Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Replay Value: 9
Reviewer's Tilt: 10
Overall: 9.2
Syphon Filter 2 is not a big game, so don't let the two discs fool you. Instead of a lengthy game, what you get instead is high-resolution, high-polygon environments for the PlayStation. Huge, nicely rendered outdoor environments and sharp detail is probably one of the reasons why this game is on two discs. The game takes just as long to beat as Syphon Filter, which is no problem to me because I had a lot of fun doing it. The SF series, with the exception of the third entry to the series, is one of the best series for the PS1. SF2 is no exception by any means. Its fun, stealthy gameplay and high difficulty level will keep you coming back for more.
The gameplay is challenging, especially those damned stealth missions. They can become quite frustrating after a couple tries. Also, there are only checkpoints in the game, so you do not get to save until the end of the mission. Which is a shame because the missions can be quite difficult; especially the second mission of the game. Thankfully, there are plenty of fun missions that might overwhelm you at first, but are terrific nonetheless. The Moscow missions are very fun, and the sewer climax was even better. Basically, the missions are a mixed bag, but for the most part they are a blast to play; one of the funnest PS1 games ever. With a game with such complex gameplay, you would think the controls would be frustrating to master but that's not the case here. The controls are responsive and get the job done on every level. There are many ways of taking the enemy out. You can use auto-target (think Tomb Raider), you can aim manually in first-person, you can randomly fire into people (less accurate) or you can obviously snipe with the sniper rifles in the game. SF2 is a third person game, but your targeting options are almost endless.
Your arsenal is one nice thing about this game. You have a choice of sniper rifles, some pistols, grenade launchers, different types of grenades, some machine guns and a combat knife. Each are used as the best weapon for a particular mission. If it's a stealth mission, your silenced pistol or your combat knife should do the job just fine. What if there is a flood of agents coming after you? Send a grenade down the hall with your M79 and blast the guys to hell! The best part about this series is arguably its weapons and how the player can use them.
Syphon Filter and Syphon Filter 2 have excellent plots. The first one was about a missile being detonated, sorta like MGS but who cares. This one is about a deadly virus. You must stop Lyle Stevens and his bad guys through boss fights and almost endless combat until you cap the bastard in the second to last level in the game. The last boss fight, however, is not what you might expect. In fact, it's just plain ridiculous, and really goes nowhere, nor does it do any justice to the plot of the game. Thankfully the boss fights before it are sensational, just like the ones from the first game. But that last fight is annoying, want to see what I have to say about it? Read this spoiler, which I wrote in white so that you cannot be spoiled.
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The boss fight was stupid, I must say. I was deeply disappointed in it. The second to last boss fight was Lyle Stevens, the guy responsible for this whole ordeal. You cap him and you think that the game is over. Unfortunately, the game isn't over. It should have ended right then and there, but the guys at 989 Studios apparently wanted to cram something in at the last possible second, and it just plain sucked. The last boss fight is actually Jason Chance, who is supposed to be one of your friends. He was in the game, helping you the entire time, then for no reason--without a logical explanation--you have to fight him in a tough boss fight. Really tough. Then he kills Teresa Lipan, one of the agents who made an appearance in the game. I liked her too. SF2 would have easily earned a 9.5 or a 9.6 from me if it hadn't gone into the Suck Factor toward the end of the game. Most people might like this idea, but I hated it.
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Sure, SF2 could have been better, but I'm quite impressed with the game as it is. It's got intelligence, something that most games do not have. The story will make you think, and it's not full of plot twists that affect the story too much.
In short, SF2 is a must-own title. It was a little flawed toward the end of the game, but I am quite impressed with it. Syphon Filter won me over, and so did this game. It's a shame, however, that Syphon Filter 3 wasn't as successful. That is one of the most boring and sloppily-done games ever. Shame on you Eidetic. SF2 features an awesome story, addictive gameplay and an excellent multiplayer mode that should not be missed. Enjoy. --Chris Currey