Parents' Guide to

Killzone

By Chris Saunders, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Frightening first-person shooter game.

Game PSP 2004
Killzone Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Joshjeffords
Joshjeffords Adult
December 24, 2020
age 17+

Good game like series for Adults or late teens

This is a good old PS2 shooter that was hugely popular. It was one of the first game I played that had very r rated dialogue. The violence is pretty light for m even less than halo I would say. Some people do find this frightening there are some murderers and executions. I would let my kids play this it is pretty much a war game.

This title has:

Too much swearing
eliram874
eliram874 Adult
June 9, 2014
age 18+

too violent

there is many times the use of Our Lord's name in vain and too many blasphemies too many Profanities it is violent but not as violent as other games you see nowadays.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

KILLZONE throws players into a dark and dangerous war-torn world that has them fighting futuristic soldiers in a violent outer space environment in which only the strong survive. The movie-like opening draws you into the game, giving you a preview of the battle that lies ahead. The storyline introduces you to the cast of characters responsible for slaughtering the Helghast, an evil robot-like race whose sole purpose is to eliminate what's left of the human population.

The strategy is fairly straightforward: Try to survive. Players pick a weapon, with choices ranging from handguns and machine guns to rocket launchers and grenades, and maneuver through hostile surroundings while shooting up the enemy before they shoot you.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (6):

Killzone's graphics are remarkable: Shattered glass, abandoned buildings, and a murky, gray fog over the battlefield allow players to experience a frightening war-like environment. But really it's all just a setup for killing and more killing. The easy-to-navigate first level allows you to gain confidence before moving on to the more challenging portions of the game. The enemy you'll face is clever and ruthless, firing at will and with amazing accuracy.

The action-packed game would be exciting even without the violence, because of its fantastic attention to detail and intriguing storyline. But the bloody, detailed gore is the main feature and distracts from the overall enjoyment. Blood pooling on the ground after multiple gunshot wounds to the head is a common sight. It may entertain mature players, but this game glamorizes over-the-top violence and is not suitable for younger, more impressionable players.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the storyline and characters would still be interesting if the game were less violent. Or is the violence what drew you to playing it?

Game Details

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