
Changing the landscape of the gaming Internet in a matter of minutes, the PlayStation 4's launch line up is being judged today – and here we've provided several review scores for the eagerly anticipated Killzone: Shadow Fall. Early impressions are good, with the title managing to secure mostly high-end scores from major publications like IGN, Eurogamer, and Destructoid. The general consensus appears to be that the shooter is a beautiful and exciting romp, full of brilliant gunplay and some great mission design, while common complaints cover such things as poor enemy artificial intelligence, and some frustrating non-shooting sections. Take a look at the reviews that we've linked below, and be sure to check back soon to see our own take on Guerrilla Games' newest project.
IGN - 8/10
There’s never been a better time for everyone to be paying attention to the Killzone franchise, because Shadow Fall is a step in an all-new, very welcome direction.
Eurogamer - 7/10
There's a lack of confidence here that contrasts starkly with Guerrilla's dazzling, sure-footed command of the new hardware. It's a game that any new PlayStation 4 owner will be proud to show off - but it won't be one they remember by the time PS5 rolls around.
Destructoid - 9/10
I like Killzone: Shadow Fall for its change of direction from previous series games, as well as its change of pace over other first-person shooters. Guerrilla has tried a few new things this time around, and should be commended as such. I welcome the almost sandbox-ish level approach, and the stealth segments did a nice job of breaking up the standard shooting action. It’s really nice when gameplay concepts win out over big set pieces and cinematic events.
Polygon - 5/10
For all the next-gen bluster of its visuals and the repeated blunt-force attempts to ram a message home, Guerrilla’s first shot on the PS4 retreads shooter cliches, and poorly. In a launch lineup crowded with shooters, Killzone: Shadow Fall sits at the bottom.
Joystiq - 3.5/5
Killzone: Shadow Fall loses its sheen at times, usually when pursuing moments that are cinematic but not sensible. As a shooter, it's better at thriving on eye-catching environments and supportive combat abilities that don't just come for free. It also can't help but blow up its pristine cityscapes before you get to know them, but that just goes with the territory, here on the border between good and great.
Are you still planning to pick up Killzone: Shadow Fall at launch? Fire your reactions in the comments section below.
Comments 29
Typical Killzone, looks pretty, aims for the stars, fails. But looks pretty.
Wow the reviews are a bit of a disappointment, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise. Launches are always this way. We get so caught up in visuals looking for something next gen and overlook the most important thing.....the gameplay. This is the reason why I held off on launch because the better games don't roll out until 2014 and by then these launch titles will be half the price anyway.
I think the reviews are quite good?
no push square review?
Hmmm I've wanted to jump into the FPS and thought this would be the game that would help with that. I may wait to pick up a better one in the future.
@8vpiper Not yet, I'm afraid. Hopefully it won't be too far away, though.
Some of the scores I've seen are quite disappointing. I can't make a judgement yet but I have a hard time believing the game is worse than CoD or BF.
Knack has 59 on Metacritic. LOL =((
@Gemuarto Well, on our scale that would translate to "not bad". I think that's what we all expected for that game, right?
Polygon is turning into the old IGN. You know, back when they used to have a habit of poorly reviewing good games, which is why I rarely visit their site.
@rastamadeus But it really only has one bad review from a fairly incompetent site, so I wouldn't say that it failed.
@Lelouch There's two up there to start with, not one. And the majority of reviews seem to say the same thing, attractive, plays okay, nothing like the must have game which was promised/hyped.
Also, just because they don't like a game you HAVE NOT played doesn't make them incompetent. For all you know you may play it and hate it.
@get2sammyb Yeah, but there is always room for surprise, you know.
Typical Gaming sites :-/ It seems PS Exclusives have to try extra hard to get a good score but if game boxes say 'Xbox 360 ONLY' or soon 'Xbox ONE ONLY' they automatically get a 10/10, YAWN, Zzzzz
I have LOVED every KZ game & will LOVE this one to i bet
@zeldagaymer93 Killzone is one of the better FPS out there if the MP is anything like KZ2 it will be nothing short of EPIC!!!
Gies reviewed it for polygon so I'm surprised he scored it that high! Cant take advice from someone who rate Dead Space 3 9.5 but last of us 7
And yes I am a Killzone fanboy
@rastamadeus Two? 7/10 is now a bad score?
@-CaZed- 3.5/5 and 5/10 are two. Although even the higher review scores have said similar things.
@Carl-G Ridiculous Fanboy Comment Of the Day Award, sir. You haven't played the game, these people have. Try and remember that, eh? Plus it's amazing how every single site is biased to Microsoft/Nintendo if you're a Sony fan, Nintendo/Sony is you're a Microsoft fan and Sony/Microsoft if you're a Nintendo fan. Notice the trend? People can't stand someone having an opinion that isn't the same as there's. You wouldn't believe the amount of abuse I got from people on here (via PS3/Vita) for daring to say I found The Last Of Us s**t (saved you editing it, Sammy).
@rastamadeus 3.5 / 5 is a 7 in my book.
1/5=20%
3/5= 60%
0,5/5=10%
= 70%
Didn't the first 3 Killzone games get reviews like this, too? I'm not worried. The game looks great and I'm sure if you're a big fan of the series, like me, you'll still love what it has to offer.
That was way harsh, says me. "Yeah, so effing what if its a 1st-party next-gen launch sequel to a reputed franchise. Its merely another dumb fps for losers" Like, are these even gamers/fans doing the reviews? "Eh, nobody will like or want another KZ" ???
@Sanquine Deleted your first comment, eh? Dunno how Mario could be judged against Killzone but hey ho. It's not necessarily the score I'm bringing attention too, it's what the reviews say. Even the ones that praise the game still say the same as the ones who slate it: not at all like it was hyped up to be (as happens each time a Killzone is out) but looks stunning. If you like Killzone you'll like this but it is by no way near the MUST HAVE game for the PS4 that it has been built up to be.
@rastamadeus Yah! It was a stupid comment of mine. But i just noticed you always bash killzone. Every killzone is superb in my book but i agree most of the time the looks surpass the gameplay..
@Sanquine I do. But I've also repeatedly said that I'll try each game in the series in the hope that it will be the one to make me see why it is so liked. Can't judge something unless you try it. But every time I have played a Killzone I've been left with a sad and bemused feeling as to why something (for me) so average gets so much love. A bit like Michael Carrick.
@grenworthshero
KZ 2 actually got pretty high marks. 3 and Mercenary more similar to Shadow Fall. I think they go a bit harder on this franchise and other FPS than they do certain others though. Unless it's BF, Halo or (until Ghosts) CoD, the game has to be truly special to get high marks. If you want an easy great review (score wise anyway) just slap Halo or BF on the box and 10/10. I agree with @rastamadeus though, Killzone isn't a must-have. The series, even 2 which I'd probably rank the best FPS of this gen, has always been love it or hate it. So this isn't a system-seller, I honestly don't know what the PS4's first must-have system seller will be. I expect inFamous: Second Son to be awesome but 1 only sold moderately well and 2's numbers were laughable.
@RyoHazuki Forlan? God I just got a shudder (I'm a Liverpool supporter). People bum Carrick in the media, so I'll stick with the useless oaf.
@Gamer83 Killzone 2 is the worst Killzone ever =). Funny that I enjoyed Kilzone HD so much, that can call it best PS3 FPS and it has so low scores... meh...In our days more than ever, you can't trust to scores. There are a lot of very good games with medicore scores. And a lot of really boring and sometimes broken games with high scores.
@Gemuarto
Fair enough. I love KZ 2 but I can get why others don't. I agree about review scores, I think sometimes places just do it for hits. But who's to say for sure?
I love the Killzone series, so for me it wouldn't matter if someone rated it 1/10. An FPS is an FPS, and very few offer anything truly new and revolutionary; it's all incremental.
A review is nothing more than one person's opinion, and if you know you'll like a game, you should buy it anyway. I only bother with reviews if it's a game I'm uncertain about, and then I read several to find different points of view; but generally I ignore the scores and focus on the content.
@Paranoimia
Unfortunately most only look at the score. That will always be my problem with reviews. For example, IGN's review of Killzone read like a 9 and watching the video review, had I not already known the score I'd have figured the same thing. It was informative, told me what I wanted to know, but the problem is most people who go to IGN or Gamespot or Gamefaqs, especially Americans, don't give a damn about the content.
The launch games are always more scrutinised than any games that come after. Killzone is getting tepid reviews because it's a game that is designed to show off the console, and that is what it does. However, reviewers expect the big launch games to be perfect, which doesn't happen because developers are not familiar with the hardware.
When you start a new job, you need training. When you move in to a new home, you need to decorate it. When you buy a new pair of shoes, you need to break them in. Nothing starts off exactly how you want it to, because you need time to get it there. Reviewers don't care about that, and review the games more harshly because of this mind frame they are in that the games cannot be less than stellar. If Killzone came out in 2 years time, with nothing different (literally the exact same game), it would score slightly higher because it won't be put under as much scrutiny, guaranteed.
Killzone looks stunning, as does Knack and many others but the smart gamer knows that when buying in to the beginning of a new console's lifespan, that you need to let it grow before you get a big return on your investment.
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