I’ve recently had the opportunity to check the multiplayer open beta for Killzone 3 and like any shooter out there it’s your standard affair of capture the flag, death match, etc. If you play FPS games then Sony’s Dual-Shock Six-Axis controller should be familiar ground for you when moving around gunning and dodging in these games. So what does Killzone 3 do differently you ask? The answer is simple: Playstation Move!
A lot of skepticism has been placed on motion controllers in regards to shooters. I have particularly tried a few games by the way of demos on the Playstation 3 including M.A.G, The Shoot, and Modern Combat: Domination. Out of the bunch I felt that M.A.G was the best attempt at utilizing PS Move controls (Keep in mind that I have one of those gun peripherals). Killzone 3 came with PS Move functionality included with the open beta demo – to my surprise.
For all of the doubtful folks out there who say motion controls can never be played with FPS games, Killzone 3 will quickly disprove that theory.
I must say this game will revolutionize how we play FPS titles going forward even with one of those gimmicky gun peripherals. If you own a PS Move motion controller and a navigation controller, consider picking out a good gun peripheral and play Killzone 3. The experience is absolutely amazing!
I will say that you have to tweak the settings a bit so that you can get the best out of the controls. Various forum posts make suggestions on the settings so it’s really down to the player. Overall there is something exhilarating about feeling immersed in the war-torn environments. The moment you see baddies, you point, you shoot, they die. Many say it’s almost like cheating using the Move controls, but I can attest that you do have some limitations.
For instance, melee combat is a little odd, granted you can alter the control scheme. I found myself not being able to respond as quickly when going against melee attacks. You have to shove the controller forward like a bayonet to do your attacks and button mappings really should allow for setting a more convenient layout. Your arms may fatigue a little just using the Motion controller and Navigation controller by themselves so I would highly recommend a gun peripheral.
Once all of that is said and done, moving, shooting, and strafing is all so seamless. A target reticule is placed on screen which allows the player to adjust where they are viewing, (think of the functionality of the “right analog stick” with the precision of a fine-tuned mouse). The Navigation controller operates the movement as well as the burst run functions. From there the face buttons control jumping, weapon switching, and reloads (Although you can twist the Motion Controller to reload).
If game developers out there take Motion Controlled games seriously, this certainly will be a welcome change for the FPS genre. This is but a small taste of what Guerilla Games has in store for the eager Killzone fans out there. If you are a PS3 owner and plan on playing Killzone 3, then I think PS Move should be included with that purchase. Check out our 3GK full review when it hits stores February 22, 2011.
