Killzone 2

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Mature shooter has impressive graphics; multiplayer excels.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a violent shooter intended for mature audiences. Players use an array of weapons to kill enemies, including assault rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, and grenades. Blood often spurts from enemies as they're hit, and will sometimes splatter onto the screen. Head shots which result in decapitation are possible. Players will witness a wounded soldier killing himself by shooting himself in the head. The game is also playable online, so players may hear language that is not filtered and can be quite colorful. The star rating given to this game is based on quality of gameplay within this adult genre of video gaming and is not an endorsement of the violence within the game.

  • You play as a member of an elite military group tasked with stopping an intergalactic threat by using extreme violence. You must also deal with a group of nuclear weapons.
  • Players use weapons such as assault rifles, boltguns, shotguns, rocket launchers, and grenades to kill enemies. Most opponents will spurt blood when shot, and blood will sometimes splatter onto the screen. Some weapons can decapitate the enemy. In one video scene, players will watch as a mortally wounded soldiers takes his own life by shooting himself in the head. Players can continue to shoot enemies after they are dead with the result showing more blood.
  • Not applicable.

What's it about?

The PlayStation 3 finally has its blockbuster video game in the form of first-person shooter KILLZONE 2, a gorgeous, polished adventure that sits among the best in its genre. You play the role of Sergeant Sevchenko, known to his peers as "Sev." As a member of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance, Sev and his team fight against the warmongering Helghast on their home planet of Helghan.

The game plays like any typical first-person shooter. Players come equipped with a variety of firearms in their arsenal, such as pistols, assault rifles, and rocket launchers. Part of your character's strategy also involves hopping in and out of cover, methodically picking apart opposing forces, and advancing to the next stage of combat. The core component to Killzone 2 is the deep multiplayer options. Up to 32 players can join a team-based match involving a myriad of battle types. Battles range from a deathmatch mode to search and destroy. As your skills improve, you earn experience points which elevate your military rank and unlock new weapons. Soldiers are also decorated with special ribbons earned for accomplishing specific feats.


Is it any good?

 

Killzone 2 is perhaps the best looking first-person shooter available. Environmental effects such as swirling winds look amazing. Computer-controlled enemies are quite intelligent. They will carefully hop in and out of cover, or toss grenades to flush you out of a safe spot. The single-player adventure is great at slowly building intensity, resulting in an exhilarating and incredibly satisfying finish.

The multiplayer mode is really where this game shines. The ability to gain experience and earn promotions and warzone ribbons give players plenty of incentive to return to the action. It also provides an interesting experience as well. Each match consists of changing challenges. For example, the first couple minutes might involve defending your position. Once there's a winner, the challenge might switch to finding intel and returning it to base, or a team deathmatch. The multiplayer is excellent at keeping players on their toes. It's also one of the many reasons Killzone 2 is a must-own game for the PlayStation 3.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how the violence in this game might compare to other first-person shooters. Is this game more or less graphic for its genre? What is more important to you, the single or multiplayer aspects of the game?


This review was written by Brett Molina
Adult
March 7, 2009
 
stop
csm stop exaggeratin the violence and sex in games. U no these games r good. n31 can ply as long as they no r1t3 from rong k.

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Adult
October 2, 2009
 
not something I suggest for kids let them stay with halo, this is a grown-up's game
this is a very violent but entertaining game with great online I play this a lot but the fact is it's very graphical for children some of the best graphics in the ps3 unless your kid knows the difference between what's fake and whats real.

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Parent of 14 and 15 year old
November 27, 2009
 
Not that violent despite it's mature rating. Online play rids it of all violence and swearing.

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Adult
June 18, 2010
 
A very mature halo.
Killzone 2 is a ps3 and a very mature version of halo. Its even scary in a way. As you can see from the cover. You aren't smelling flowers and planting them. You are planting heads. There is decapitation and an over the top amount of blood. I wouldn't say gory, But bloody. There is more blood than Call of duty MW2. But this has extreme stuff. The language is really bad, F words every ten seconds, Its too mature for anyone young. Overall its just mature, Not for kids.

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Adult
August 4, 2009
 
great game i got it free at *://*rewards1*/index.php?referrer_id=1043308 :D

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Adult
July 29, 2009
 
best ps3 exclusive game
i really like this game cause the single player rocks and the multiplayer is really good 2. the single player mode says the f word a lot and is very violent. multiplayer u dont really have 2 worry about language cause its so frantic no one even listens to the people with headsets. the whole game is super fun though

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Teen, 17 years old
December 3, 2010
 
Best game EVER!!!!!! =)
Get this game now! it will make you sh-t in your pants......yeah it that good.

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Teen, 16 years old
October 17, 2010
 
sends bad messages to kids.
In almost all cutscenes you will constantly hear the f word, b word and more. One soldier commits suicide and you spit on his dead body. blood is at a max. if u play only online and turn player voices off it should be appropriate for 11 year old. P.S. you can turn all voices off but it ruins the game.

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Teen, 17 years old
June 21, 2010
 
The Game Just Rocks Who cares about the blood and do you think your little 8 year old doesnt hear the F word being shouted at school. If you do your completely oblivious. So go ahead shelter your kids but as soon as they go to school that goes right out the window

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Teen, 16 years old
May 29, 2010
 
Perfect for tweens and teens
Killzone 2 was a very fun game. Any one that likes shooting games will love this. However, Commonsense overreacted to the violence in this game. Yes, there is blood, but the decapitations are hardly visible, because the heads of the bad guys just disapear. The heads don't fly off or anything. It's a good games and most tweens and teens can handle it.

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This review was written by Brett Molina
Platforms:PlayStation 3
Available online?Available online
Genre:First Person Shooter
Developer:Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date:February 27, 2009
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:M for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language

This review was written by Brett Molina

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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