 Syphon Filter 2 for Sony Playstation
The original Syphon Filter was released with very little fanfare. Soon enough, positive reviews and word-of-mouth began to make it a hot commodity, and it ended up being one of the top sellers of 1999, and it landed on "Best Of 1999" lists in many publications. The storyline of espionage and betrayal, the nearly flawless gameplay, and the sweet graphics were definitely a complete and formidable package. Plus, the perverse appeal of the headshot shouldn't be underestimated either.
Such success almost certainly ensures the inevitable sequel, and the ending of Syphon Filter basically set one up regardless. Syphon Filter 2 picks up right where the story of the original ended. This sentence is merely here to warn you that minor spoilers are forthcoming to those who have not played the first game. At the beginning of SF2, Gabe Logan finds himself on the run from the mysterious Agency, his former employers, who have betrayed him and are now trying to frame him for the massive carnage and death caused in the first game. This is essentially the storyline of all of SF2; Gabe and Lian are on the run from everyone, including the civilian law enforcement. This leads to the use of a whole lot of – non-lethal – means of elimination.
Once you get into it, players familiar with the original will find that little has changed. The graphics, game play and sound all are basically identical, save for a few tweaks here and there. Lian Xing now becomes a playable character, but there's no real difference in attributes between her and Gabe. Your character can now walk as well, a property that was somehow overlooked in the original, and a 180-degree quick turn, so when presented with a gap, Gabe or Lian will jump it automatically. There's also a bit of new weaponry. Other than that, it's pretty much the same ol' same ol'. One more fairly significant addition is the two-player deathmatch capability. Most of the levels are just smaller versions of the game's real levels, and finding special objects throughout the game will open some locked levels. Adding the deathmatch option is a noble idea, but in the end, the inherent limitations of two-player matches on a single screen really reduce the entertainment level.
The more I think about, the less this game amounts to. It's basically the same game as the first with a few cosmetic changes and add-ons. I did have fun playing it while it went on, and it was fairly challenging in spots, but it was just over too fast. Don't let the fact that it's two discs fool you, it's only because they use so damn much CG video, including a nerd-boy fantasy sequence where Lian changes clothes. Really, it isn't any longer than the original, and it isn't any better than the original, either. It's a fun game, but points are deducted for just being so much the same as the original. The ending of this game does everything but go "The End???" in setting up another sequel, one that would have to be for the PS2. With that kind of ball-rockin' hardware at their disposal, there's no reason 989 shouldn't have me writhing on the floor in orgasmic glee over Syphon Filter 3. We'll just have to wait and see, and meanwhile, my orgasmic glee will have to come from elsewhere. Hmmm – perhaps I should get into fisting.
Review by ICE |