170°

Killzone 3 Beta Impressions [Game Rant]

Anthony Taormina of Game Rant writes, "This past Monday, 10,000 lucky PlayStation Plus members (5,000 from North America and 5,000 from the UK) got their hands on the Killzone 3 multiplayer beta. For many players, Killzone 2′s multiplayer was an engaging experience that ultimately fell short of being great. Having taken many notes taken from the previous game, was Guerrilla Games able to improve the multiplayer experience for Killzone 3 without creating new problems for themselves? Read on to find out."

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-Alpha5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

Have to agree on controls, it sadly rips the unique feel of Killzone completely out.

I think GG took one step forward and two steps back here.

It's good that the game is more responsive, but they shouldn't have removed the recoil and added aim assist. Damage is incredibly low too, I hate how quick you can kill enemies.

The controls now feel floaty, GG needs to be able to continue finding that sweet spot

With low damage like this people don't bother much with headshots. The LMG and Sniper Rifle specifically are an exploit of this. Sniping is STILL one hit kill anywhere on the body and that is just unacceptable. And the LMG, with its lack of recoil guarantees easy kills from any distance. Both the SMG and the LMG can kill easily at mid-long range, and it shouldn't happen.

Too many times am I dropping dead from an LMG player from far away. It's not even that they are skilled, you can go full-auto at a good distance and expect to kill in 2-3 shots.

It's fundamentally opposite to what K2 was and I'm seeing many frustrated K2 fans feeling short-changed.

The people that complained about controls did not stay long enough to play the game after the patch. Post patch K2 was more responsive while managing to feel heavy. Now they took it too far and either need to bring it back down or continue adjusting.

Luckily the game is a long way off but I hope to see a second beta addressing the issues.

gtamike5601d ago

Control fix is good not bad -_-

-Alpha5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

Removal of recoil, extra bullet damage, and aim assist do not equate to fixed controls in Killzone's case.

I think K2 had a good feel, though a few problems. I just feel that K3 went a little too far, that's all.

Do you have the beta by the way? As a matter of fact, for everybody disagreeing above, do you guys have the beta too? How many honestly like the change in core mechanics of K3 over K2?

@Morgan

I am in the beta. Really, I don't expect much from this community anyway, people would much rather act as if the game is "SO AWESOME AND PERFECT!" rather than openly criticize anything around here.

And it's funny-- when K2 came out people were quick to say "This is unique, learn to adapt, this isn't COD"

And now it's a 180 "I always liked tighter gameplay, this is better" etc.

Same crap with Resistance. Only after the devs decide to change their mind does everybody else follow.

morganfell5601d ago

Exactly. It's a happy medium. there is still sway and weight. I am sitting with my speed cranked at 70% and it's been great. You have to laugh at complainers that haven't been in the beta.

Panthers5601d ago

I like tighter controls. I also like how people drop really fast. I have always like 2-3 shots to kill and 1 sniper shot

raztad5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

I enjoyed KZ2 a lot but the game has a too step learning curve and that put most people off.

KZ3 controls faster and tighter and still preserves some weighty feeling. I hope GG doesnt change it.

If weapons accuracy is toned down a bit + a little more recoil (not overboard pls) I think the game combat would be perfect. Everybody starts with very low health but with armor skill is perfect.

Elitist hardcore KZ2 veterans cant expect KZ3 to be a game only for them. More people wants to enjoy KZ and this is Sony/GG chance of having a real FPS blockbuster.

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Def Warrant5601d ago ShowReplies(3)
Takoulya5601d ago

I agree. After I heard that they added aim assist, I was extremely disappointed. The lack or recoil is also a big turn off. Killzone was meant for the real FPS gamers who actually had the skills to handle realistic aspects. I believe GG really went overboard with the casual idea.

PshycoNinja5601d ago

I have been playing the beta for 2 days now and there is no aim assist. If there is its not noticable. The only weapons that have a lot of aim assist to where it's noticable are the turretts on Corinth Highway.

TKCMuzzer5601d ago

Where did you hear that, if it has it then it does not work for me. I'm sick of people ditching things they have not played. The beta is great and the game will be great. The tweaks are all good.

thor5601d ago

KZ1 had a beta and everyone thought it was great.

Then after it released everyone complained.

I am not sure that a beta will help out here, and I'm pretty sure that many people will hold a different opinion to you.

trancefreak5601d ago

Yes it will the beta forums has been all over this issue and many more. People want more recoil and no auto snap and a tad more kz2 weight.

I dont get much time to play so I started trying corinth hwy in bot mode cause the f'n map is huge. there is so much rubble you can get down in and its hard to see players from a far which is cool without spot and mark.

I love the auto silinced pistol as a secondary weapon and the shotgun with the sight glass.

LordMarius5601d ago

lower down the sensitivity and you get some of that weight back, leveling up highers your health too. But its still a far cry to how KZ2 plays

HeavenlySnipes5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

What I loved about KZ2 was the satisfaction you get when you outgun a guy. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS CHALLENGING. now it seems like whoever shoots first will win the fight. If they nerf the guns to make body shots require more bullets and increase THE F'N RECOIL the game will look and feel more Killzone. Honestly guys, watch a KZ3 beta vid. How many people have you seen crouch and burst fire to mantain accuracy? None. They're turning this game into BFBC 2 and MW2. Not nececesarily bad but I played Killzone over those games for a reason.

/rant

PshycoNinja5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

its still hard to shoot people. Ya you dont have to crouch as much (marksmen need to actually shoot people) but its still a challenge. But your right about bullet damage, people die a lot faster...... I die a lot faster.

Edit: Dont get me wrong, killing people in KZ3 is a lot more satisfying than it was in KZ2. They just die a lot faster. It's more satisfying because of jetpacks, mechs, etc. And I was the one against vehicles in the first place.

Takoulya5601d ago

That's exactly my point. What's the point of competitive multiplayer without having the satisfaction of getting kills?

HeavenlySnipes5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

Its much easier than in KZ2 isn't it? I watched like EVERY SINGLE beta vid and it seems like the LMG and SMG are WAYYYY to accurate and have little to no recoil. In fact, the LMG in KZ2 required the most skill to use because of its immense recoil. Now? It becomes everyones favourite weapon because it kills in 2 bullets and can kill at any range. I'm not saying the changes are game wreckihng but I'm certainly against the ones I pointed out above.

PshycoNinja5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

with the weapons somewhat. Aiming down the sights with the LMG helps greatly. hip fire sucks with the weapon. And I tried to shoot someone across the map on Frozen Damn with the LMG. Its damn near impossible. Trust me things like pop-up points and other things that your worried about are not a problem when your ACTUALLY PLAYING THE GAME. Trust me the vids I saw had me concerned but when I got to playing the game it only enhanced the game.

Trust me guys, everything they put in the game IS for the better. It's still challenging, it's still hardcore, and most importantly it's still extreamely fun (esspecially Operations! OMFG it is sooo much fun).

Edit: Bubbles all used up. If you have any questions about the beta PM me and I'll answer them.

trancefreak5601d ago

im sure and hope the fix this in kz2 it was a feeling of heavy armor surrounding your body. I remember taking direct shotgun blasts with the screen going grey due to health. Now 1 shotgun burst your done.

I know another complaint is the blood drip on the screen from being shot by a friendly. The complaint is that you think its an enemy and you turn around then you actually get another surprise from the real enemy so its distracting.

TKCMuzzer5601d ago

It's still tricky, it's not as easy as COD to shoot. Plus I am good at killzone 2 but would always lose out to some laggy sod with the recoil. I find my KZ2 skills benefit me in KZ3 as the aiming still takes skill, hip shooting is no easy kill . There is recoil on the guns and it means more skill is required.

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Swiftfox5601d ago

I unfortunatly don't have access to the beta as I missed all promotions on it.

However, I can understand such conserns and I can understand your arguments.

I also enjoyed the heavy feel of Killzone 2 as it set the game apart from other free-floating shooters.

I also liked the damage required to take down an opponent in Killzone 2. If you played the game correctly and squaded-up then you could simply team fire and it was never and issue and in a one vs one battle it was the better controller of the recoil and had a better understanding of their weapon.

The headshots, however in Killzone 2, I felt were very broken. Often times you would not be aiming at the head and simply bursting at the persons chest and get the headshot. Running around the corner to spot a turrnent across the level and suddenly dropping from it's headshot on you was also very annoying and was far more luck than skill.

I'm against the move of lowering player health and upping the damage of weapons as that makes "one-man armies" more of a reality. That to me defeats the point of having a squad based shooter.

There are just so many balance issues that it will take alot of feed back to address all of them. Would love to see for myself. Thanks for the feedback by the way.

RBdrift5601d ago

Personally I love the beta,one of the few issues I'm having is the sprinting feels really jerky. Many times I'll run past enemies and wont see them because the cameras everywhere.

cyborg69715601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

I notice no aim assist alpha. My muzzle has never pulled over a target. And as for the easier kills take it for what it is I'm with you on its too easy now but that's ok for me.

The one thing I've noticed and thinks sucks is on the turbine map how the spawn points are directly opposite of each other and whoever gets one camps and gets the other one. Not giving a chance for the other team to get it.

DigitalAnalog5601d ago (Edited 5601d ago )

"It's good that the game is more responsive, but they shouldn't have removed the recoil and added aim assist. Damage is incredibly low too, I hate how quick you can kill enemies."

Ok, the ONLY thing they had to do with the controls is FIX the LAG issues. Not implement a new aiming system. Bring back the heavy weighted feel. And what exactly is going on with the "recoil and aim-assist" issues? Somebody give me a beta code right away because upon verification I may have to personally write a novel worth of complaints to this guys.

-End statement

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Punch-o5601d ago

I would love a control scheme similar to BF:Bc2 in Killzone 3.You won't feel like you weight a ton or floating around the map.

trancefreak5601d ago

Bad co controls rock dude in killzone 3 you still need to move your body into the shot but its much less than kz2. In bad co you can position the whole shot just from moving the gun placement turning left or right.

bviperz5601d ago

I'm still waiting for official word on whether aim-assist is indeed in the game. From what folks be saying it seems split. Some say there is and some say there isn't. It's easy to tell, aim down the rail and let go of your analog sticks (while still aiming down the rail). Wait for an enemy to pass by and if your crosshairs move without you moving your analog stick, viola! You have noob-assist. Anyone want to post video?

asmith23065601d ago

Iv been playing the beta since monday night dude and I haven't noticed any aim assist at all.

asmith23065601d ago

I have to completely disagree with Alpha Male 22 about the controls. The controls are now perfect and it still feels like Killzone. I was a big KZ2 fan and although the controls are different in KZ3, they feel great. What makes Killzone unique for me is the look and sound of the game, not the controls. If you like KZ2 controls then go play KZ2. A lot of people ditched KZ2 because of the controls. I dont see why its a bad thing that the controls are now accessible for everyone whos ever played a FPS. All they need to do is add recoil to the guns and its sorted, the LMG is way too accurate at the moment. Am loving the beta and everyone is in for quite a surprise at how great this is in Feb.

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70°

3rd Horizon Is Expected To Be A Long Ways Off, Majority Of Guerrilla Is Working On Hunters Gathering

The third mainline Horizon is expected to be a long ways off, as a majority of Guerrilla Games is working on Hunters Gathering.

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twistedvoxel.com
-Foxtrot18d ago

What a waste of their time, it would be a lot different if it was a small team of theirs helping an external studio or something but to have this be one of the teams main games is just overall sad to hear.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we need Horizon 3 right now as I don't think there's much they could really do to make it stand out from Horizon II but I wanted to see a new IP from them to give the Horizon franchise some breathing space so when we did get Horizon 3 it would feel more fresh. Horizon II was a good game but you could tell when playing that it was just a sequel which felt like the main appeal was just being a more super refined version with a lot of quality of life improvements compared to the first game, even then it felt it was struggling at times to really stand out, maybe it was because it was a PS4/PS5 cross play title and didn't get to take advantage of the PS5 new tech who knows.

If this game flops, it's just going to give people more of an excuse online to hate on the franchise even more and might end up hurting the anticipation for Horizon 3. They were better off doing a new IP or a reboot of Killzone

JEECE17d ago

Exactly. Sony seems to be getting things exactly wrong with Horizon. It's the type of IP that needs to disappear for a few years and then come back with a third game that really feels like an evolution from 2, rather than just an iterative sequel, like 2 was from 1. It isn't the type of franchise that is going to support a ton of spinoffs.

Sircolby4517d ago (Edited 17d ago )

After watching that trailer...the chances of it flopping are pretty high. That trailer did not look good. Disappointing because I actually enjoy the Horizon series, but Hunters Gathering looks like it will miss the mark.

Eonjay17d ago

For the love of God... don't believe this. This whole story is engagement farming and is based on a one word tweet without context. The obsession with every whim of Jason Scherer is stupid.

Profchaos17d ago

The way Sony is trying to Disneyfy horizon is already hurting any interest I have in the franchise

I'm just hired of the whole thing now honestly it feels oversaturated even though we only have two mainline games

We have two live service games, a VR game a movie coming and remasters of the first game

I'm over it

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Kurisu17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Honestly, I can't say I mind this. Forbidden West was a good game but it didn't exactly leave me desperate for it's successor.

neutralgamer199217d ago

Horizon 3 will most likely be a launch window title for PS6

isarai_lee17d ago

Well I loved the first game, and while i acknowledge how much of a step up the second game, was it's insane! I absolutely did not like the second game from a gameplay standpoint. It seemed woefully unbalanced and a shocking amount of glitches that I'm surprised review sites did not report on.

But this series is a rare case of "just because it sells gangbusters, doesn't mean it's popular" like yes the mainline series sells a ton, but you wouldn't know looking at how it has failed to enter pop culture like God of War has. So trying to sell things by throwing it's name around just isn't going to work, the flop that was the lego game was proof enough of that, and this may be exhibit B for the same case.

I hope im wrong, i mean who doesn't want more fun games, but i just don't see it, and i hope their next game is a new IP cause otherwise it's gotta be so good it cleanses my pallet of the bad taste forbidden west left in my mouth

MayorPauline17d ago

Indeed. I glitched in between obstructions on more than one occasion. I also remember gliding for an extended period of time and the game abruptly blacked out for a few seconds. I thought it crashed but it came back on. That was on the PS4 version of the game.

isarai_lee17d ago

More than a few occasions i was getting trapped inside geometry and would have to fast travel or die to eacape, also had like 4 campfires i could not use because it would spawn me in the ground. Also has an issue where the longer my play session the worse the framerate would get till it was no bs like 3fps and i would have to restart the application which kinda sucks when you're in the middle of a loooong fight mid mission. I actually stopped playing for a few weeks until that specific problem got patched. This was all on the ps5 version for me

raWfodog17d ago

I had an excellent experience with Forbidden West because I didn’t play it until the complete edition released a year and half after the original release date. I’ve learned a long time that it’s best to wait until these big games are patched up because they almost always have bugs and glitches when they first release.

DivineHand12517d ago

I am confused. What was wrong with the Horizon 2 gameplay?

The focus of the game was to use the appropriate weapons to detatch craftable parts before killing the machine. This added a lot of challenge to the fights. They also revamped the melee system to allow alloy to do combos and special abilities were added that applied buffs.

Can you provide examples?

isarai_lee17d ago

Maybe they rebalanced it after the fact but playing through it at launch and the few months that followed, if you werent using corrosion/acid in the late game, you were getting your a$$ handed to you ESPECIALLY with the final boss fight. Literally had to load a previous save because i didn't have any major corrosion weapons for the final fight, and it wasn't an isolated incident as lots of people were online having the same experience. Also ran into more than a few enemies that just seemed to have crazy overpowered attacks for literally every situation like the Babboons and the shellsnappers, ESPECIALLY the shellsnappers that just spam the leap attack then burrow into the ground constantly giving little to no opportunity to target weak points.

The mellee ststem was fine except a few melee pit challenges, those got real stupid near the end getting one shot before i could even move after the timer.

-Foxtrot17d ago

I think the best way of looking at it is Sony seems to want to force the success as quick as possible rather than letting it happen naturally over a longer period of time.

God of War has been nurtured for a long time and even when the series started to get stale and over done (there was far too many games coming out) they paused long enough to softboot it with the 2018 God of War that lifted it straight back to the top.

Horizon hasn't been on that journey and even if you compare it to Killzone, a franchise where even by the release of Shadow Fall started to feel a little stale, has had more content (not just games) thrown out in 9 years since the first release compared to what Killzone had in the same period, Shadow Fall being the last game released in its 9th year.

JEECE16d ago

It's weird to think about, but the gap between God of War: Ascension and the 2018 Reboot was basically the same as the gap between the first two Horizon games (five years). I guess the fact that most people (including me) stopped at GOW 3 made it seem longer.

Profchaos16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

Yeah there's a weird phenomenon where sometimes things sell because they are in the right time and place not because they are amazing and phenomenal successes in every aspect sometimes something needs to be just good enough

Horizon to me feels like the franchise especially 2that's just good enough in most regards Nd it came early in the ps5s life but you don't see a cult following like you do mass effect or the last of us most people are like ok cool that was fun enough and leave it at that

I actually think we will see a massive drop off for 3 because people will feel like it's crossed the bridge to being to much

JEECE16d ago

"sometimes things sell because they are in the right time and place"

In a way it feels like that is true for Horizon (particularly the second one), but the series is also notorious for launching near major competition. The first one launched right before BOTW (different platform, but it still resulted in a ton of comparisons), and the second one launched at almost the same time as Elden Ring.

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320°

PlayStation Studios Could Embrace Decima Engine As Guerrilla Expands Developer Support

Some of Sony's first-party PlayStation Studios may be developing their future titles using Guerrilla Games' Decima engine.

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RaidenBlack409d ago (Edited 409d ago )

Might be for studios which were using older engines or UE4 like Bend Studio.
Sony's big 5 studios' engines are all unique to some degree and I want it stay that way for future new games.
Remakes can be done using Decima if required like Bloodborne or Uncharted 1.
Imagine From Software embracing Decima for future titles.
But then again Until Dawn Remake was done using UE5, when the original was made using Decima.

VersusDMC409d ago

Maybe ease of use is what made it a better choice. And it was already tested by a another studio with kojima productions having shipped death stranding on Decima.

Eonjay409d ago

I wonder if this is for studios beyond SIE and KP. Decima has also proven itself of platforms beyond PS5 so I wonder how comfortable they would be with allowing non first party use it wherever?

Minute Man 721409d ago

They should use the Ready at Dawn engine

DarXyde409d ago

That engine is mighty impressive, even by today's standards. The cloth simulation and gun animations are absolutely chef's kiss.

But I think it's one of those very intensive engines that will choke the hell out of the hardware and you're looking at a short and linear but very detailed experience. More or less what you get from a UE5 game that really forces the hardware (e.g., Hell blade II).

For that reason, Naughty Dog's engine is probably more practical: still extremely detailed (albeit less so) but allows for a more wide-linear experience and you're still left in awe.

But if we're going open world, absolutely Decima.

porkChop409d ago

They don't own that engine, and Ready at Dawn doesn't even exist anymore.

anast409d ago

They already have embraced it along with some other engines.

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jjb1981409d ago

They need to put that Decima engine to work for Killzone 5 or a remake of Killzone 2.

anast409d ago

This would be a cool gift to the fans.

jjb1981409d ago

I'm a huge Killzone 2 fan. It's my favorite shooter of all time and I wish they'd revive the IP. I know a remake of KZ2 would do very well. My original PSN friends I met were on KZ2 and and we formed a clan. I've been itching to get that 3 star badge. Only made it to 2-star.

Eonjay409d ago

Fun fact Decima IS the evolved version of the Killzone engine.

OlderGamer17408d ago

Noppe, its build from the ground up....

CrimsonIdol409d ago

A Killzone 2 remake where the controls are actually responsive could be cool.

mike32UK408d ago

The character has weight, it was a design choice which many people happened to like. You're probably too used to the floaty controls of COD

CrimsonIdol408d ago (Edited 408d ago )

yeah I remember that argument too. Then how that argument went away when they fixed it for the sequel. having massive input delay before anything happens due to technical issues isn't an artistic choice. It's good copium though

RaiderNation409d ago

Rather than a KZ2 remake, I'd rather see them do a KZ reboot! If they're going to do a remake, I'd rather see a PS5 remake of KZ Mercenary! Hands down one of the best Vita games and the 2nd best Killzone game in the series (after KZ2).

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120°

5 Game Reveals We Expect To See In 2025

Richard Bailey Jr. of The Koalition writes: 2024 was a special year for new game announcements and reveals across various broadcast industry events. From the official return of the Virtua Fighter series to the revival of several Capcom franchises like Onimusha, there is no doubt that the future looks bright. With this in mind, I wanted to put together a quick list of a few game reveals I fully expect to be announced within the next 12 months of this calendar year.

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thekoalition.com
Knightofelemia419d ago

I would love it if Capcom would throw a curve ball shock everybody with a Dino Crisis remake. I would day one the game if it came true.

BrockEmSockEm419d ago

5. Resident Evil 9
4. The Next Final Fight (Street Fighter)
3. Housemarque’s Next Game (They made Returnal)
2. Horizon Forbidden West Sequel
1. Half-Life 3