Killzone: Shadow Fall is the latest game in a series of first-person shooters set in a couple of post-nuclear colonies on Alpha Centauri.
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Story & Themes
Killzone 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).
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The newest game in the series, Killzone: Shadow Fall, picks up where Killzone 3 left off. It's been 30 years, however, and the protagonist is now Lucas Kellen, an orphaned Vektan soldier. Vekta has opened its borders to Helghast refugees, but tensions are boiling over. The game was one of the first games released for the PlayStation 4.
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Killzone's main theme is humanity's willingness to go to war with itself. The games also delve somewhat into racial tensions between the Helghan and Vekta.
Save Points
Killzone: Shadow Fall autosaves at certain points.
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. Killzone: Shadow Fall includes one scene of torture with an electric prod.
Strong Language The frequency varies from game to game, but strong language is present in all Killzone games.
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?