Killzone 3 Product Details

Released on 23/02/2011

• Killzone 3 Preview

  A new threat

  Killzone 3 sees you step into the shoes of the previous game’s main protagonist, soldier Tomas ‘Sev’ Sevchenko, to continue the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance’s war with the Helghast Empire. The story follows on directly from the events of Killzone 2, which culminated in the toppling of the Helghan capital city of Pyrrhus with a nuclear weapon and the murder of Emperor Visari.

  Visari’s death has split the Heghast population, leaving a world full of political scheming and internal conflict as potential successors vie to take his place. You’re stuck in the middle of it all with a decimated invasion force and limited supplies with which to take on the enemy’s war machine. And make no mistake, despite the void left by the death of their ruler the Helghast army has plenty of life left in it - you can expect to face bigger, fiercer, better armed and more tactical opponents upon the game’s release in the first half of 2011.

  Frosty reception

  Guerrilla has responded to fan requests and some criticism of the previous game by promising to deliver new and more varied environments. The first footage of the title introduces us to the one of these, which features snowy locations and what appear to be Helghan oil rigs surrounded by a raging, icy sea. It’s gorgeous to look at – even compared to the last game’s striking visuals - and makes a welcome change from the grimy Helghan cities and the barren desert of Killzone 2.

  In addition to the bitter arctic conditions seen in the game’s first trailers, you’ll battle across toxic wastelands, mazy alien jungles and even space itself. Littered with destructible objects and cover positions, and more open than those featured in the Killzone 2, publisher Sony has promised that the levels will be ten times the size of the previous title.

  Guerrilla has responded to fan requests and some criticism of the previous game by promising to deliver new and more varied environments.

  Jetpacks

  A major new addition to the series is jetpacks, which open the door for aerial combat and even platforming sections, enabling you to traverse some of the game’s larger environments. You’ll first encounter jetpacks on the back of hostile enemies who you’ll need to bring crashing to the ground with a few well placed bullets. Once you strap one on yourself you’ll find that you’re unable to fly over long distances, but you can use them to take giant leaps from point A to point B, and to propel yourself upwards or forwards to your goal using the throttle.

  Bigger guns and brutal CQC

  While Killzone 3 will feature a number of weapons from previous series entries, including the ISA assault rifle, a couple of new ones have been revealed so far. First off there’s a minigun, which slows you down a little but literally tears enemies to pieces. Then there’s the Wasp, which isn’t the quickest gun to reload but packs a massive payload. It boasts dual firing modes, one shooting off a number of homing missiles and the other – which requires you to look down its scope - offering a more devastating blitz of missiles which can destroy a large area and multiple enemies.

  Guerrilla has also decided to update the close quarters combat with some brutal new moves which are context sensitive, so you might slam an enemy into a nearby object or kick them over a table before finishing them off with a vicious neck snap or knife attack. It’s equally gruesome and satisfying stuff.

  Guerrilla has also decided to update the close quarters combat with some brutal new moves which are context sensitive

  Killer looks

  As already mentioned the game looks even better than its predecessor, which set the benchmark for PS3 graphics when it debuted in February 2009. It will also be playable in stereoscopic 3D. You’ll need a new 3D TV and glasses to enjoy the feature, but having witnessed what felt like bullets coming out of the screen and Helghast soldiers sent flying toward us by explosions in a 3D trailer we can safely say that it’s going to be special.

  Everything we’ve seen of Killzone 3 at this early stage is very promising. It looks set to build on the previous game by taking the best bits and making them bigger, prettier and more explosive, while introducing fresh weapons and greater variety in terms of enemies and environments. Add in the highly immersive 3D features and we’re very excited about continuing the fight next year.

  Preview by: Tom ‘ISA’ Ivan
  Platform: PS3
  Release date: 2011
  Preview Published: 17.06.10
  

  Published: 17/06/2010

• New Killzone 3 details emerge

  New Killzone 3 details emerge

  It was only formally announced this week, but Sony's already spilling the beans on what we can expect to see in Killzone 3.

  According to the next issue of GamePro magazine - thanks Eurogamer - Guerrilla Games' latest sees a cluster of surviving ISA troopers - including Sev and Rico from previous games - struggling against a regrouped Helghast army. "It's the story of David battling Goliath, but this time you are David. That's the big shift in going from Killzone 2 to Killzone 3," Guerrilla MD Hermen Hulst said.

  Players can level the playing field somewhat with a new jetpack with a mounted machinegun, and a new weapon, the Wasp, which fires multiple rockets in quick succession.

  There will be a huge ice level where you duke it out amidst oilrigs and tankers frozen into glaciers, and a 3D mode, which is optional and requires glasses, but should work on traditional televisions.

  As this is Guerrilla, you can count on Killzone 3 to push graphical boundaries. The developer has already stated that it's taking the PS3 hardware as far as it can go. No release date has yet been announced, but the smart money is on Killzone 3 touching down early in 2011.

• Sony announces Killzone 3

  Sony announces Killzone 3

  Along with Gears of War 3, this has been one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming's recent history, but the news is still extremely welcome: Sony has formally lifted the lid on the PS3 shooter Killzone 3.

  The latest instalment in the best-selling franchise that chart's humanity's struggle against the depraved Helghast, Killzone 3 players can expect to enjoy jetpacks, ice levels, and some 3D modes - previews will be hitting later today, which should hopefully give us a better idea of what this entails.

  Sony's press release also offers a hint of the story direction, with the game kicking off directly where Killzone 2 ended, with a nuclear bomb having wiped out all but a few of the ISA forces - that's the good guys.

  Eurogamer's reporting that levels will be ten times bigger, and at least some of the game will be set in space.

  Killzone 2 remains one of the best-looking games of this generation, with stunning environments, punchy weapons, and excellent multiplayer content. With series creators Guerrilla Games at the helm once more, there's every reason to expect a sci fi treat for any blasting fans out there.

  No firm date has yet been announced for the game's release.

• Killzone 3 to hit stores in February 2011

  Killzone 3 to hit stores in February 2011

  February, eh? A rainy month. A stay-indoors month. A month by which time you're sure to have finished the campaign of Halo: Reach and you'll probably be wanting something new to chew on.

  Well PlayStation 3 owners can rejoice. Sony has just announced that the staggeringly beautiful sci-fi shooter Killzone 3 will be hitting shelves in the US on February 22nd - and while there's no firm date for the UK yet, it's sure to be close behind.

  Featuring a solid campaign and plentiful multiplayer options, Killzone 3 continues the story of mankind's fight against the villainous Helghast. The second instalment saw the goodies closing in to finish of the Helghast at their home planet. Not to spoil anything, but the sequel tells a very different story, with a small collection of human survivors massively outnumbered by the enemy.

  Luckily, they'll have new weapons and new environments to fight through, and you'll also be able to mess around in jetpacks. Does it get any better than that?

  Killzone 3 is a PlayStation 3 exclusive.
  

• Helghast goggles with Killzone 3 Collector's Edition?

  Helghast goggles with Killzone 3 Collector's Edition?

  Okay, if this is correct, it's very, very cool. Rumours are flying around the internet that if you pick up the Collector's Edition of the forthcoming PlayStation 3-exclusive Killzone 3, you'll be getting your hands - and face - on some Helghast goggles at the same time.

  Eurogamer's reporting it, anyway, suggesting that the game's Dutch developer, Guerrilla Games, accidentally posted the news on its website before taking it down again. Oops.

  Reasons why this should happen: The Helghast are some of the most memorable baddies in any recent shooter, and their horrible orange eyes are a big part of the deal. If we can head out for the night done up like that, we'll be very happy.

  Truth is, we'll be pretty happy anyway. Killzone 3 is shaping up to be something fantastic. Continuing the gritty story of mankind's fight against the nasty Helghan, the franchise's third instalment sees the forces for good pretty much surrounded by enemies on a hostile world. Outnumbered you may be, but you've got jetpacks, great new weapons, and some of the best visuals on any system to help you out in your battle.

  Killzone 3 is out on 28th February next year for the PlayStation 3.
  

• Killzone 3's story to be the best yet?

  Killzone 3's story to be the best yet?

  Steven Ter Heide, the senior producer on Killzone 3, has suggested that the game's story may be the best yet, announcing that the plotting has been "considerably ramped up" when compared to the first two instalments in the brilliant sci-fi FPS series.

  Talking to Destructoid, Ter Heide suggests that we're in for quite a game. "The thing about Killzone's storyline is that while it always takes a backseat to the action, you can learn a lot about its universe by carefully reading between the lines," he said. "When you listen to all the bits of Helghast dialogue in the previous game, for instance, it's clear that they don't consider themselves villains at all. From their perspective it's the ISA pursuing the aggressive imperialist policy; they're just defending Helghast interests."

  "That said, we've considerably ramped up the pace of the story for Killzone 3," he continued. "We will show more of the Helghast side, their motivations and background. With Visari out of the picture, several potential successors are vying for control of the Helghast Council. Meanwhile, the remnants of the ISA invasion force want to get off the planet before their window of opportunity closes. These story arcs converge for an explosive finale."

  Sounds interesting. With positive reports coming back regarding the multiplayer beta, we can't wait for February to come around for us to get our hands on the finished game.

  Killzone 3 is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and will be released in February of next year.
  

• Killzone 3 to feature split-screen co-op?

  Killzone 3 to feature split-screen co-op?

  You should be getting pretty excited about Killzone 3 by now, right? The PS3 exclusive is set to define action gaming in the first few months of 2011, as it continues the story of the ISA's fight against the villainous Helghan, on a planet far, far away, and as if that wasn't enough by itself, there's a rumour doing the rounds that the game will feature split-screen co-op. Nice!

  The stories are circulating due to a picture of what appears to be a co-op game underway, which was spotted by That Videogame Blog (thanks, Eurogamer). The snapshot shoes Sev and Natko from the game facing each other "on a screen divided vertically down the middle". Old school.

  Cue frantic speculation that the game has an online co-op campaign too. There could be some truth to the matter: as Eurogamer points out, in an interview back in October, Guerrilla Games, the developer of the Killzone series, responded to that very question with "Who knows?"

  Sony's not commenting, but this one looks like it could have the ring of truth to it. We'll know for soon, anyway, when the game finally hits the PlayStation 3 on the February 28 next year.

• Split-screen confirmed for Resistance 3

  Split-screen multiplayer confirmed for Resistance 3

  First it was Killzone 3, and now the PlayStation 3 exclusive shooter Resistance 3 will be getting split-screen, by the looks of it. (That's a lot of 3s, incidentally.)

  Insomniac Games confirmed the new mode when creative director Marcus Smith sat down with the PlayStation Blog the other day. "In terms of co-op, we are focusing on a two-player co-op through the single-player campaign, which can be played online with a friend, or split-screen on your couch."

  That's not all Smith had to say about the hotly anticipated sci-fi sequel. He went on to spill the beans about a few new features: "New to Resistance 3 are upgradeable weapons, which will give your weapons new abilities and power as you continue to use them,? he said, adding that, "in terms of multiplayer we are planning a much more focused, progression-based multiplayer experience."

  Bring it on, Smith! Resistance 3 tells the story of Joseph Capelli as he treks across the US of A to try and bring down the alien Chimera, who are up to their old world-dominating tricks. Expect to get your hands on the game this time next year.

• Killzone 3 dated

  Killzone 3 dated

  Bam. The incredibly beautiful PlayStation 3-exclusive Killzone 3 just got a launch date. According to the US PlayStation Blog, the brilliant FPS will be touching down on UK store shelves on 25th February. This, as Eurogamer notes, means it will go head-to-head with Epic Games' crazy Bulletstorm FPS, which is aimed at the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. There's going to be plenty of shooting going on at the start of spring, then.

  Guerrilla Games' latest picks up the Killzone story after the shock twist at the end of the last game. We're not going to spoil too much, but let's just say things don't look good for our heroes, and they start off finding themselves massively outmanned and outgunned on a hostile alien world.

  Besides looking astonishingly good, Killzone 3 supports natty stereoscopic 3D, and can be played - and played rather well by the looks of it - with the Move controller. Besides that, it's got split-screen co-op, plenty of fast-paced multiplayer options to get stuck into, and jetpacks to mess around in.

  Bulletstorm, meanwhile, takes itself a little less seriously, as you blast around an alien world blowing things up with crazy weaponry and nursing your hi-scores.

• First Killzone NGP details emerge

  We're all excited about the next wave of PlayStation Portable - currently codenamed the NGP - and one of the biggest games revealed for the system so far is a new handheld instalment of Sony's blistering FPS series Killzone. Now we're starting to hear a few things about the game - and the first thing is who's developing it.

  While Guerrilla Games created the Killzone franchise, the NGP version is being developed by Sony Cambridge. This is one of Sony's most experienced teams, and they've got the likes of TV Superstars, LittleBigPlanet PSP, 24: The Game and MedEvil: Resurrection on their CVs already. Not bad.

  Guerrilla certainly seems impressed with the studio, with senior producer Stephen Ter Heide telling Gamerzines that the franchise is in ood hands". (Thanks for the heads up, Eurogamer.)

  "Our sister studio in Cambridge is doing [Killzone NGP]," said Ter Heide. "We've been working with them very closely for a couple of years now. They've been helping us develop actual Killzone content for all the games. We feel like the game is in good hands. We'll still oversee it because the universe is something we've built up, we know the war and the rules that have been established, but they're driving the development."

  Killzone 3, meanwhile, has been developed by Guerrilla. The PS3 exclusive is out on 25th February. WANT!

• Killzone 3 Review

  Welcome to Helghast

  As gaming environments go, Killzone has never been one to make you feel snuggly and warm. Its vision of Helghast is a dreadful, poisonous planet where the closest you'll get to creature comforts are stark Soviet style architecture and smog-choked deserts. Not the sort of place you'd book for a holiday, but an absolutely inspired location for a war.

  
  

  With Killzone 3, the series has hit its peak, delivering full-blooded action against a backdrop so realistic that you'll shiver with every gust of wind and wince at every explosion. This is the shooter as blunt trauma, a game that punches you in the face to get your attention.

  
  

  No prisoners

  The story picks up straight after the events of Killzone 2, so if you haven't finished that game yet, you should probably scroll on down a few paragraphs. After battling their way through the ruins of Helghan to confront the despotic Emperor Scolar Visari, hot-headed soldier Rico Velasquez shoots the dictator down rather than take him alive.

  
  

  This doesn't go down well with his superior officers, or with the Helghast themselves. Rico's rash actions snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and the Earth forces find themselves on the back foot as retaliation hits hard and fast.

  
  

  As Rico's partner, Thomas "Sev" Sevchenko, it's up to you to survive the aftermath. Hurrying you along is a side plot in which feuding Helghast leaders, played with hammy relish by Ray Winstone and Malcolm McDowell, plot to seize control of the Empire.

  
  

  The spice of life

  Play Killzone 3 back to back with its predecessor and you'll soon notice the difference. Where the previous game was a grim and brutal military campaign, this sequel is a blockbuster guerilla adventure.Stuck behind enemy lines, with nothing left to lose, the game throws wildly differing scenarios at the solo player in an adrenalin rush of hard-edged sci-fi spectacle.

  
  

  Jetpacks, mech suits, ice tanks, even space fighters - you'll pilot all of these, and more, as you travel from desolate city streets to lurid jungles and frigid glaciers. For gamers weaned on Call of Duty and Halo, it all fits into a very familiar hell-for-leather formula.

  
  

  Personality goes a long way

  The resulting solo campaign never lets you get bored, but fans of the series may find that a lot of theencounters feel a touch generic. Take away the iconic red glare of the Helghast's goggles and you could easily be playing any of the other big FPS games for much of the time. That's not so much a criticism as a lament - Killzone once carved out its own corner of this competitive genre, and what it gains in accessibility for this entry, it loses in individuality.

  
  

  This won't really matter if all you're after is a blistering action experience, as the game rarely lets up and keeps pushing you harder and further as the Helghast threat threatens to overwhelm not only our heroes, but Earth itself.

  
  

  Control is faster, aiming more precise. A new third weapon slot allows you to stockpile heavy arms for later use, and once you've let fly with a minigun or RPG, you'll be glad of the extra firepower.

  
  

  Ugly beauty

  This is all brought to life by one of the most powerful game engines on the PS3 - or any other platform. The detail level is insanely high, particularly where things like smoke and dust are concerned. Epic firefights offer a perfect storm of noise and chaos, while a mid-section assault on a Helghast rig finds you fighting (and flying) with a scarily believable ocean thrashing and rolling hundreds of feet below you.

  
  

  Nowhere does this beefed-up visual punch prove more essential than in some setpiece battles against gigantic mechanised foes. One encounter with a thunderous mobile weapons platform already makes a convincing bid for the most epic action sequence of 2011, demolishing buildings and laying waste to NPC soldiers with all the fury of a Michael Bay movie.

  
  

  What is it good for?

  Multiplayer is as solid and satisfying as it was in Killzone 2, with a few notable additions. Gamers in a hurry can opt for Guerilla Warfare, which offers a quick-start Team Deathmatch experience. Warzone, carried over from the previous game, is the longer, more objective-based, multiplayer mode and where you'll find the meat of the online game. Operations is an interesting new option, allowing you to take part in medium length co-operative sorties, which teams of eight facing off as Earth and Helghast forces in miniature narratives.

  
  

  It lacks the immediacy of Call of Duty, and the tactical sweep of Halo, but Killzone's multiplayer is one area where the game retains more of its unique feel and for those who put in the hours to rank up, it's a battle well worth joining.

  
  

  Our Rating: 9.0

  HEL Yes

  + Epic and varied single player campaign

  
  

  + Groundbreaking 3D and Move gameplay

  
  

  + Ray Winstone vs Malcolm McDowell!

  HEL No

  - Not massively different to other shooters

  
  

  - No online co-op play

  
  

  - Fierce multiplayer requires dedication and patience

• 3D Tech - Xbox 360 and PS3

  

  The real next-gen: console gaming goes 3D

  By the looks of things, Nintendo could well have a huge hit on its hands with the new 3DS handheld. As you'll know if you read our recent feature following the company's big showcase in Amsterdam, it's an amazing little gadget. Packed with brilliant features, the 3DS is sure to appeal to fans of classic gameplay and cutting edge tech alike.

  But while the 3DS looks great for gaming on the move, what about those of us who prefer to play from the comfort of our armchair? The good news is there are already ways to experience some of your favourite PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 titles in glorious 3D. What's more, you don't have to compromise on the size of your screen and you can still enjoy top quality high definition graphics.

  Sure, a 3D setup requires a bit of investment. But from the first moment you find yourself ducking to avoid a grenade that seemed to fly right out of your telly, you won't look back. Read on to find out how to get involved.

  Why go 3D?

  If you're thinking of making the jump to 3D gaming, there are a few issues to weigh up. The biggest one is probably price - let's face it, those new TVs don't come cheap, and then you have to buy the 3D glasses to go with them.

  What you're paying for, however, is the opportunity to become more immersed and involved in games than ever before. If you've been blown away by watching films in 3D, just imagine what it's like to not only passively observe the world on screen but interact with it. The overall experience is much more exciting, gripping and intense.

  Plus, with more and more TV shows and movies becoming available in 3D, you're not just buying into a new way to play games - you're becoming one of the first people to enter a new era of home entertainment. In other words, a home 3D setup is an investment for the future.

  Going 3D... With Xbox 360

  Right now there aren't a huge number of 3D titles available for Xbox 360, but you can pick up special editions of triple-A titles such as Batman: Arkham Asylum and the superb Gears of War 2.

  Look out for more 3D games coming the 360's way very soon. UK studio Blitz games has already confirmed its working on stereoscopic titles for the console, presenting a tech demo at the 3D Entertainment Summit.

  And that's not all. Other forthcoming highlights include sci-fi action shooter Crysis 2, which is due out later this year. The game is said to be the first blockbuster multi-platform title to be presented in true stereoscopic 3D. The original game looked absolutely stunning in plain old 2D, so this one should be mindblowing.

  Going 3D... With PlayStation 3

  The good news for PS3 fans is that Sony is leading the charge when it comes to pushing 3D gaming. (That might have something to do with the fact they're also trying to sell the world 3D tellies, but still...)

  The first batch of 3D content for PS3 was released last year via PlayStation Network, in the form of patches. So if you've already got copies of WipEout HD and Super Stardust HD, there's no need to buy the games all over again - just download the add-ons for free. You can also play 3D demos of PAIN and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift right now, free of charge.

  But the really big news is that PS3 exclusive Killzone 3, out this month, will be playable in full 3D. If you've never played a first-person shooter in three dimensions, you've got an amazing treat in store. Prepare for your lounge to become a warzone.

  Get kitted out

  So you reckon you're ready to make the leap to 3D gaming? Then it's time to start researching your options when it comes to the kit you need. At a basic level, you're going to want a 3D-ready television plus a pair of 3D glasses. And don't forget to buy extra sets if you're planning on a bit of multiplayer action.

  It's worth doing a bit of digging before you part with your cash. There are plenty of great 3D TVs out there and prices are coming down all the time, but it's easy to get blinded by all the tech specs. Do you need an optimised backlight? How about image blur reduction? What the heck is a Real Black filter, anyway?

  For answers to these questions, don't just trust the salesperson in the shop - make sure you check out 3D-related magazines and websites for independent advice. Plus, don't be afraid to post your queries on 3D forums. You might look like a noob, but tech-heads love showing off their knowledge and you're sure to get some great tips.

  If you've done your research and you've got the readies, why not go for it? 3D takes gaming to the next level and once you've entered the third dimension, you won't look back.

• The Best Games of 2011... So Far!

  The Best Games of 2011...So Far!

  Summer can be torture for us gamers. It's the slow season, when publishers hold back their biggest releases for Christmas and we're forced to venture outside, blinking and confused, in the hope of a few days of decent sunshine.

  It doesn't have to be this way though. True, July may not bring much in the way of blockbuster releases, but why not take advantage of the lull and catch up on some of the great games that have already been released? Here's our pick of the year so far.

  

  Killzone 3

  Sony got 2011 off to a bruising start with this hefty, punishing first person shooter which surely ranks as one of the most visually stunning games of this console generation. Trapped on the toxic planet of Helghan, you'll battle your way through some of the most memorable action set-pieces in the genre as Guerilla Games shows you just how high the FPS bar has been raised. Also playable in 3D and with PlayStation Move, Killzone 3 is a taste of the future of shooters today.

  "One of the most visually stunning games of this console generation."

  

  Brink

  If you prefer your shooting action a little more fluid and team-based, this striking multiplayer mash-up from Splash Damage hits all the right notes. Playing as either Security or Rebel forces on a ramshackle floating city gone to ruin, the ability to run, scramble and leap over scenery with a single button press opens up the traditional deathmatch action in fresh new ways. Add in some of the best character customisation ever seen in a shooter, and the option to play offline against AI bots, and you've got one of the smartest genre refinements in years.

  "One of the smartest genre refinements in years."

  

  Mortal Kombat

  How do you expect to FINISH HIM if you haven't even started yet? OK, so the Mortal Kombat series hasn't been in the best of health in recent years, but this blood-soaked reboot gets everything so right you can safely start over with this one. It's simply a blistering one-on-one fighting game, with an array of well balanced classic characters, but it's the ridiculous gore that makes it stick in the mind, like a ruddy big kitchen knife. Bodies are sliced, diced, crushed and skewered with savage abandon, so even if you're getting beaten to a squishy pulp it's impossible not to be entertained.

  "This blood-soaked reboot gets everything so right."

  

  Portal 2

  Maybe you prefer a little more wit and style in your gaming? If that's the case then the lovely polished geniuses at Valve have you covered. This sequel to their oddball Orange Box bonus game is a master-class in interactive storytelling, as Stephen Merchant's quirky robot walks you through another mind-bending series of space-warping puzzle rooms. Effortlessly building on the potential of the already brilliant original, Portal 2 even offers a completely separate series of co-op multiplayer puzzles, making it an unmissable package.

  "A master-class in interactive storytelling."

  

  L.A. Noire

  Rockstar takes us back to the Los Angeles of the 1940s in this critically acclaimed adventure, which benefits from the most stunningly realised characters in gaming history. As Cole Phelps you move from beat cop to homicide detective, uncovering conspiracies and solving serial slayings in a city that's drowning in sleaze in L.A. Noire. Ground-breaking facial capture techniques mean that catching the culprit is only half the job you then have to outsmart them in nail-biting interrogations where every twitch of the lips or flicker of the eyelids can be a clue. Truly a game that has to be played to be believed.

  "Ground-breaking facial capture means that catching the culprit is only half the job."

  

  3DS

  Feeling a little flush? Fancy treating yourself to a whole new gaming system? The Nintendo 3DS is now amassing an enviable software library, with must-haves like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time now reworked in astonishing glasses-free 3D. The wireless StreetPass lets you swap game data with passing strangers, there are built-in Augmented Reality games, and it can even take 3D photos. Just like its predecessor, the DS, this is a handheld that will only get better with age. Jump aboard now and ride the wave!

  "The Nintendo 3DS is now amassing an enviable software library."

• PlayStation 3 - The Essential Games

  
  

  So, you've got yourself a shiny new PlayStation 3. You know all about its fantastic online features, like PlayStation Network, BBC iPlayer, 4OD and more. You know about its awesome graphics and Blu-Ray player. What you really need to know is - what games should I get?

  Well, help is here! We've taken on the hard work and come up with our PS3 Essentials List - the 'hot half-dozen' you really need to get your game collection going.

  

  Action/Adventure

  SONY's flagship console needs SONY's flagship title - the Uncharted series. Since 2007 we've seen three adventures for Nathan Drake, the everyman hero whose treasure hunting escapades take him all over the world - and into all kinds of trouble. Featuring visually stunning locations and traditional action adventure gameplay like running, shooting and jumping, the Uncharted games are ideal for just getting stuck in and having fun while playing. Grab Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in a special double pack, or jump straight into the latest instalment Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

  

  Shooter

  Killzone 3 is the latest chapter in PlayStation's signature shooter series. Putting a sci-fi twist on the traditional first-person shooter, Killzone 3 takes place across a range of locations from alien jungles, to nuclear wastelands, to outer space, marking a strong visual change to the usual combat zones found in FPS games. There's the usual single-player campaign and a host of multiplayer maps and mission-types to keep things interesting. Plus there's a choice of classes to play as and the use of things like jet-packs which put a new slant on the genre. And if you really want to, you can grab the first two chapters too!

  

  Sport

  Sports on the PS3 are taken to the extreme in SSX. A revival of the classic snowboarding series that helped launch the PS2, SSX presents players with an assortment of mountain slopes to conquer, and whole heap of tricks, moves and skills to learn, and playing modes that reward speed, skill and survival. While the single-player mode is fun enough, the online multiplayer works in such a way that you don't actually have to be playing at the same time to challenge your friends, with a league-like system that makes every race very competitive. If you're looking for a new sporting challenge, SSX is the game to beat!

  

  Sci-Fi/Fantasy

  The Resistance series was a bit of old-school sci-fi, an alternative history where alien race the Chimera had invaded and overrun the planet, thanks to a virus that turns humans into, well, more Chimera. Your job is to stop the Chimera take over Europe (in the first game) and North America (in the second and third), using a combination of contemporary and futuristic weapons. The alt-history setting makes for an interesting storyline with some fun 'what-if' scenarios, while the multiplayer options expand not only the world of the game, but also the fun you can have within it. Grab the first two games in a Platinum Double Pack and start fighting those aliens!

  

  Party

  If you really want to get the party going, you want to get the party singing, and what better way to do that than the SingStar series. The gameplay is simple - two people competing to out-sing the other... or at least trying to score higher than the other while singing, as actual singing ability is far from required to make this game enjoyable! With a range of games and songs to suit almost any age and taste, SingStar has proven to be one of the most inclusive and easy to play franchises to hit any console. For the ultimate in friendly competition, SingStar is the winning choice.

  

  Racing

  The Gran Turismo series has been a stalwart of the PlayStation brand for more than a decade, and Gran Turismo 5 continues the fine tradition of ultra-realistic driving simulation that leaves other racers in the dust. Like the earlier games in the series, GT5 is a showcase of the PS3's lifelike graphics and gameplay physics, this time incorporating realistic damage to your car as you compete. There's an enviable range of locations (26), tracks (71) and cars (over 1000!), and combined with the gameplay choices of career mode, arcade mode and online multiplayer, Gran Turismo 5 is the racing game that puts you on the right track.

  Of course, this list is far from definitive, but it does showcase some top games in each of the major categories of modern gaming. If you think you have a better champion for any category, or can think of a key title we've missed, please feel free to share your advice below!

  Published: 10/04/2012

• Gamescom: Sony unveils five amazing new games

  
  

  Sony wowed the crowds at E3 in Los Angeles earlier this year, basing its big press presentation around exciting original new titles like The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls. In a sea of sequels, the PlayStation was determined to be seen as the home of fresh ideas. That's a path that Sony continued down for its showcase at the German industry fair Gamescom, using its presentation to reveal another five fantastic looking games.

  Hardcore gamers will be thrilled to learn that Killzone will be coming to the PlayStation Vita in the shape of Killzone Mercenaries. It'll be a first-person shooter, developed on the same game engine as Killzone 3, and it'll have a Dirty Dozen feel, with Earth and Helghast soldiers working together on a series of ugly, tough missions.

  Media Molecule, creator of LittleBigPlanet, also had good news for PlayStation Vita owners. Its new game, Tearaway, is a typically charming effort set in a world made of paper. You'll be able to poke your fingers "into" the world using the Vita's front and rear touchscreens and rip stuff up.

  Sony Japan is also getting in on the action, showcasing two quirky new titles. Puppeteer tells the story of a boy who is turned into a puppet, has his head chopped off and must then retrieve his noggin. Rain, on the other hand, finds you controlling an invisible boy who can only be seen by the shapes he leaves in a world of perpetual downpour.

  PlayStation Move got some love as well, with horror game Until Dawn. Modelled on the classic slasher movies, you can control seven characters trying to last the night in a remote location as an unknown lunatic bumps you off, one at a time. You'll use the Move wand as a torch as you explore the gloomy, gory world.

  Rumours abound that new next generation consoles will be announced soon, but when you consider the already announced Vita exclusive Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, as well as guaranteed blockbusters The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls, and it looks like the current PlayStation platforms have got a long way to go before they run out of juice.
  

• Killzone Trilogy headed to PlayStation 3

  
  

  Killzone, Sony's dark and forboding first-person shooter saga, will be the latest PlayStation series to get the compilation treatment, developer Guerilla Games has confirmed.

  "I'm very pleased to share with you news that I hope will bring some excitement to those readers with a predilection for all things Helghast and ISA and those who perhaps could well have in the very near future," said Michiel van der Leeuw, the studio's technical director, in a post on the official PlayStation Europe blog.

  The series tells the story of a war between the ruthless Helghast Empire and the forces of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance. The tone is bleak, the visuals heavily influenced by Soviet and Nazi architecture, and the combat is fierce and oppressive. Not many giggles then, but a darkly refreshing change of pace from the glossy Hollywood bombast of other shooter titles. The series has attracted top notch voice talent as well, with the likes of Brian Cox, Steven Berkoff, Ray Winstone and Malcolm McDowell all taking major roles.

  As the title suggests, the package will contain all three games in the Killzone series, including the original Killzone for PlayStation 2 in glossy HD with full Trophy support. Both Killzone 2 and Killzone 3 will include all the additional multiplayer maps released as downloadable content at no extra charge. Killzone 3 is also compatible with PlayStation Move and can even be played in 3D on 3D supporting TV's.
  

  Published: 07/09/2012

• Killzone 3 Review

  

  Welcome to Helghast

  As gaming environments go, Killzone has never been one to make you feel snuggly and warm. Its vision of Helghast is a dreadful, poisonous planet where the closest you'll get to creature comforts are stark Soviet style architecture and smog-choked deserts. Not the sort of place you'd book for a holiday, but an absolutely inspired location for a war.

  With Killzone 3, the series has hit its peak, delivering full-blooded action against a backdrop so realistic that you'll shiver with every gust of wind and wince at every explosion. This is the shooter as blunt trauma, a game that punches you in the face to get your attention.

  No prisoners

  The story picks up straight after the events of Killzone 2, so if you haven't finished that game yet, you should probably scroll on down a few paragraphs. After battling their way through the ruins of Helghan to confront the despotic Emperor Scolar Visari, hot-headed soldier Rico Velasquez shoots the dictator down rather than take him alive.

  This doesn't go down well with his superior officers, or with the Helghast themselves. Rico's rash actions snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and the Earth forces find themselves on the back foot as retaliation hits hard and fast.

  As Rico's partner, Thomas "Sev" Sevchenko, it's up to you to survive the aftermath. Hurrying you along is a side plot in which feuding Helghast leaders, played with hammy relish by Ray Winstone and Malcolm McDowell, plot to seize control of the Empire.

  

  The spice of life

  Play Killzone 3 back to back with its predecessor and you'll soon notice the difference. Where the previous game was a grim and brutal military campaign, this sequel is a blockbuster guerilla adventure.Stuck behind enemy lines, with nothing left to lose, the game throws wildly differing scenarios at the solo player in an adrenalin rush of hard-edged sci-fi spectacle.

  Jetpacks, mech suits, ice tanks, even space fighters - you'll pilot all of these, and more, as you travel from desolate city streets to lurid jungles and frigid glaciers. For gamers weaned on Call of Duty and Halo, it all fits into a very familiar hell-for-leather formula.

  Personality goes a long way

  The resulting solo campaign never lets you get bored, but fans of the series may find that a lot of theencounters feel a touch generic. Take away the iconic red glare of the Helghast's goggles and you could easily be playing any of the other big FPS games for much of the time. That's not so much a criticism as a lament - Killzone once carved out its own corner of this competitive genre, and what it gains in accessibility for this entry, it loses in individuality.

  This won't really matter if all you're after is a blistering action experience, as the game rarely lets up and keeps pushing you harder and further as the Helghast threat threatens to overwhelm not only our heroes, but Earth itself.

  Control is faster, aiming more precise. A new third weapon slot allows you to stockpile heavy arms for later use, and once you've let fly with a minigun or RPG, you'll be glad of the extra firepower.

  

  Ugly beauty

  This is all brought to life by one of the most powerful game engines on the PS3 - or any other platform. The detail level is insanely high, particularly where things like smoke and dust are concerned. Epic firefights offer a perfect storm of noise and chaos, while a mid-section assault on a Helghast rig finds you fighting (and flying) with a scarily believable ocean thrashing and rolling hundreds of feet below you.

  Nowhere does this beefed-up visual punch prove more essential than in some setpiece battles against gigantic mechanised foes. One encounter with a thunderous mobile weapons platform already makes a convincing bid for the most epic action sequence of 2011, demolishing buildings and laying waste to NPC soldiers with all the fury of a Michael Bay movie.

  What is it good for?

  Multiplayer is as solid and satisfying as it was in Killzone 2, with a few notable additions. Gamers in a hurry can opt for Guerilla Warfare, which offers a quick-start Team Deathmatch experience. Warzone, carried over from the previous game, is the longer, more objective-based, multiplayer mode and where you'll find the meat of the online game. Operations is an interesting new option, allowing you to take part in medium length co-operative sorties, which teams of eight facing off as Earth and Helghast forces in miniature narratives.

  It lacks the immediacy of Call of Duty, and the tactical sweep of Halo, but Killzone's multiplayer is one area where the game retains more of its unique feel and for those who put in the hours to rank up, it's a battle well worth joining.

  GAME's Verdict

  The Good:

  • Epic and varied single player campaign
  • Groundbreaking 3D and Move gameplay
  • Ray Winstone vs Malcolm McDowell!

  The Bad:

  • Not massively different to other shooters
  • No online co-op play
  • Fierce multiplayer requires dedication and patience

  Published: 24/02/2011

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