Thread is meant for Killzone Fans
Ok, hear me out. The Killzone series has had a bad omen or goodwill from people for some reason (probably that E3 2006 Target Render - which looks like shit now) even though out of the 6 games in the franchise, 4 were received really well; with KZ2 being the pinnacle of the series. Since the first reveal of actual gameplay of Killzone 2, we knew we had something deep and special in terms of narrative that was executed really terribly none other than through the eyes of likeable "soldiers" Jan and Sev (fuck Rico). Killzone is mainly about propaganda and power with tons of gray areas to explore. I don't think that playing as soldiers can justify such a rich and expansive story because they only take orders.
Depending on your perspective, playing as the ISA puts you in ambiguous moral clout where I personally have always questioned if the motivations have been correct but I have read the backstory unlike many other individuals, who will be passive at best. I don't want to question the average gamer but I don't believe they get that vested in a world of FPS with complex narratives and KZ:SF is proof of that, hence it becomes a niche product. But then there is Halo that also covers complex ideas and it does well. I wonder subjectively if Killzone has just been a recipient of hate due to it being dubbed the "Halo Killer" a long time back when there were no intentions for it to be such or why people say its clunky to play when every game is supposed to be unique and not a floaty avatar.
I personally think they should retcon KZ:SF as a "what if" scenario (though its probably dumb cannon now) and continue the reboot with the "First ExtraSolar War" and build up Visari, Radec and other more memorable Helghan characters vs. UCN & ACISA. Things that Guerilla could expand on are exactly these areas:
- Moral Gray Choices (like in Witcher 3 or Spec Ops)
- Separate ISA/VSA/UCN and Helghan Campaigns
- Focus on world building and its political drama (this is what I most enjoy about the series)
- Rogue factions or Splinter groups empathetic to the other side
- The idea that there are power vacuums in Helghan and actual provinces in Vekta who don't see eye to eye with what UCN did; being terrible to Helghans.
- Make it M rated and explore the gritty side of war without impunity
- Semi or Open world experience (I don't know what's best, I am not a game developer)
When you look at Horizon, you look at all these tribes/world elements and to be honest, Killzone could have done so much if they brought in more choice for the player in this context. If Vekta and Helghan are as big as the moon I would understand this 1 united army mentality from both ends, but if they are proper worlds, there is so much more going on economically and socially. Maybe we might finally decide, why playing as the ISA invaders is always being pushed down our throats and justified or why the Helghans are considered "bad guys" and killing them won't make us feel empathy for them (here's a great article by Jim Sterling who apparently also loves the lore of KZ). I don't think it was done well in KZ: M even though most loved it.
As far as MP goes, just freaking make a super refined version of KZ2 MP. You don't need to look for anything further than the perfection it already was. Can't wait to snipe your asses with this again while under cloak! (I'm aware you don't lose your head in MP). Guerilla has the talent, the time and the resources to do this after Horizon being the mega-hit that it is and give Killzone the justice it deserves.
Tl;dr new game should be focused on events before Killzone 1 which plays through the buildup of the Helghast and UCN/ACISA while giving players the choice of morality issues.
Ok, hear me out. The Killzone series has had a bad omen or goodwill from people for some reason (probably that E3 2006 Target Render - which looks like shit now) even though out of the 6 games in the franchise, 4 were received really well; with KZ2 being the pinnacle of the series. Since the first reveal of actual gameplay of Killzone 2, we knew we had something deep and special in terms of narrative that was executed really terribly none other than through the eyes of likeable "soldiers" Jan and Sev (fuck Rico). Killzone is mainly about propaganda and power with tons of gray areas to explore. I don't think that playing as soldiers can justify such a rich and expansive story because they only take orders.
Depending on your perspective, playing as the ISA puts you in ambiguous moral clout where I personally have always questioned if the motivations have been correct but I have read the backstory unlike many other individuals, who will be passive at best. I don't want to question the average gamer but I don't believe they get that vested in a world of FPS with complex narratives and KZ:SF is proof of that, hence it becomes a niche product. But then there is Halo that also covers complex ideas and it does well. I wonder subjectively if Killzone has just been a recipient of hate due to it being dubbed the "Halo Killer" a long time back when there were no intentions for it to be such or why people say its clunky to play when every game is supposed to be unique and not a floaty avatar.
I personally think they should retcon KZ:SF as a "what if" scenario (though its probably dumb cannon now) and continue the reboot with the "First ExtraSolar War" and build up Visari, Radec and other more memorable Helghan characters vs. UCN & ACISA. Things that Guerilla could expand on are exactly these areas:
- Moral Gray Choices (like in Witcher 3 or Spec Ops)
- Separate ISA/VSA/UCN and Helghan Campaigns
- Focus on world building and its political drama (this is what I most enjoy about the series)
- Rogue factions or Splinter groups empathetic to the other side
- The idea that there are power vacuums in Helghan and actual provinces in Vekta who don't see eye to eye with what UCN did; being terrible to Helghans.
- Make it M rated and explore the gritty side of war without impunity
- Semi or Open world experience (I don't know what's best, I am not a game developer)
When you look at Horizon, you look at all these tribes/world elements and to be honest, Killzone could have done so much if they brought in more choice for the player in this context. If Vekta and Helghan are as big as the moon I would understand this 1 united army mentality from both ends, but if they are proper worlds, there is so much more going on economically and socially. Maybe we might finally decide, why playing as the ISA invaders is always being pushed down our throats and justified or why the Helghans are considered "bad guys" and killing them won't make us feel empathy for them (here's a great article by Jim Sterling who apparently also loves the lore of KZ). I don't think it was done well in KZ: M even though most loved it.
As far as MP goes, just freaking make a super refined version of KZ2 MP. You don't need to look for anything further than the perfection it already was. Can't wait to snipe your asses with this again while under cloak! (I'm aware you don't lose your head in MP). Guerilla has the talent, the time and the resources to do this after Horizon being the mega-hit that it is and give Killzone the justice it deserves.
Tl;dr new game should be focused on events before Killzone 1 which plays through the buildup of the Helghast and UCN/ACISA while giving players the choice of morality issues.
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