Killzone: Shadow Fall Reviews

Killzone: Shadow Fall is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Nov 26, 2013

Killzone: Shadow Fall aims high, misses, lands in great-looking, idiotic stars

Read full review

Nov 26, 2013

When compared to past Killzone titles, we found Shadow Fall to have one of the better campaigns. There are some tedious tasks found during the latter half of the game that hurt the game's flow. Regardless, Killzone: Shadow Fall is a quality first-person shooter, making it a definite play for PS4 early adopters.

Read full review

4 / 5.0
Nov 26, 2013

As it stands, Killzone's foray into the next generation with Killzone: Shadow Fall is a good one. Though the game is held back by a lackluster story and certain missing features, it does deliver a fun experience and it is the only first-person shooter of its kind currently on the PlayStation 4.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2013

For those wanting to show off their new console, Killzone: Shadow Fall is the game to do it with. A reasonable, lengthy but frustrating single player campaign paves the way for a compelling multiplayer experience the likes of which you've never seen before – visually speaking, anyway. Select easy-mode and you'll have more fun overall, but if Guerrilla are to continue with the Killzone series, they need to come up with some fresh ideas for the set pieces, and try to create a more streamlined difficulty. Otherwise, this is more Killzone, but looking better than ever before – and that's saying something.

Read full review

8 / 10
Nov 27, 2013

As a package, it's a superb launch title and a great first person shooter. Killzone's back, and we can't wait to see where it takes us next.

Read full review

games(TM)
games™ Team
Top Critic
Unscored
Nov 28, 2013

It all comes back to that poster hanging on the bedroom wall. Killzone: Shadow Fall is so full of influences, struggling to balance so many different ideas across the eight or so hours of single-player that it fails to settle cohesively. Even worse, nothing here feels particularly new. Killzone: Shadow Fall is an immensely enjoyable shooter but one busy distracting itself from being anything more.

Read full review

6 / 10
Nov 28, 2013

Pretty yet uninspired. Killzone, then.

Read full review

Eurogamer
Top Critic
7 / 10
Nov 28, 2013

It's all the more frustrating that Shadow Fall fails to establish that identity, because it gets so close in its early design and themes. It sets up an open-ended tactical shooter in a cynical world of sci-fi realpolitik - and then bottles it, taking the easy escape route of another suicide mission into empty spectacle. There's a lack of confidence here that contrasts starkly with Guerrilla's dazzling, sure-footed command of the new hardware. It's a game that any new PlayStation 4 owner will be proud to show off - but it won't be one they remember by the time PS5 rolls around.

Read full review

NZGamer
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2013

While the gameplay was OK, there were just too many things in the campaign mode that bugged me. Multiplayer is much better, however, with a solid mission-based experience and smooth interaction.

Read full review

Nov 29, 2013

While you shouldn't be fooled by its good looks, with the sense of familiarity with this year's Call of Duty and various issues facing Battlefield 4's online component, Killzone: Shadow Fall could be a fitting multiplayer alternative for the PS4's launch.

Read full review

Guardian
Top Critic
Dec 1, 2013

There's no doubt that Killzone: Shadow Fall is far and away the best PlayStation 4 launch title. It feels fresh and innovative throughout – after playing it, we checked out Call of Duty: Ghosts on the PS4, which felt one-dimensional and strangely old-fashioned – looks stunning and through its beautifully fettled multiplayer side, offers infinite replay value. It towers above previous versions of Killzone in terms of quality and taking a much more interesting approach. All of which makes it the one must-buy exclusive in the PS4's launch line-up.

Read full review

Dec 3, 2013

The first couple of hours of Killzone: Shadow Fall hint towards a game that might just play as well as it looks. And it looks phenomenal. But sadly, the game falters and falls rather quickly, crushed under the weight of its own ambitions, and it retreats to the safe banality of staid FPS conventions for a second half that's all filler, no killer. It's a great game to show off the power of the PS4, a magnificent spectacle, and its Custom Warzones hint towards the possibility of a bright future, but it's just not that fun to actually play.

Read full review

AusGamers
GunSlingerAUS
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Dec 3, 2013

As it is, it's still a sterling shooter that shows off the potential of the PS4's powerful hardware, and an easy recommendation for PS4 owners looking for their futuristic shooter fix.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Dec 3, 2013

Killzone: Shadow Fall is not only a technical showcase for the PlayStation 4, but it also manages to provide a intriguing single player campaign backed up by a strong multiplayer component. However by playing it safe, Guerrilla Games have taken the franchise a few steps back.

Read full review

8 / 10
Dec 4, 2013

Killzone: Shadow Fall will be best known for the visual showcase on day one of the PS4's launch, but looking past the graphics, the game boosts a very solid multiplayer experience and lengthy campaign. The campaign can be frustrating at times and the pacing is inconsistent, especially late in the game where it feels like you are defending a room against waves of incoming Helghast soldiers every 20 minutes.

Read full review

50 / 100
Dec 5, 2013

Frustrating and generic gameplay rounds out an otherwise technically impressive package. Killzone: Shadow Fall should have been another solid entry in an above-average franchise, but instead it succumbs to all of the usual launch game pitfalls, and a decent though unimpressive multiplayer suite can't save it from mediocrity.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2013

Although this review has felt rather negative towards the campaign, there's a lot to like there, too — for the first half at least. And once you're done with that you can always jump into the always brilliant online arena. As far as launch games for new consoles go, Killzone: Shadow Fall isn't bad by any means. Just don't expect anything revolutionary outside of dust particles in shafts of light and you'll be fine.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2013

Shadow Fall's multiplayer singlehandedly makes it a worthwhile purchase. A couple of things keep the mode from being truly great, but given the state of the competition this year, Killzone's multiplayer deserves to carve a wider niche.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2013

Next Gen has dawned a new era for the Killzone franchise. Killzone: Shadow Fall certainly looks pretty on the eye, but is it the next gen game that we had hoped for? Let's enlist to fight against the evil Helghast and find out.

Read full review

6 / 10
Dec 16, 2013

If you're looking for a single player shooter, then this isn't the one to get, but if you're looking for a solid multiplayer, in which you can have some serious fun shooting dudes with an arsenal of weaponry, then Killzone: Shadow Fall might be a justified purchase at £50 in this rather limited and safe launch line-up for the PlayStation 4.

Read full review