Save Killzone: Liberation

Killzone? On the PSP? Really? An FPS on a tiny, handeheld system with no second analogue stick? I had my doubts. I mean, I didn't much care for the original Killzone on the PS2. Still, I gave it a try, mostly because at this time, the PSP didn't have too many games on the shelves.
First of all, it is not an FPS. It's a top-down shooter. Which is okay, I was dreading an FPS. I started my game, ran around, guns blazing, blasting every Helghast I saw, and was taken out in no time flat. This game actually recqures some tactical thinking. I had to find cover, keep an eye on my ammo, know how fast my weapons fired and reloaded, know how the enemies reacted, keep an eye out for environmental hazards like mines and homing spider mines, and more, all at the same time! So I stopped my blind running-and-gunning and started paying attention to what was going on in the battlefield. Your Helghast enemies are smart, ruthless, and any one of them can take you out just as fast as you can take them out. They find cover, fire when you're reloading, flank you, send dogs after you... man! That was a surprise, I expected them to be nothing more than simple cannon fodder. There are vehicles that you can comandeer, which offer an interesting change to the usual style of play. Not to mention the challenges to help you net newer and better weapons. And, every now and again, you're partnered up with an ally, who (refreshingly) does not recquire you to babysit them. They listen to commands and I never, ever, had to tell them to do something more than once.
Keep in mind, though, that you will probably die a lot. The game has some serious challenges to throw at you, and it isn't hesitant to start sending them your way. It may take several tries to pass some levels. It tooke me a few days (Days!) to get past the refinery section of the game. I was frustrated and tempted to leave the game to collect dust! But, when I finally did pass it, was it satisfying.
Graphically, the game looks great. The Helghast are appropiately creepy with their glowing eyes and their gutteral cries in the heat of battle. the landscapes you fight across are nicely rendered and everything is animated nicely. The sound is terrific, with the of rife fire, bullet ricochet, grenade explosions, and the deet-deet-deet sound of a spider mine that will instantly send you back peddaling for cover.
Ultimately, for all the good it's got going for it, it is on the short side, which is a major knock against it. And, it also just kinda... ends. I know there were some extra levels to download from Guerilla, but i was never able to do so. For what it is, though, the game is a blast. But keep in mind the length of the game in comparison to the price of it, and be sure you get a deal. And don't say I didn't warn you about the frequent deaths...Get more detail about Killzone: Liberation.