Guerrilla Game's gritty shooter made a big move earlier this week. Though you can pick up the game in its complete form at retail stores, Killzone 3’s multiplayer mode has become a separate entity in some ways. Recently releasing on the PSN, Killzone 3 has taken a digital approach that leaves it’s single player behind. For newcomers to the Killzone franchise, playing the game without it’s single player could seem like a rather empty experience. However, since Killzone’s inception, multiplayer has always been one of its major components. And with the release of Killzone 3, the series brings some of the genres best multiplayer features.

Having some original multiplayer modes, KZ3’s maps are also one of its greatest highlights, as they feature a great design that harkens to your strategic juices. Most of the map’s varied paths and multiple attack point’s, play well into the games many multiplayer modes. Killzone 3 really shines in the area of combat and controls. Where Killzone 2 had a slower more weighted control design, in KZ3 the controls feel more like what’s been done in previous Call of Duty games.

Killzone also has some of the best hit detection I’ve seen in an FPS, it’s one of the most satisfying shooter to shoot. Guerilla Game's does a great job of making you feel like every bullet fired is making contact with its target. What really makes KZ3 original are some of its modes in multiplayer. Currently there are five modes in Killzone 3; Guerilla Warfare – which plays a lot like team death match in other games, WarZone – one of the coolest multiplayer modes created. Warzone alternates the games modes through five different settings ,‘Search & Destroy / Search & Retrieve, Assassination, Section Control or zones, and Body Count. The other mode in the multiplayer is Operations, which plays much like ‘Rush Mode’ in the Battlefield series. Killzone 3 has some great maps and some awesome weapons to complement them.

Jump into a jet pack or a Mech to mow down dozens of Helghast , or man the mini-gun for some additional fire power. There are many ways to fight in KZ3, most of what the mode has to offer is of a very high quality. However, even with a great multiplayer mode can anyone justly charging for the mode individually, especially when there are so many other shooters to play. Well, I would have to say, Yes! Sony proved the formula works when they released the original Warhawk, with Killzone 3 being a shooter that appeals to a larger audience, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the multiplayer mode find even more success on the PSN. Though Warhawk hosted an innovative new style of gameplay, Killzone’s multiplayer, though release almost a year ago, is still among the best. At 14.99 for an awesome multiplayer mode, I’d highly recommend you join the war against the Helghast.