Killzone: Mercenary designer Sam Dickinson from Guerilla Cambridge took to stage 1 at E3 day 2 to show off arguably the most exciting game just for the PlayStation Vita. Both the single-player and multi-player functions will be perfect for Sony’s hand-held gaming device as the touch screen features will make you think controllers are nothing more than a relic of a time gone by.
Dickinson noted early on that gamers familiar with the Killzone series will see familiar characters, settings, and even equipment as they work as a mercenary for hire for rival Helghast forces and ISA specialists. The “for hire” aspect is key because most of the game-play is focused on collecting monetary rewards that go beyond simpl tasks assigned by Helghast and ISA and translate seamlessly into multi-player mode.
Weapon upgrades as now available too in what’s being called the Vanguard. For just a taste, Dickinson noted how the Vanguard entails a shoulder-mounted heat-seeking rocket launcher that, using touchscreen cues, will absolutely raze your enemies to the ground. Touch cue for the hand-held Vita won’t get in the way of game-play either, as users taking their fingers off the controls for a mere second will actually find an enriched game-play experience.
Multi-player is where the new Killzone will make most of its money. Literally. Money earned from hired mercenary missions can be used to bolster your mult-player standing worldwide. Killzone supports up to 8 gamers at once in either death match mode, 4v4, or war zone missions, and when you kill someone else, you take their Valor Card and money. Collect and entire deck of Valor Cards and you get a cash reward. And the more money you have, the higher your global ranking. But be careful. If you get killed, someone else will pick up your dollars and your Valor Cards.
Look for Killzone: Mercenary to hit the retail shelves on September 10 in the U.S. just for PlayStation Vita. Other separate versions of Killzone will be made available for other consoles, but this could be the pick of the litter. Check out the E3 demo below and let us know what you think of the latest installment in the popular series.
