The last we saw of the Killzone series, we were trudging through the first-person action of the PlayStation 2 game that started it all, while wondering if the PS3 trailer we were shown for Killzone 2 was in fact in-game footage. But the series has a little more going for it than just these console releases, as Killzone: Liberation will prove on the Sony PSP next month. Those expecting just the same old Killzone experience, however, may be surprised by what's shaping up in this new chapter.

The Hellgast movement is far from dead. A new general has stepped up and helped the stragglers from his army maintain their strength, and has even kidnapped a few hostages for leverage. It's up to the hero from the original game, Templar, to shut down this new general and his army before the land of southern Vekta is once again taken over by hateful rule.

Guerrilla Games takes a fresh approach with this PSP chapter, and does away with the first-person perspective in favor of a top-down third-person view. The levels themselves, bits and pieces of Vekta, still move in real-time 3-D, but you keep a clear view of the area while looking out for enemy soldiers and comrades that are scattered in the battlefield. This new perspective works surprisingly well, although there are times that depth perception might be thrown off. For example, you're walking on one of the ledges in the level, and you might slip off and go back to the ground below, having to find the ridge that leads you back up to the second level. This can be a real pain in a firefight, but it's just a small learning curve. Once you get over it and get perception in place, it works remarkably well.

Many might feel that the game doesn't work without its first-person roots, but, surprisingly, it does. The game features plenty of heavy combat, where soldiers will jump out of nowhere to do you in. There's a lock-on system that's pretty stable, as you're able to shoot at soldiers once you see their energy bars on-screen. But you can do manual aiming as well, as you can crouch down to avoid gunfire and set up a laser sighting to see where you're aiming. In a pinch, someone might not see this as useful, as crouching can leave you wide open for gunfire if you're not behind cover. But this ties in to a crucial component in the game's arsenal- tactical gameplay.

This tactical gameplay forces you to think ahead and not go into firefights with guns blazing, and involves using a fellow soldier at times to help clear a path for you and provide all-important cover. You'll run into allies over the course of the game, indicated by markers, and you can command them to specific spots and areas by using the D-pad. For instance, a soldier might have a necessary supply of C4, which you'll need to access a blocked off area in the level. You can press up on the D-pad, which brings about different choices in which to command your teammate. Select the right one by pressing left and right on the D-pad, and they'll spring into action with a press of the X button. By the same token, however, as much as they help you, it's up to you to keep them alive. If they're taken down by gunfire, you have to administer a health syringe to them within 20 seconds, or they're dead.

The game features plenty of action, though, so if you're not too crazy about the stealth or tactics features of the game, you can still engage in a lot of shooting. There's a variety of weapons included in Liberation, from standard machine guns like the STA-52 Assault Rifle to frag grenades to a schnazzy shotgun that can take an enemy out quickly (and messily). You can also use mounted machine guns and, in specific levels, vehicles that help transport you to spots while mowing down soldiers in your path.

Melee attacks are also used in the game, and come in quite handy. If you're sneaky enough, you can go right up to a soldier, knock them out with a melee attack, and shoot them while they're on the ground. It's a little cold, but come on- you don't want the Hellgast to win, do you? The melee attack also works with destroying crates in the level that hold items, as well as breaking open storage lockers that contain health and weapon power-ups.

Aside from visuals, the game is also backed by a commanding audio presence. Along with being given commands from a control station, you'll have brief banter with your soldiers to make sure they understand your commands. There's also the shouts of enemy soldiers to kind of give you a heads up of when they're about to attack. The music sounds nice as well, following the theme of the PS2 game almost perfectly.

Sadly, we haven't had a chance to check out the multiplayer features of Liberation yet, but they sound very promising. Up to six players will be able to engage in versus combat, and two-player co-op missions are available, in case you actually feel like working with somebody. Non-owners of the game can also take advantage of Liberation's features, as a Gameshare mode allows them to download several levels and get a taste of its action.

Killzone: Liberation has a different approach than its PlayStation 2 cousin, but that doesn't make it any less of a treat for action fans. With a fresh mixture of tactical gameplay, multiplayer options, and a creative new visual presentation, it looks like it's going to work just fine on the PSP. We'll be back to review this game when it arrives later this month. Viva la Liberation!