Killing Floor 2 | PS4 Review

Tripwire's "Killing Floor 2" is a long running and over-the-top horror themed FPS from yesteryear with squad roles in mind. It features wave and objective based combat with players taking on perks that act as militant style classes with special perk bonuses and skills meant to aid in clearing a monster filled match. It is this fun, fulfilling, and frantic formula that has kept this game from falling to the wayside over time. To this day fans still flock to each new seasonal event, and update to get their fix and fill. 

Teeming with both online, and offline features this solo or squad based shooter offers replay value in spades. Including everything from character, and weapon customization to a wealth of interesting maps to play on as well as Easter eggs to find, Killing Floor 2 kills it in more ways than one. Not only does it up the ante of available content with added gory creature effects in tow, but it also offers unrelenting bloody action with epic boss fights as well as a hard hitting soundtrack that is itself killer. To this day you will not be hard pressed on consoles to find some sort of sadistic enjoyment from this title and it's offerings.

From the start 'Killing Floor 2' game is option rich. Letting you choose how you begin right out the gate. Whether it be training mode, offline, or online you can get right into the action however you see fit. Not before choosing your character, and their customizable features though. That and their perk alignment. The heroes of the game that you can choose from vary in both persona, and appearance. Ranging from a reverend to a punk rocker, and even a futuristic emoting robot among other things. There's something for everyone, and though the selection might be a little on the zany side their personalities shine with their in-game voice-acting, and scripted lines. Fleshing them out, and gifting them individuality. Offering up some proper English accents along with some more European dialects. Listening to them banter on as they blast the fool out of Zeds is only part of the fun. 

When it comes to the perks, or classes you'll find upwards of ten named and themed options catering to different playstyles. You've got support perks, medics, berserkers, survivalists, gunslingers, SWAT, and Firebugs just to name a handful. Each perk comes with passive perk bonuses that beef up their weapon assortment and skills. Skills on the other hand are complimentary active abilities that can be triggered in-game, and help to boost performance out side of gun and melee play. Skills unlock at every 5 levels that you level up to, and like everything else in the perk system leveling is done by earning XP through playing the game. By fulfilling quests, and by simply killing Zeds. 

Beyond the characters, and classes/perks lies the formulaic gameplay experience itself. Whether you go offline or online through matchmaking you will face waves of Zeds with intermittent stops at charging stations where you can deal with your armor, equipment, and weapons using the currency amassed from Zed destruction. Your loadout begins with a select few items. Including perk based utilities/grenades, guns, and melee weapons. You can upgrade, reload, and buy different ones at the charge stations for a given fee. You'll also need to restock armor, utilities, and ammo lest you run out or become dependent upon the support of squad mates or environmental item drops. There are some support classes like the medic that can heal or freely refill ammo/grenades of party members.

During the waves, and after the station visits you will change objectives. Sometimes it requires that you and your squad simply clear a wave, and survive. Other times you will need to hold down a highlighted area for a duration and defend it from flanking Zeds. At the very end of it all you will face off against a larger than life boss with a huge health bar that must be depleted in order to win the match. This is the gameplay loop, and while it might seem somewhat straightforward the map variety, enemy types, and overall theme keeps things fresh. It also allows for you to level up your perks, and earn rewards that can be used for crafting skins or for unlocking new skins through the game's various currencies. Some of which are season specific.

This, of course, brings me to the latest update called "Blood & Bonfire". This Halloween themed update introduces newly themed cosmetics, new characters/skins (Plague Doctor), new weapons including the scythes, and reskinned Zeds that line up with the given holiday. There's even new lobby music to enjoy as well as new collectible items to hunt. You'll find werewolves, mummies, vampires, man eating plants, and even pumpkin headed bosses among the Zed assortment this time around too. 

Alongside all of that are new reward filled quests that allow for earning the new holiday currencies that can be used to unlock/craft new skins. For those willing to splurge, and spend some real world cash there's also a store within the game that sells unique limited time cosmetics that will allow you flaunt your styles in front of friends who also enjoy playing. Pay or not there's a lot more to work towards if you choose to pick up and play "Killing Floor 2" this October!!!

The Verdict ...

Not many games of this caliber last as long as Killing Floor 2 has. This game has been going strong for years, and even on the PS4 you can find an online match with little to no wait. The fanbase is huge, and very supportive. This can be chocked off to the fun gameplay, and continuous seasonal updates. I imagine if the world doesn't collapse around us, and the economy doesn't take a sh*t this game will maintain it's momentum until the current console/PC hardware goes obsolete. It's a good time, if any, to get in on the action and partake of the new "Blood & Bonfire" seasonal event!!!