One of the most anticipated shooters of the year has to be Halo: Infinite. Sony has several big releases as well, but its selection of FPS games is currently lacking. While they could develop a new IP, there is a series that is ripe for an HD remaster on the new console, and it used to be touted as the Halo killer.
Killzone started in relative obscurity (at least, compared to where it would go) on the PlayStation 2. Following the story of a war between the ISA and the Helghast armies, the original Killzone was relatively well-received, but it wasn't until the PlayStation 3 that the series really hit its stride. The sequels added better visuals, characters, and a more engaging storyline than had previously be seen. These games are exactly what Sony needs to contend with Halo, and they should take their cue from Halo's ultimate release, The Master Chief Collection.
The Master Chief Collection took all of the prior games and their remasters and put them in one convenient package. It allowed players to experience the entire story seamlessly and enjoy all that the multiplayer had to offer. Killzone has the opportunity to do the same thing, especially when it comes to updating some of the visuals and the multiplayer. The original Killzone would require the most work out of any of the games due to its age, but the chance to retool the gameplay to fit the series' later direction better is great. Killzone allowed players to choose different characters for each mission, and the scale of events was much smaller than in later games. However, the game suffered from the limitations of its time, with the shooting being the weakest aspect. A remake would allow the developer to fix this problem and redesign the levels to flow better. The graphical improvements would also benefit the sequels and allow the epic setpieces to shine as the two opposing armies fight each other for supremacy.
The term Halo killer was used in a lot of advertising material during the seventh generation of consoles. Essentially it had to do with the massive success of Halo 2, due in no small part to its multiplayer. Certain games would use the title to attract attention from players, but it rarely ever came to pass. Killzone was one of the games that came closest, and the series was the only one that managed to have a presence on the PlayStation 4. However, it never managed to reach the same popularity with its multiplayer, and that is something a remake could fix. FPS games are among the most popular genres for online gaming; however, the PS5 doesn't currently have an exclusive online shooter. A remaster would allow players to play through the old maps that they remember and new ones that are designed using the best aspects of each game.
Killzone was a series that had strong lore behind it and had the opportunity to move that story forwards. However, because the series was spread out over so many consoles, it was hard to play through the entire thing. Rereleasing the series allows players to return to the stories they loved and makes it easier to return to the series with a sequel. It would also help to introduce new players to the series, which would only help to increase player numbers.
Although Killzone was a great series, it, unfortunately, suffered from an inconsistent release schedule. 343 Industries' decision to release the Master Chief edition was a great one that helped to keep interest in the Halo franchise alive. More game series should look to this concept for their remasters rather than releasing them piecemeal. Hopefully, Sony sees the advantage of following this formula and let players fight the Helghast again.
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