Yet another FPS game, but this time one with a slight difference. By its very name and nature it can’t be unique (it is after all a sequel to Swat 3) but in this world that is swamped with FPS games this one does do things apart from the norm.
SWAT 4 could be summed up as “Splinter Cell meets Rainbow Six, but without Tom Clancy” – it’s a realistic squad based, first person, tactical shooter (is rsbfpts a recognized acronym?) where the emphasis is on slow and steady tactical progression as opposed to running around like a headless chicken shooting everything that moves.
SWAT 4 focuses around your two, four man, SWAT teams – being members of a Police Unit you (unfortunately) don’t have free reign just to shoot first and ask questions later. The whole game is about following procedures. That means planning your assault, asking the foe in you sites to co-operate with you and then shooting only as a last resort. It may sound boring but it really adds to SWAT 4’s atmosphere.
All of the levels are brilliantly designed; all feel very, very real in their nature. Some of them are poorly lit hovels with plenty of hiding places whilst others are lovely looking office blocks. You will face everything from failed bank robberies to serial killers during your tour of duty, although unfortunately the missions don’t have any linkage or overall story behind them. Yes it adds to the feel of “cop doing his job” thing but it would have been nice to perhaps have more interaction outside the missions with the officers and thus get a feel for who they are.
Playing the game is wonderfully easy and the developers deserve a real pat on the back for just how well they have implemented the squad-based system. Any object or person that can be interacted with can just be done with a simple button press and move of the mouse. You can either do things yourself or assign your officers to do it for you. The AI is pretty much without fail, it obeys the rules of the job whilst never making you feel a spectator in the world.
The in game firefights are among the best I have had. Dark rooms muzzle flashes, smoke, a shout, sounds of bullets, SWAT 4 has it all and it just feels brilliant. When you do land a hit on a target you never know how they will react – they may put down their weapon, they may hobble away if hit in the leg or they may just drop down dead. All of this is done whilst trying to protect the innocents that are around the level. These innocents though also have to be dealt with within procedure and secured and radioed in so that no “mistakes” happen.
Some may read all the above and think “how boring” but its not, it’s very tactical, it looks and plays great and after countless ‘run and gun’ games this is a welcome addition to the genre.
SWAT 4 also features the best multi-player mode I have yet seen. Now many of you know I’m not a big fan of multi-player but the co-op mode in SWAT 4 is very addictive and very well done.
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
