| Syphon Filter 3 These days series of games have the tendency to move from console to console, and ever since the popular PS2 came into play, Sony's older -yet weaker- sibling (for you dummies, I'm talking about Psone) has been losing it's best games to the almighty power of Playstation2. But once in a while, you find a game that has the guts of sticking to the console it was created on. Syphon Filter, one of Psone's celebrated titles, didn't jump the leap of faith, but will this do any good -or bad- to the already wonderful Syphon Series? "Gameplay above graphics" has always been SF's motto, everybody loved the way the game felt and it played like a charm, but we all know that graphically the game had not much to offer: the characters looked like two sticks with a lump of flesh on top and the surroundings weren't solid and glitches would be a permanent handicap. Nonetheless, the head-shots, the guns, the two-player mode were oh so great and kept you coming back for more. But another Syphon Filter you might say? The story revolves around Gabe "Solid Snake" Logan and his friends who have been sent to Congress for interrogation. You see, Logan and Co have been charged of international terrorism and crimes against the government, now they have to tell their side of the story. The portions were you actually get the chance to play are of course all flashbacks, as it is the style since trendsetter Resi 3 started it a while ago. But enough about that, let's talk business (and gameplay). The first level begins when Gabe has to assassinate several generals from Russian country number 77. And no, I'm not talking Max Payne here, but blasting away with a sniper rifle from Hotel Fukushima to the other building across the street. After killing 4 Generals, you have to escape from your room, after that you have to rescue a hostage, after that... you get the picture. You always start with a certain objective that has to be met, and according to your actions more and more objectives will be altered or re-newed so there's loads to do in the levels. The different missions are also varied; mainly they revolve about getting samples from a plant - not an ordinary cannabis plant but a destruction of doom to create the Syphon Filter virus - The missions get tougher too, for someone who has played previous Filters the first levels are a walk through the park, however even someone with experience is bound to have trouble near the end of the game, and it's a long way there, baby. In terms of action there's not much new, the traditional head-shots and flak jackets are still in the game and you know there's nothing sweeter than popping a bullet into a badly animated umm bad guy (I know, bad joke) It's also good to play with other character's as well, so you'll be able to get a piece of the cake with Lian Xing, Logan's trusty sidekick and a bald guy who has to rescue slaves from a mine... One feature that has to be told is the realism of SF3: normal shooting games would require you to nail gun-wielding G.I Joes down with 200 shiny bullets in their face, but in SF a nice head-shot will terminate everybody (even bosses) for good. And the game isn't one of those no-brainers either, as not only quick fingers will do the trick, but you need to think in order to play with success. For instance, there's a mission where Logan is on a plane ready to mow down a baddie in full armour, no head-shots available, but you do have a mighty gun, what to do? Found out already? I have! Sure, you could complain "How unoriginal, I saw Lance do that in SF2" or "Still those pesky head-shots, where's the new stuff". But hippies will always remain hippies and a great formula will always be good, and besides it's nice to play, so why bother? Ok, have I talked graphics yet? No? Yes? Anyhow I won't bore you with the usual "Look, Gabe has only been implemented with a triangular form instead of regular-based polygons", I'll just say that this is a game with neither shabby or crappy (take a pick) graphics. They're only a bit noddy. Although the environments don't look solid, you can still feel that you're wading through realistic levels, and the fact that the characters are look-a-likes of meat on sticks don't do anything to make sure you don't put your hands on the game, but besides it has a nice flowing engine which is just what PSone needs!! Page2: Can't wait to open it, right? |