This game features a top-down isometric view in contrast to the original Killzone for the PlayStation 2, which is a first-person shooter. The resultant game can be seen as a mixture of a shooter and a dungeon crawler.
The player controls Jan Templar. He can board and control several vehicles: heavy machine gun turrets, a tank, a hovercraft and a jetpack. During some levels a 'buddy' can be ordered around (although some are unarmed). These 'buddies' are normally teammates (Rico and Luger) or people that have to be rescued (the three VIP's in the third mission, first chapter and Evelyn in the third mission, fourth chapter).
By collecting various pickups in the form of money cases, the player unlocks new weapons. These can be found in various weapons caches in certain levels. After enough money is amassed, the V2 upgraded weapons become available. The weapons in the caches are converted into the V2 upgraded versions.
The player can unlock upgrades to Templar's abilities by completing challenge games within certain limits (such as shooting X number of targets without shooting the 'civilian' targets). These are ranked in bronze, silver and gold. Upgrades come in the form of carrying more items, hitting harder in close quarters combat, performing actions faster, unlimited ammunition or upgraded health.