears resolutely bound by its grey urban and brownish wasteland settings %26ndash; which is a little disheartening.

Ian Dean
Ian Dean

Imagine FX and Creative Bloq editor Ian Dean is an expert on all things digital arts. Formerly the editor of Official PlayStation Magazine, PLAY Magazine, 3D World, XMB, X360, and PlayStation World, he’s no stranger to gaming, either. He’ll happily debate you for hours over the virtues of Days Gone, then settle the argument on the pitch over a game of PES (pausing frequently while he cooks a roast dinner in the background). Just don’t call it eFootball, or it might bring tears to his eyes for the ISS glory days on PS1.