10 Ways to Not Get Owned in Killzone 2

Your pre-release survival guide for Killzone 2 multiplayer, including level blueprints, artwork and hi-res screens.

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#2: Be creative with cover

Everything in the universe can be used as cover, if you're desperate - and you'll be desperate several times a match. Flapping locker doors. Bits of broken turret. Stairway rails. Pillars. Free-standing shelves. Urinals. Sure, that centimetre of doorframe you're skulking against might only buy you one additional second of life, but that's an additional second in which you could fire one additional bullet, and that additional bullet could buy you another kill. Little victories like that are the meat and potatoes of Killzone 2 online.

#3: Healing Hands

Medics are the beating heart of any defensive action, able to zap downed allies back to life (if they're quick enough) or toss medical packs to those still breathing. But never fear - playing the Good Samaritan has its more belligerent, less conscientious side. You might, for instance, revive a battered friendly right under the other team's nose, then charge in for the kill while they're busy gunning him down a second time.

Let mommy kiss it better

#4: Eyes in the sky

With visibility at a premium in Helghan's spectacularly disordered, multi-levelled urban sprawl, why not call on some of your secondary abilities to help you flush out the foe? The Engineer's turrets and the Tactician's aerial drones can rack up juicy experience-laden kills when deployed near popular thoroughfares, but given a bit of shelter, any halfway skilled human player will have little trouble taking them apart. If they're not always lethal, though, they will at least let you know where your enemies are, sending a hail of bullets towards any would-be stealth flanker the moment they sidle into range.

ISA and Helghast engineers and drones

As a Scout, your first instinct may be to shun the company of your squad mates, lug your sniper rifle to the top of the nearest edifice and treat the enemy to a little long-distance dental readjustment. Good for you. But don't forget you can "tag" foes too, making them appear on your team's mini-maps even when out of sight.

#5: Keep your friends close

Killzone 2 lets you put together four-man squads mid-match. Do so. Being part of a workable squad lends you a decisive tactical advantage, particularly in objective-driven match types like Capture and Hold or Search and Destroy. Squad members can spawn in alongside their leader, appear as purple blips on each other's mini-maps and have their own private voice channel.

That shotgun guy on the right should be taking point. Tsk.

If you're part of a squad, put teamwork first. Pick a class to complement those of other members, even if it means sacrificing your own preference. Be accommodating. If some selfish whinging psychopath wants a monopoly on the armour-plated Assault class, just nod graciously, take a few deep breaths and step into the ring as something more indirect, like the sneakily-does-it Saboteur. Be the bigger man.

Killzone 2 is a game where he who squeezes a shot off first stays upright: movement and turning are treacle-slow, and your health bar is as meaty as a tofu salad. With three guys watching your back, each fulfilling a different combat role, you can be reasonably confident some lone gun won't get the drop on you. Or if he does, that he won't be around to crow about it.

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