While the latter is not a necessity, you will need the former to experience the Helghast-blasting fun within because this is a PlayStation 3 release only.

The first Killzone appeared on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 and the PlayStation Portable had its taste of the zone (Killzone: Liberation) in 2006.

Five years later the folk at game developer Guerrilla Studios have crafted a sequel that takes a well-worn genre to a new level of excellence.

There's very little innovation here and, yes, there are some dodgy moments (six-axis motion control moments that appear more afterthought than useful and the weak-as-proverbial storyline).

What it lacks in ingenuity, however, it more than makes up for in incredibly detailed environments, bombastic weaponry and seriously destructive shooter action of the extreme kind.

Like in the Xbox 360's Gears Of War franchise, taking a run-and-gun approach is suicide.

The best way forward lies in seeking cover.

The enemy soldiers lack in variety but they are more intelligent than your average pixel-head and as aggressive as tiger snakes.

Add to that the unforgiving and formidable environment of Planet Helghan, where verything from high winds to lightning strikes gives the Helghast an unfair advantage, and you have the makings of some very intense gaming.

The single-player campaign has 10 levels.

The multiplayer mode features a set of games where teamwork is needed to complete battlefield objectives with as many as 32 players.

However, the lack of co-operative mode is disappointing.