History YMMV / Killzone

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: After months of being hyped up as a "Halo killer" (that's what it was often referred to), a good deal of backlash set in when Killzone for ''UsefulNotes/PlayStation2'' turned out to be an okay but too ambitious shooter with numerous issues (sluggish controls, low enemy variety, repetitive voice acting, graphical issues, inconsistent framerate, etc). The game attracted a devoted fanbase, but in general became almost a byword for hubris in the FPS genre. With the sequel, it aimed to be the Killer App for the [=PS3=], which was a slightly less lofty goal than dethroning what could be the most popular FPS series of the decade. But this time, they delivered. It was universally acclaimed by critics and fans as a much superior title, gaining a rare 91/100 on Metacritic.

** The original 2004 game was a victim of the hype machine that Sony fueled against ''Halo'', and received a mixed reception upon release. However, as time went on, ''Killzone'' was praised for its setting, atmosphere and art direction, which was seen by players as unique and distinctive in comparison to other shooter games at the time. Sony's decision to pursue sequels for the game eventually helped propelling ''Killzone'' into one of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation brand more notable [=IPs=], and the game was eventually released on [=PS3=] in 2012.

* PolishedPort: If you have to play the original game, whether via digital means or the ''Killzone Trilogy' release that puts the whole series on one disk, the HD remaster is hands-down the definitive way to play it, with more stable performance and visuals overall that dwarf the [=PS2=] version, and the [=PS4=]'s classic port of said [=PS2=] version.

** Rico, who's a loudmouthed, annoying ''[[{{Jerkass}} asshole]]'' who does a nice job breaking things (see above). In addition, his AI can be summed up as "get shot, and get shot often", and the player is NOT allowed to abandon his injured ass at any point for being stupid, he MUST be revived. He is severely disliked by the fandom as a result. This could be intentional - to offset Sev's measured approach, and ultimately show the futility of aggression for aggression's sake, as well as how blindly running in like an idiot is a poor tactic. The developers have Rico getting some CharacterDevelopment in the third game but many considered it too late by them.

* GameBreaker: The Helghast Rocket Launcher in the first game (especially in multiplayer). Its primary fire was bad news, but its secondary fire launched all four barrels, and had a wide area of effect.

** Luger's sub-machine gun. It did better damage than Jan or Hakha's rifle, and had much less recoil to boot, making headshots a snap.

** [[TheChick Jammer]] has also become fairly popular, with people doing artwork of her and writing fanfics about her.

* PolishedPort: If you have to play the original game, whether via digital means or the ''Killzone Trilogy' release that puts the whole series on one disk, the HD remaster is hands-down the definitive way to play it, with more stable performance and visuals overall that dwarf the [=PS2=] version, and the [=PS4=]'s classic port of said PS2 version.

* CompleteMonster: The series has several ruthless villains from the planet of Helghan (and one human who supports them):

*** [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist Thomas Sinclair]] is the [[FantasticRacism bigoted]] director of the Vektan Security Agency and Lucas Kellan's commander until he turns on Lucas when the latter sides with the Helghan Echo. Bringing an ISA armada to Jorhan Stahl's hideout, Sinclair sacrifices his forces to Stahl's bioweapon while he infiltrates Stahl's base to steal the weapon, killing Stahl and [[HeroKiller Lucas]] in the process. Sinclair would then rally Vektans to go against the Helghasts, planning to create another war between the two sides and using the bioweapon to [[FinalSolution wipe out the entire Helghan race]], uncaring about the millions of casualties he might cause as long as he could satisfy his [[YouAreWhatYouHate hatred]] towards the Helghasts.

* CultClassic: ''Killzone Mercenary'' has a small but vocal following and is frequently referred to not only as the best shooter game on the PlayStation Vita, but the best PlayStation Vita game period.

** Mercenary deserves a special mention for bringing near-[=PS3=] quality graphics... on a handheld console.

*** Vladko Tyran, leader of the Black Hand, a Helghast terrorist group, is introduced via a massive terrorist bombing aimed at soldiers and civilians alike. Tyran has human hostages taken and orders them executed while loading captured trains with explosives and sending them to the city to kill as many people as possible. Tyran functions as Stahl's [[TheDragon chief subordinate]] to pull off the Terracide, viewing humans as inferiors who deserve nothing less than extermination while attempting to shatter the peace between Helghast and human to send both sides in a brutal, pointless war. Tyran vows not to stop until "the streets run red" with human blood.

** Based on the backstory, one could infer that the ISA and UCN are the villains, for their unfair treatment of the corporations sent to colonize other planets for natural resources, especially to the Helghan Corporation. The Helghast, on the other hand, were trying to break off from the UCN's corruption but fell victim to UsefulNotes/PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower, which forced them to flee to Helghan, adapt and become the militaristic culture that they are in order to survive and resist the UCN's tyranny. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Admittedly, while becoming tyrannical themselves]].

* BestLevelEver: ''Killzone 2'' is practically made of them, highlights include:

** And the last level where you [[spoiler:storm Visari's palace.]]

* IdiotPlot: ''Shadow Fall'' suffers from this. Out of all the places the VSA could've settled the surviving Helghast, they choose Vekta-the planet that has suffered the most from the Helghast's wars of aggression. Naturally, once the Helghast are established, they settle into a cold war with the native Vektans. Though given what we know of the [[HeWhoFightsMonsters VSA]], it's possible that was [[spoiler:all a part of the intended attempt to reignite the conflict for the excuse to kill all the Helghast once and for all.]]

* {{Sequelitis}}: [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] but both ''Killzone 3'' and ''Killzone: Shadow Fall'' are far more contested in some circles for not building on ''Killzone 2'''s gameplay and atmosphere in significant way, instead straying away in favor of more popular trends. Neither is generally considered a bad game (''Killzone 3'' particularly is very beloved in circles of the fandom), but the general opinion is that ''Killzone 2'' is the series' peak.

* EightPointEight: Taken to the next level with G4 copping an insane amount of flack for giving ''Killzone 2'' a five. ''Out of five.'' So intense was the backlash that Adam Sessler spent an episode of Sessler's Soapbox [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I643CzcHPYU railing against the stupidity of it all.]]

* EightPointEight: Taken to [[UpToEleven the next level]] with G4 copping an insane amount of flack for giving ''Killzone 2'' a five. ''Out of five.'' So intense was the backlash that Adam Sessler spent an episode of Sessler's Soapbox [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I643CzcHPYU railing against the stupidity of it all.]]