Killzone Wiki
Register
Advertisement
For other uses, see Killzone (disambiguation).


Killzone is a squad-based, first-person shooter developed by Netherlands-based Guerrilla Games and released on 2 November 2004 in North America and 26 November 2004 in Europe. The game was remastered in HD by Supermassive Games and re-released within the Killzone Trilogy for PlayStation 3 as well as a standalone PSN title in 2012.[1]

Killzone is set in the 24th century during a period of planetary colonization, chronicling the war between the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance and the Helghan Empire. The game is played from a first-person view and follows Jan Templar, a high-ranking officer within the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance, as he battles invading Helghast forces on his homeworld of Vekta.

Plot[]

Main article: History of Killzone
"In the near future, mankind takes to the stars and begins a halcyon period of planetary colonization. New colonies are formed under the Earth-loyal banner of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance. But behind the smiling façade of galactic growth, unrest is growing. On the planet Helghan, colonists find themselves warped by the poisonous atmosphere. Those that survive become stronger, and develop a burning hatred for the alliance that sent them to the accursed planet in the first place. The ruthless, militaristic Helghast secede from the ISA, conspiring to wage war against them. The peaceful colony of Vekta becomes the first victim of Helghan's retribution, quickly falling under enemy control in a bloody blitzkrieg that leaves thousands dead or injured. As a skilled member of an ISA squad, you find yourself in the middle of the desperate conflict. Can you survive the Helghast assault and halt the march towards all-out war, or will you be just another faceless casualty in unmarked grave?"
―Game description[src]


Killzone is set in an era of space colonization set in the year 2357. After nuclear war rendered much of the Earth uninhabitable in 2055, world governments formed an international order known as the United Colonial Nations. Partnering with private firms, the UCN moved to establish human colonies in Alpha Centauri, a system occupied by two planets: Vekta, a rich Earth-like world (named after the CEO of the mining conglomerate Helghan, Philip Vekta), and Helghan, a barren wasteland named after the same company.

The Helghan Corporation sought to buy ownership of Vekta as well, but when the UCN imposed sanctions against its unfair business practices, a war broke out (known as the First Extrasolar War), which led to the ISA, the military arm of the UCN, driving the company out of Vekta. In response, the exiled colonists established their own civilization on Helghan, built on the principles of militarism and authoritarianism. The harsh environment and atmosphere killed many Helghans, forcing the survivors to use respirators and air tanks just to breathe. Eventually, the population, now known as the Helghast, mutated into pale-skinned hairless humanoids with increased strength, stamina, and intelligence. Violently xenophobic and convinced of their superiority, the Helghan consider humans to be beneath them, and dream of one day reconquering Vekta and expanding their empire to Earth and the neighboring star systems.

Story[]

Watch out while reading this, or don't at all, until you know what's coming.
This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.


Scolar Visari, emperor of Helghan, sends the Helghast Third Army to launch a secret invasion of Vekta. Alerted to the attack, the ISA attempt to prevent it with their SD (Solar Defense) network, but are unable to activate it in time to stop the invaders. With the element of surprise on their side, the Helghast quickly overwhelm the unprepared ISA ground forces and capture several strategic locations, including ISA Central Command.

While taking part in an offensive to slow the Helghast assault, Captain Jan Templar, a veteran ISA officer, is summoned to a meeting by his mentor and close friend, General Bradley Vaughton. Vaughton discloses that the ISA has requested assistance from the UCN and are working to restore the defense network. He also reveals that Colonel Gregor Hakha, a half-Helghan intelligence officer, had, on his orders, infiltrated the inner circle of Third Army commander General Joseph Lente, only to vanish while traveling to an extraction point in Vekta's slums. As Hakha is the only individual with knowledge of how the invasion bypassed SD, he assigns Jan to locate him. After fighting his way through the Helghast occupying the exterior of Central Command, Jan runs into Luger, a former comrade who is now working with an elite ISA division known as the Shadow Marshals. He also recruits the services of Rico Velasquez, an ISA gunner seeking revenge for the massacre of his entire platoon.

After rescuing Hakha, the team discovers that General Stuart Adams, the overseer for SD network, is secretly working for Lente and was responsible for sabotaging Vekta's defenses. Adams murders Vaughton and takes control of the defense network, planning to use it to destroy the relief fleet headed to Vekta. Under Jan's leadership, the team destroys several Helghast bases and infrastructure projects. With each staggering blow, Adams' position is undermined by his increasing failures to eliminate Jan and his team. Eventually, the team intercept and kill Lente when he tries to deal with them personally.

The team then take Lente's personal shuttle to board the SD platform just as the UCN relief fleet and comes under attack by the defense platform. Adams retreats to the SD control center and tries to reason with the group, explaining that the Helghast will stop at nothing to reclaim Vekta, regardless of how many lives they lose. Nevertheless, the team disables the station and escapes just as the relief fleet destroys it, killing Adams. Jan and Luger speculate about what the future holds, realizing that the real war is far from over.

Characters[]

ISA[]

Helghan Empire[]

Game modes[]

Campaign[]

The main story of Killzone.

Campaign Levels of Killzone
Chapters Helghast Assault · Vekta Evacuates · New Allies · Strange Company · Escape · Misty Waters · Hunting The Traitor · Forging a Path · Hidden Pasts · Onwards And Upwards · Hope

Battlefields[]

A shooter mode against bots, with a co-op mode.

Multiplayer Maps of Killzone
Beach Head · Canyon Crossing · Core Shaft · Delta Creek · Orbital Station · Park Terminal · Southern Hills · Vektan Slums


Reception[]

Killzone received mixed to positive reviews from magazines and websites. PSM stated that Killzone is "Graphically stunning and hits the mark in so many ways, it's baffling; they promised us we'd experience future war, and we have...and come away shaking." Other reviewers cited technical problems with Killzone, including inconsistent AI,[2] occasional bugs, frame-rate issues, distracting graphical glitches,[2] repetition of the same voices,[3] short draw distance, and an awkward control system. Critics also complained about the gameplay, with IGN labeling it "underwhelming and mediocre".[2]

Reviewers such as GameSpy claimed that Killzone partly suffered due to the incredible publicity it received before release, raising expectations only for them to go unfulfilled.[4] Despite this, Killzone was admired for its sound effects, its soundtrack, and its presentation of a gritty war zone;[2] it was also credited for its unique hard sci-fi art design.[4]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • An emulated version of Killzone was set to be released on the PlayStation Network on January 24th, 2012 for the PlayStation 3, but was later delayed indefinitely. It eventually appeared as a HD remaster supporting 720p resolution and contained trophy support, released on November 2nd, 2012 as part of the Killzone Trilogy bundle, or for separate download from the PlayStation Store. It can also be bought in a bundle with InFamous: Festival of Blood.
  • Killzone is also released and published by Sega for the Japanese port
  • Killzone was originally slated as a '"Halo Killer" by Sony. However, the developers have stated that they never intended it to be a "Halo Killer", but merely as a good game. The moniker of Killzone being a "Halo Killer" was due to false marketing.[5]

References[]

  1. Chan, Ken (6 September 2012). "Killzone Trilogy joins PlayStation Collection on October 23rd". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Sulic, Ivan (October 29, 2004). "Killzone". IGN.
  3. Shoemaker, Brad (November 3, 2004). "Killzone Review". GameSpot.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Tuttle, Will (November 2, 2004). "GameSpy: Killzone". GameSpy.
  5. Sterling, James. (April 22, 2009). "Guerrilla: Don’t call Killzone 2 a ‘Halo Killer’". Destructoid.
Killzone Series
Main Games Killzone · Killzone 2 · Killzone 3 · Killzone Shadow Fall
Spin-offs Liberation · Mercenary
Expanded Universe Killzone: Ascendancy · Killzone (comic) (canceled) · Killzone manga
Special Editions Killzone 3 Helghast Edition · Killzone Trilogy
Other media Killzone: Intercept
Non-Fiction Killzone Prima Official Game Guide · Killzone 2: Collector's Guide to Campaign and Warzone · Killzone 3: The Official Guide · Killzone Visual Design
Soundtracks Killzone 2 Original Soundtrack · Killzone 3 Official Soundtrack · Killzone Mercenary Official Soundtrack · Killzone Shadow Fall Official Soundtrack
Advertisement