Sequels are a tough gig. In a shoot first ask questions later gaming market, it’s difficult to keep your fan base excited for the next chapter. There are so many different factors involved, but the main one always is the same basic idea. Keep the title fresh while managing to retain the good qualities of the original title. As a reviewer, I never find myself completely satisfied with many ongoing game titles out there, and find myself wondering why the developers bother trying to top some plot twist or an awe-inspiring digital scene. Guerilla Games’ Killzone 3, however, aims to please and it does it well. All I can say is: “The madness begins.”

Killzone 3 immediately follows the events of the execution of Autarch Scolar Visari by Master Sergeant Rico Velasquez. Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko sat, disillusioned by his comrade’s actions, on the steps of the Imperial Palace as the remaining fleet of the ISA is assaulted by a massive fleet of Helghast ships. With the almost requiem sound of violins, you find yourself as Sev, on a drop ship with a rag-tag group of ISA survivors, struggling to escape the now overwhelming Helghast forces. As your ship is shot down, you crash land into what looks like a refinery in an arctic tundra. As Sev scavenges for any useful weapons you find yourself already under attack. Slowly trudging through ice, snow and enemy fire; the game creates a tone of desperation, as you cling to a glimmering shred of hope in the enveloping darkness.

Gameplay in Killzone 3 has improved greatly from the previous installment. Combat alone is just brilliant, and movements seem more fluid than before. The lean and peek cover system still gives you that moment to take a breath if you feel the oncoming fire is a little too much for you, and if you’re like me, this is prime, as I can run and grab my kid a juice box without a possible death on my end. The storyline thus far is something to be desired and fans of the series will certainly enjoy the continuation of events past. What honestly wowed me more than anything, however, was the score. The music perfectly reflects each scene. And let’s not forget the voice acting. It’s so well done that I stayed glued throughout the entire demo.

People like me crave a good story and in the end I was pretty impressed by what I experienced with Killzone 3. There are quite a few unanswered questions regarding what really is going on behind the scenes in Helghast, so I’ll HAVE to buy the game to find out. You can purchase it alone for $59.99 or spring for the Helghast Edition for $129.99 (both release in just a few hours). The Helghast edition features a treasure trove of extras and is made for the serious fan or gaming collector. If you’re into first person shooters, this is likely going to be your game.