Shawn | 
February 24, 2009 | 
“Killzone 2 delivers a visual masterpiece with unparalleled graphics”
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| Guerrilla Games |
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| FPS | n/a |
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| Release: 02/28/09 | n/a | n/a | Release: 11/23/08 | |||||||||
| ESRB: M |
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Head2Head – Killzone 2 vs Gears of War 2 * Please enable your audio* Length: 00:04:08 Killzone 2 delivers a visual masterpiece.
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Gears of War 2 was released last November by Epic Games, which showed an advanced version of their Unreal 3 engine utilizing various improvements from their original Gears of War game which ran flawlessly on the Xbox 360. Once again Epic Games with their Unreal engine raised the bar for graphics on console this generation. That is until now! With the recently released Killzone 2 demo we were able to examine both these games side by side and by doing so revealed a new graphics king for this generation.
The first segment of this video focuses on Character models. Both games produce highly detailed character models each with their own unique art style. Killzone 2 took a more streamlined look for their characters design, while Gears of War 2 took a bulkier approach.
The second segment of the video focuses on environment effects, and this is where Killzone 2 dramatically jumps ahead of the competition. Utilizing a technique called Deferred Rendering, this process uses extensive post-process effects allowing the Killzone 2 engine to create highly dynamic lighting in environments with complex geometry. At a glance smoke filled rooms are realistically penetrated with cascading beams of sunlight intermingling with the gradually fading smoke plumes of a recently exploded gas container. One would need to experience this first hand to really comprehend the sure amounts of effects rendering to the screen at once without any performance drops.
Next up are bullet effects and explosions. Killzone 2 raises the bar again for interactivity from player’s bullets with objects in the world. Each round fired from your rifle interacts differently depending on the material the bullets collides with. For example shooting a concrete wall would expel volumetric smoke trails while leaving behind a creator filled wall actual making the player feel like his/her actions really affect the look and feel of the environment. Also bullets that penetrate enemies utilize a hit response system by combining motion captured animations with physics impulses to create death animations and hit responses with very convincing weight and presence.
Killzone 2 delivers a visual masterpiece with unparalleled graphics setting the new bar for this generation. Considering that this comparison was based of the Killzone 2 demo the retail version will only guarantee that Killzone 2 reins supreme amongst the industries best. The only question remaining is “Does it look better than Killzone 2″?
I think your opinion of graphics is what really decides whether you think Killzone is better, or Gears 2 is better. Personally,I think Killzone 2 looks much, much better. Killzone brings a soft, muted presentation, but Gears bring the more dynamic punch; does that necessarily equate to better OVERALL quality? No. Killzone’s value is in the sum of its’ parts, and in this case, many of Killzone’s individual parts are greater than Gears 2’s anyway. A game’s graphics are supposed to increase immersion into the game, and Killzone 2 does that much better than Gears 2. Its, in a way, similar to that old Blu Ray squabble. Some enjoy precision fine-tuned HD material, while other like great looking transfers that retain the cinematic feel of the movie. Gaming graphics are similar. If you like a technical powerhouse of a game, Gears 2 might draw your eye more. If you enjoy a greater overall cinematic visual experience, the clear winner is Killzone 2.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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No, I don’t think that it is just opinion. Killzone 2 looks better hands down.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Yeah I agree with spoiledboobs. I disagree with JamesP. Killzone 2, in my opinion is better in graphics than Gears 2 in every single way. The explosions, lighting, bullet imprints and mood are all better and aced in Killzone 2.
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Wow, Killzone 2 does look great. I really am impressed with the lighting effects. It definately has the best graphics I have ever seen. Thankfully the gameplay is just as great.
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Yup. I keep playing the demo because the AI is just so incredible and the overall package is mind-blowing. I can’t wait to get this game, but mark my words, I will get it.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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I’m not really writing about whitch game is better or looks better I think killzone looks great no doubt but I think most of you people have been blinded by the hype killzone would have been one of the best games of all time three years ago when it was shown or even two years ago but personally I think it’s to little to late to me it’s just another cookie cutter fps that is in no way amazing except in its looks , not to put down the ps3 in any way I am not a fanboy of either system and I own them both and the ps3 has many great games but in my opinion I think they should stop making fps games on the ps3 ,personally I don’t think they have made a good exclusive fps yet.
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So you made this assumption after playing the game for one entire day. Biased on when you posted this comment it’s sounds like you beat the entire game and managed to complete everything online has to offer in just 24hrs.
So what you mean is unless you get 90% of your kills form an AI controlled helicopter or random air strike is ok. Or that one guy with over 40 kills talking about how their the best ever and not realizing that COD4 has auto aim. Better yet allowing a player to lie on the ground shooting their pistol then killing me even after my 50cal sniper shot went through their head is consider a good FPS.
The problem with this generation of gamers is the lack or no knowledge of what it really takes to create such a technical marvel like Killzone 2 has delivered.
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True dat. Killzone 2 is a masterpiece. Well, what can you expect, it took them many years to develop this game. Many games are made in half the time.
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KZ2 is a fantastic game. Stop cusing the FPS genre diabeticjeni. If you don’t like FPS’s then please don’t put everyone else down.
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@diabetik jedi
Check this video out I think you might like it.
Check This Video Out
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Thanks for the video, its difficult to see just an awesome game without thinking on other games and compare them
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Yeah, nice video. That was very cool. Nice post.
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What you saw many years ago was just CG. It only came out now because it took them long to work to perfection in the graphics department.
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Yeah, everybody knows that. They took so long to make this because their original product was crappy and clearly didn’t live up to the CG teaser, so they went into creation hibernation for a couple of years to perfect the graphics and to prove everyone that the teaser was the actual graphics of Killzone 2.
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Stop making fps games on the PS3? Haha, that is funny. Your comment was sarcastic, right?
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lol, I was thinking that also. His comment was so idiotic, I thought I might have to kill him. Stopping FPS production on the PS3 is like killing the president…it just won’t happen. haha
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Man you could’nt be more right! they need to make more 3rd person shooters. Because I think that’s where you can advance the character graphics and textures, along with lighting. In FPS all you can see is the gun.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Very nice. I love this “show” on the site. It is very entertaining. I also suggest that you guys do more comparisons of 2 different games to eachother instead of 2 of the same game on dfferent consoles.
Anyway, It looks like a win for Killzone 2. I love this game. I kept playing the demo over and over again and I was just blown away by the visuals. While I was watching this video, the grenade effect was what realy booked Killzone 2 as the Graphical superior for me.
nice post
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Yeah, I agree. This site is pretty cool. And yeah, it would be cool if you guys did more of these. I like comparing games, it’s interesting.
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Well, I’m happy that you agree with me. Maybe we sould start a thread saying that we want head2heads with different games on it and see what the other users want.
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That’s a great idea! Come up with some and if it is feasible we will pit them against each other.
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This is a great Head2head, but tell me: Why does the achievment thing light up for 360 while the “trophy” icon never lights up in the very top of the page where it shows the # of discs etc. The trophy icon is never lighten up when it is against the achievment option. Whay is that? Killzone 2 has trophies.
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We didn’t light up the trophies icon because it was the demo. I supposed we should have since the final game has them.
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The graphics are beautiful in both games, but killzone is much more appealing, the gameplay is non-stop insanity which everyone loves, gears has a great storyline and impressive abilities like the saw dualing, it just lacks overall gameplay as a 3rd person shooter… if there was a way to change from 3rd to 1st person like fallout out it would near on compare to killzone, but killzne just owns all!
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What about Anti Aliasing? Is Killzone 2 using it?. In my opinion, it could be 2xAA similar to Uncharted, but it could be also no AA at all. There are some jaggies, that’s for sure.
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I think KZ2 has a better realistic feel to it as well as the graphics being far better than GOW2. GOW is a great game but KZ2 captured my interest instantly
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GoW2 has far better graphics. It looks alive and up to date. On the other hand KZ2 looks like shootable enviroment Metal of Honor: Frontlines.
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I’d like to see a headtohead Uncharted 2 vs Alan Wake (or anything you can find on the 360).
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There should be more games that should use the killzone engine, cause its defiantly the best so far.
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I want to know why the person who wrote this article is making such a big deal about parallax mapped bullet holes and soft particles.
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Gow2 is better, better graphics,better gameplay noobs, go away with ps3 the graphic card is exact half powerful then the xbox360
opfapisser
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wow u are blind neolee
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Killzone 2 graphics are WAY BETTER tan Gears of War 2 graphics.
There is no comparation.
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