Battle of the 'Bams!': Resistance 2 vs. Killzone 2

by Randy Nelson { May 23rd 2008 at 1:55PM }

Sony has two major FPS offerings on tap for releases in the next nine-odd months, both of which have plenty of similarities – not the least of which are their sci-fi trimmings. But how do they differ from one another ... or stack up against other big titles in the genre? Enter MTV's Multiplayer, who have put together a nice comparative feature on the two games, covering points such as visuals, gameplay, and overall themes. Oh, and the abundance of earth tones, of course.

Is there room on PS3 for two similar first-party titles? We say "yes," and "please make sure they're better than Haze." Read on for Multiplayer's observations, along with some developer insight on Sony's positioning of both first-person battles against creepy creatures and ... Space Nazis.

Gallery: Resistance 2

Gallery: Killzone 2

Tags: fps, guerilla-games, insomniac, killzone-2, resistance-2, sony

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Worst Review Ever (a.k.a. Beowulf. Why? Because my goal is to kill the serpent.) @ May 23rd 2008 2:01PM

It's gonna be so sad when Killzone 2 manages a metacritic rating of just below 80; just like the last two Killzone iterations. Resistance 2 on the other hand...

el serpiente @ May 23rd 2008 2:09PM

lol, nice tagline. Now you are getting creepily obsessed.

Nice troll too.

Worst Review Ever (a.k.a. Beowulf. Why? Because my goal is to kill the serpent.) @ May 23rd 2008 2:11PM

I thought you'd like that.

4.5 @ May 23rd 2008 2:22PM

I'm thinking Resistance 2 is going to be the better game and probably the only of the 2 I'll pick up.

browntown @ May 23rd 2008 2:26PM

R2 will be better by a mile, but we havn't seen any K2 multiplayer, so we still don't know how the other half is shaping up. Id rather play the demo first and judge for myself. Though i don't get any of the comlaints people make about the game being boring, i think its fine, whenever i play halo all i do is hold the triggers and shoot things.

Eggy @ May 23rd 2008 2:28PM

yeah because an 8 is really really bad.

samfish @ May 23rd 2008 2:32PM

Nah. Killzone 2 will get a few 10's just because EVERY major release is over scored these days. MGS4 is up next.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 23rd 2008 3:44PM

@Samfish

I agree -

I noticed it especially with Brawl & Mario Kart ... Brawl deserved some decent scores but Mario Kart is pretty much a horrible game ...

Who the hell would have thought a scale periphial would average over an 80 metacritic review ... I bet Wii Fit is harder to find than an actual Wii at this point ...

4.5 @ May 23rd 2008 4:12PM

Wow, I didn't know Mario Kart Wii got such good scores. I went to the Nintendo Store launch for it and was one of the first people to get it and I think it's complete shit. I don't know how you could honestly score that game above a 6. It doesn't take any skill to play, the better you get the more you get blue shelled/combo'd the hell out of.

Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2008 5:22PM

Really? I'd say it's one of the most engaging Mario Karts to date. Anyone can see that the game definitely needed more time for graphical spit-and-polish, and more in-depth local multiplayer would be good (one of the first time that Wii online multiplayer has been more comprehensive than Offline multiplayer), but what the game does is great. Online infrastructure is smooth and easy to use, the tracks are mostly made of win, including the toughest 3D Rainbow Road to date

It's not without its flaws, but i would say that the flaws are only on the technical side of things. The way gameplay is balanced can be rather annoying in the short term, but in the long term, skill matters much more than luck of the item draw

4.5 @ May 24th 2008 7:03AM

That's the thing that annoys me, no matter how good you are it doesn't matter. I've lost races being a half lap ahead on the last lap only to end up taking 10th because a blue shell hit me, then another blue shell, then another blue shell, then a guy with a star, then a red shell, then another guy with a star, then a bullet bill, it just gets insane. I watched a friend play it the other day and he was in first going around the last corner of the race when a guy with a star hit him, then another guy with a star hit him, then another guy with a star hit him, and then a shell hit him and he took last. It's like Nintendo Communism or something, I can only hope that Super Smash Bros. doesn't get this treatment in it's next iteration. Could you imagine if since someone had 1 life left they instantly got tons of final smashes?

Kizzle @ May 23rd 2008 2:03PM

Oh look, two "Halo Killers." lulz

"Halo Killer" is becoming an albatross, every time Sony fans tout a game as a Halo Killer it winds up being very underwhelming. I guess when all you get are mediocre shooters that fans play up as awesome (Resistance), stuff that doesn't come out until a year after it has already shown up elsewhere (Bioshock) or utter trash (Haze), you have to remain optimistic or go mad.

xFenixKnightx @ May 23rd 2008 2:06PM

REAL, Halo Killer = COD4 ;)

tmacairjordan87 @ May 23rd 2008 2:16PM

The term halo killer needs to stop altogether for every shooter because of two reasons

1) It's not hard to make a better shooter than that mediocre garbage. Plenty of FPS are better like half life 2, cod 4, and bioshock.

2) COD 4 already killed it in every aspect.

tmacairjordan87 @ May 23rd 2008 2:17PM

I forgot gears. Gears is also much better than halo and while the story isn't jaw droppingly awesome it's at least passable.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 23rd 2008 2:19PM

You know what's funny? Everytime I see the "_____killer" bullshit started, it isn't from the fans. Nope, it's either from magazines trying to sell copies or it's from the console detractors trying to pretend there is hype. I mean, really.... Haze... a Halo Killer?!? The hell are you smoking?!? Never once did I see those phrases used by intelligent people.

I mean, let's put it in a way even your miniscule mind can comprehend as to why I detest this phrase. Gamepro, EGM, and Tips & Tricks all three once claimed Brave Fencer Musashiden is looking to be the Zelda killer playstation fans were waiting for. How do I know this? Once upon a time I was a Sega and Nintendo fan who hated Sony (amazing what Quest 64 can do to a guy). I was, at the time, thinking what asses they must be for even trying to topple OoT. And then it dropped and all three magazines remarked how it failed to be a Zelda killer and snapped at the game for failing to reach ambitions like that.

I wrote it off. Brave Fencer Musashi was a shitty Zelda clone. Nothing could convince me otherwise... until I saw a $10 copy used at my local Waldensoftware. Oh shit, oh snap, time to make fun of how sucky this game was. But something happened. Brave Fencer Musashi was nothing like Zelda. It followed an excessively linear path with an emphasis on platforming and maintaining your swords rather than exploration. This was insane to me. How could the two games even be compared? This was like saying Hot Shots Golf is going to be the big Madden killer this year. So I found a gem, and researched where this silly notion came from. Sure enough, the magazines started the rants and even the game creator called the very notion silly. The magazines meanwhile sold more copies and added fuel to the flamewars.

browntown @ May 23rd 2008 2:23PM

It was the media that branded the first one a halo killer, and free radical dubbed haze a halo killer.

samfish @ May 23rd 2008 2:24PM

Hillary Clinton: the DLC's Obama killer.

...although if she's his VP, she probably will...

CONSPIRACIES!

Cyro @ May 23rd 2008 2:39PM

I'm sorry but COD4 might have sold more and than Halo 3 but I still believe Halo 3 MP is way better than COD4. Its much better competitive play and way more balanced and fun.

People should stop hating so much on Halo 3. Its a great game. Its not the Best game ever thats for sure, but its not mediocre either.

Vidikron (FU) @ May 23rd 2008 5:21PM

Fid is right. It's almost never the fans of the game being called an "X killer" that call it that. It's usually the media or the fantards of other systems.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 23rd 2008 8:01PM

Yeah, sorry. Halo done got kilt by COD 4.

It was a bit long in the tooth anyway. The people who were blown away by Halo 1 are 6 years older now. And younger gamers will just start with COD 4 and never look back.

BioShock was no Halo killer. Halo is primarily an online game, BioShock has no online component.

xFenixKnightx @ May 23rd 2008 2:03PM

Killzone 2's graphics...

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm20/invisiblesmith/drooling_homer.png

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 23rd 2008 2:06PM

Shouldn't be the only reason why you're playing this game.

arrrgh @ May 23rd 2008 2:14PM

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha

now that it's two full years later.....the game it was competing against (gears) has a sequel coming out in Nov... and they're finally getting reasonably close to their fraudulent target renders? Tis a joke

now resistance2 on the other hand....sexy time

el serpiente @ May 23rd 2008 2:16PM

Do tell, Vegeta, what are the criteria for true enjoyment of a videogame? Tell me, so I'll know whether to stop liking stuff I like, or to start enjoying stuff I don't like...

xFenixKnightx @ May 23rd 2008 2:25PM

Vegeta

I know, I have a fear of a boring MP and a short and underwhelming (although very stunning) single player with dumb AI =/

For some reason I have this suspicion that they delayed this game to rework MP. Maybe seeing the success of COD4 changed the direction they were going in. I mean we havent seen any MP at all yet so theres another hint. That would be sweet IMO but who knows.

Co @ May 23rd 2008 2:27PM

Imagine Wii 2 puttin out this kind of stuff with slightly enhanced, wireless Nunchuk/Wiimote right out of the box day 1. *droolssssssss

It will happen.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 23rd 2008 2:28PM

"Do tell, Vegeta, what are the criteria for true enjoyment of a videogame?"

hmm I don't know, how bout actual gameplay. Remember that? Or are graphics the only thing now needed to convince you to buy anything like the good little sony whore you are.

riggs @ May 23rd 2008 2:31PM

if hes a sony whore, then what can i get for a dualshock ;)

samfish @ May 23rd 2008 2:37PM

Dualshock'll get you a good, hard clit rubbing.

xFenixKnightx @ May 23rd 2008 2:38PM

Vegeta is right thats why Gears is so awesome. Great graphics AND gameplay. KZ2 might be the best looking shooter in the next year but I don't know about it being the most fun. Gears 2 will have that covered IMO. How can you beat chainsaw duels? I mean, they're fucking chainsaw duels!!!

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 23rd 2008 2:45PM

"Or are graphics the only thing now needed to convince you to buy anything like the good little sony whore you are."

Okay, I'm going to state this yet again... fuck you and your ivory tower. I'm getting so tired of graphics being an attack point when they are good. "Meh meh meh, graphics are good but how is the gameplay?" Considering the first Killzone played very much like a Call of Duty style game and parallels are being made now to COD4, I'd say the gameplay will be like COD4 except set slightly in the future (we ARE only looking at about 100-200 years here).

Besides, Vegeta, you've obviously played Killzone 2 since you're on a high horse about the gameplay on the title. What's it like? I want to know. From the gameplay I've seen, it looks impressive. How accurate is the rifle while holding sustained fire? Does Killzone 2 retain the very accurate pacing (read: slow) of reloading and grenade throwing? You gotta know this since you're much more in the know than anyone else....

Christopher Exantus @ May 23rd 2008 2:54PM

"COD4, I'd say the gameplay will be like COD4 except set slightly in the future (we ARE only looking at about 100-200 years here)."

hmm. Funny how you say this and then question me if I've played the game yet. The fact is, I'm not impressed with the game at all. Sure are the graphics incredible yeah. But that doesn't mean the game itself will be great. Gameplay should be the reason why you put down $60 bucks(or more if you're paying for a console as well) because for all we know KZ2 can be just another Haze. So while I'm willing to accept the fact that KZ2 can do something that will blow me out of the water, as of right now, I'm not impressed.

samfish @ May 23rd 2008 3:02PM

I only buy a game if I think it's fun, which means it has good gameplay.

...that's why I almost never buy western games.

*sneaks off*

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 23rd 2008 3:17PM

Okay, keep in mind as I saw this, I'm afraid I'm with the graphics whore agenda. It is my profession actually. But, having said that, let me look at this quote.

"Gameplay should be the reason why you put down $60 bucks(or more if you're paying for a console as well) because for all we know KZ2 can be just another Haze."

This, I'll agree with. But here's the deal. All anyone has to base their opinions off of are two things. Graphics and gameplay impressions/videos. We don't know how the game will play. It's still 9 months out. So obviously the big push this early is on the graphics.

So if someone says they are impressed by this, this shouldn't be a reason to pounce on them. Quite the opposite, actually. "Good on you, you can see the graphics."

Gameplay, this far out is moot because even if we knew all the fine details of the gameplay, majority of the game is largely unknown. Take, as an example, Gears of War. A game I'm quite torn on.

You can take the core of the game and say "this is what the gameplay is like." For the most part, you may have a point. But there are sections of the game where the gameplay is radically different from the pop and shoot mechanic of the bulk of the game. Like the section where you drive the vehicle or have to man the gun. Or my personal favorite sequence of the game, where you had to blow the propane tanks to create and stay in the pools of light. Meanwhile both of your beserker fights were dramatically different from the other gameplay as well.

Now, according to Cliffy B, what was shown of Gears 2 so far is what he calls a 10 on action. There are sections that will be 2s or 3s and much less scripted. So at this point, all people can comment on is what was shown and the graphics. That's where we're at on Killzone 2 as well.

So you ask the question, is this worth $60 to only have the graphics? Well, I don't see Sony or Epic stating that we have to buy the game RIGHT NOW if we want to play it when it comes out. So it's an invalid question. We'll have to wait for more details regardless before we decide whether the game will be worth $60 or not.

xFenixKnightx @ May 23rd 2008 3:24PM

Hi my name is FenixKnight and I'm a graphics whore. Sad but true. :(

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 23rd 2008 4:36PM

@Wong

I agree with you. Which is why I'm saying you shouldn't only be buying this because it looks good. I'm tired of going to joystiq and other gaming forums where people are claiming this'll make fanboys weep or this will be the greatest FPS ever. Why? Because it looks pretty. I mean we don't know enough to even make a judgement yet, which is why I'm taking the wait and see approach.

I'm not saying the game will be bad, that's not what I'm saying at all. I agree we haven't seen enough of the game yet, but from what I've seen so far, I haven't seen anything that makes me jump out of my seat yet.

el serpiente @ May 23rd 2008 5:12PM

Yeah, duh, Vagita, of course gameplay matters. Fine, I agree that graphics are only 1 component of a successful game. But aren't you just running around stating the obvious? It isn't out yet. How the hell are we supposed to know what the gameplay is like? So, some people are excited by the graphics, which is one thing they can base an opinion on for now. I don't understand this holy war against (?) you are waging. You hate that people are excited for a game? Calm down, you're not gonna live very long with that temperment.

DangerMouse @ May 23rd 2008 2:10PM

From what i've seen so far of killzone 2, it looks terrible. The shadow in that first image looks hideous, and the texture work in general is very average. Resistance 2 is looking much better.

Justin @ May 23rd 2008 2:13PM

Terrible?

Really now?

You do realize those screens were released in 2007? And proven to be doctored?

If you've watched the Killzone 2 Direct Feed Gameplay and still think it looks "terrible", then so be it.

I'm just glad I don't know how it feels to be blind.