Killzone 3 is the fourth installment in the series of first-person shooters set in a couple of post-nuclear colonies on Alpha Centauri.
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Story & Themes
The Killzone series takes place in a post-nuclear setting. Humans have left Sol and colonized the two planets of Alpha Centauri, Helghan and Vekta (though Earth is also still in the picture). While Vekta is a lush and hospitable place, Helghan is the opposite; however, Helghan is rich in resources. Helghan's residents, who were forced off Vekta centuries ago, have mutated, and can no longer live without gas masks and air processing tanks. They are faster and stronger than normal humans and are no longer considered human. The Helghast despise humanity because of their shared history. The series takes place during an ongoing war between the Helghast and the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA).
Killzone 3 again features the protagonist from the previous game, Sergeant "Sev" Sevchenko. He and several members of the ISA forces have been marooned on Helghan, and he is attempting to rescue them. There is political upheaveal in the Helghast government, partly because no party has thus far been unsuccessful in locating the ISA survivors. Meanwhile, Sev discovers that the Helghast have created a powerful explosive weapon that they intend to use on Earth. A weapons manufacturer named Stahl ends up being the winner of the political battle, and sets out to destroy Earth; Sev, rather than allowing him to do so, detonates Stahl's cruiser. The ensuing blast envelops Helghan, leaving virtually nothing behind.
Save Points
The game autosaves at certain points.
Difficulty
The Killzone games are considered to be a bit trickier than your average shooter, so this should be taken into consideration when choosing which difficulty setting to play on.
Heads Up!
Violence Players wield a variety of real-world and futuristic military weapons to kill enemies. There is a fair amount of blood, particularly upon violent impact. Mass genocide (of enemies) is committed at the end of Killzone 3, though it is not visually explicit.
Strong Language The frequency varies from game to game, but strong language is present in all Killzone games. Killzone 3 includes the gendered slur "b**ch" in addition to more general cursing.
Consumerism There is a novelization of Killzone 3 available from Penguin Books.
Online Community
There is an online multiplayer mode available with unfiltered chatter.
Conversation Starters
- Do you think the Helghast have the right to be angry at Vekta, even if what happened happened hundreds of years ago?
- Do you think genocide is ever a legitimate option?
- Players must take the part of a soldier in this ongoing war, but what if you could play a diplomat or politician? Would you do things differently? How would you try to solve the problems between Vekta and Helghast?
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