[In an effort to get more student developers thinking about game narrative, the Game Narrative Summit at GDC Online supported an annual contest in association with the IGDA Writers SIG. The board has challenged students to produce in-depth analyses of the narrative elements of their favorite video games.
The goal is twofold: to encourage students to look at game narrative and writing with the intensity and depth that they do other aspects of game development, and to reward the students who excel at game narrative analysis.
GameCareerGuide is once again happy to present the student entries which have been awarded poster sessions at the event this year.]
Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: First Person Shooter
Release Date: February 27th, 2009
Developer: Guerilla Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Game Writer/Creative Director/Narrative Designer: Mathijs De Jonge
Overview
Killzone 2 follows the story of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance's (ISA) retaliation assault on the Helghast home planet. The Helghast, a race of mutant-human hybrids, had two years prior launched a blitzkreig strike against an ISA controlled planet. The ISA intend to storm the capital city and take the leader of their enemy in hopes of using his capture to end the war.
The plot follows the player controlled character and primary protagonist of the game Sergeant Thomas "Sev" Sevchenko. He is a member of a special forces unit that is deployed behind enemy lines. Sev soon learns that on their home planet his enemies are a more formidable foe than ever: they have harnessed the power of the planet's lightning storms and are using them to strike back.
The game lets the player see through the eyes of a character who is fighting a terrifying and brutal foe, one that he has little hope for defeating. It takes the player through the invasion the city allowing them to witness the affect the horrors of war have had on it. It then expands outward as the war becomes more dire and Sev's missions become critically important to the war effort. Sev must fight to protect his squad members, while still marching forward at the order of his commanders.
Characters
There are unfortunately only a small handful of characters even worth mentioning in Killzone 2, let alone worth going into detail about. There is little in-game characterization and much of what is written here comes from the game's manual or other sources. There are, however, a few interesting characters and those are the one's listed here.
Sergeant Thomas "Sev" Sevchenko is the primary protagonist of the game and the playable character. He is a natural leader who has a strong patriotic belief in defending his homeland. He is a member of the ISA Alpha Squad and is perhaps the most level headed of the group. He is a quick thinker which gets him and his squad out of many situations. He is not perfect however. As a young soldier, he has already participated in many military campaigns and these clearly have had a negative effect on him. He is withdrawn and almost separated from everything that is happening.
Corporal Dante Garza is a close friend of Sev and anoher member of Alpha team. He is a bit laidback and a loner. Garza is the team's technical specialist and sniper. This reflects his persona quite a bit. He tends to do what needs to be done, even without being ordered to do so. He as a cocky, almost hotheaded member of the squad is a contrast to Sev who is pure in militaristic tendencies and discipline. Garza is killed partway through the game and his death is what fuels Sev's final efforts.
Master Sergeant Rico Velasquez is the brute of the Alpha squad. He is angry, impatient, and has a rather boolean view of the world. His hatred for the Helghast drive him throughout the game. He is pushed by the need to avenge his last squad that was killed by the Helghast and this often ends up with making the situation worse. He is fiercely loyal to his squad mates and would defend them with his life. He is Alpha Squad's gunner and this is reflected in his penchant for violence.
Colonel Mael Radec is the leader of the Helghast army and the primary villian of the game. He is perhaps the most feared soldier in the entire army due to his unnatural fighting abilities, his tactical brilliance, and his outright ruthlessness. He is a pure soldier and knows nothing else. He has drowned out anything in his personality that could get in the way of his duties. He has the near perfect ability to command an army in a battle and to fight viciously alongside him. He has a sense of honor, but chooses not to follow it blindly. He knows what needs to get done and will not compromise to do so. In the end, having been defeated by Sev and remaining true to his Helghast loyalties, Radec commits suicide rather than be held captive by the ISA
