. WW: 25 March 2011,Mode(s)Syphon Filter is a developed by and published by for. It is the first game in the, the plot centres on special agents Gabriel 'Gabe' Logan and Lian Xing who are tasked by the United States government to apprehend a German international terrorist.Development on Syphon Filter began with the intention of creating a new 'super-spy' genre hybrid that contained elements of - and solving. The game was almost cancelled several times during development as Eidetic faced many difficulties due to the lack of inspiration from others and their inexperience in creating video games.
Despite the initial drawbacks faced, Syphon Filter was met with positive reviews from critics upon release, mostly directed at its innovation and immersive plot. A still image from the first level of the game. The interface displays Logan's armour, ammunition count and radar.The game is presented in a perspective, and the player can freely move in three-dimensional space and rotate the camera in any direction.
The top left corner of the screen interface shows the status of Logan's armour, a 'danger-meter' which rises as the player engages enemies through combat, and a target lock. A radar is displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen which shows the location of various objects including friendly units, enemies, weapon pick ups or mission objectives. The current weapon equipped is always displayed in the bottom right corner, with the ammunition count.
The soundtrack is appropriate with excellent action cues. Its too bad you hear the UMD spooling up before the song plays though, it spoils a bit of the suspense. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror has great graphics for the PSP and excellent gameplay. I loved this game so much that after getting rid of my copy I had before, I could not settle for a.
Depending on the weapon used, the camera will shift to mode to assist in aiming.The core of the gameplay is focused on stealth-based tactics, which require one to silently take out enemies using silenced weapons or other lethal attacks. However, most of the game is -oriented, which involves Logan navigating through levels whilst shooting enemies. The game takes place in a wide variety of locations, including narrow interior streets of to wide open plains of. In some stealth based missions, the game will involve various puzzles. Some locations feature low light ambience, which force the player to use their despite its drawbacks imposed during stealth missions. Plot In the year 1999, Gabriel Logan and his partner Lian Xing investigate a series of biological outbreaks triggered by international terrorist Erich Rhoemer. When fellow agent Ellis loses contact during a mission in Costa Rica, the top-secret Agency dispatches Gabe and Lian to find him.
They discover Ellis is dead, and Rhoemer's suspected drug operation is a cover for the viral operation. Another outbreak in Nepal leads to more questions when an infected person who should have perished somehow survived.Before the Agency can pursue Rhoemer, he assaults Washington, D.C.
And threatens to detonate viral bombs scattered across the city. Gabe battles several terrorists, including Mara Aramov, as he follows the trail of bombs across city streets, subways, Washington Park and finally Freedom Memorial where he must incinerate munitions expert Anton Girdeux to stop the final threat.Gabe's investigation takes him to a new lead from PharCom, a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headed by Jonathan Phagan.
The Costa Rican plantation was growing PharCom compounds, meaning Phagan and Rhoemer were cooperating. At the PharCom Exposition Center, Gabe shadows Phagan to a meeting with Aramov and Edward Benton, an apparent Agency turncoat who assisted Rhoemer during the Washington D.C. Attack.After Gabe eliminates Benton, he saves Phagan from assassination only to have him escape. Mara Aramov, now in custody, had attempted to locate PharCom's virus labs. Gabe must set aside the hunt for Phagan to destroy Rhoemer's base in Kazakhstan.
During his assignment, Rhoemer seemingly kills Lian, but Agency Director Thomas Markinson rescues Gabe.Markinson gives Gabe a report on the virus called Syphon Filter, a bioweapon that one can program on a genetic level to target specific groups of people. Markinson orders Gabe to infiltrate Rhoemer's stronghold in Ukraine to inject test subjects with a vaccine and locate Phagan, who is now Rhoemer's prisoner.
In the catacombs, Phagan tells Gabe that Lian is alive, and they reunite. Lian has become infected with Syphon Filter, and she says there is no universal cure.Mara Aramov arrives to shoot Phagan, but she convinces Gabe and Lian that she came to help. The three travel to PharCom's warehouses in hopes of preventing Rhoemer from launching a missile. Lian reveals that the serum Gabe injected into the test subjects was really a lethal chemical, and Markinson was having them killed. Using the fighting between Rhoemer's terrorists and Phagan's security personnel to cover his insertion, Gabe descends into a silo and searches for the missile's detonation codes.He finds Markinson, who admits that the Agency was in fact in cahoots with Black Baton all along.
Rhoemer worked for Markinson, since the latter wanted the virus in the Agency's possession. He never permitted the missile attack, but before he can stop it, Rhoemer kills Markinson with a headshot. Gabe must reach the missile's control center in time and destroy it. Enraged, Rhoemer engages Gabe in a final fight, but is killed with a gas grenade.Their mission completed, Gabe and Lian call in the U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command (CBDC) to secure the area. They do not know how far Markinson was cooperating with Rhoemer and Phagan, but Gabe believes they may never know. In a post-credits scene, Aramov approaches a mysterious man inside the Agency headquarters and whispers something in his ear.
He congratulates her while the camera pulls back to show PharCom boxes in the office.Development. Syphon Filter went through a few rough patches and came close to being cancelled several times.John Garvin in an interview with PlayStation US, October 2012According to creative director John Garvin, Syphon Filter was originally conceived as 'just a name' from a producer at. Initially, there was no plot, character or gameplay from the original one page synopsis. Decided to set Syphon Filter as a new 'stealth-action' hybrid that focused heavily on weapons, gadgets and stealth.
The team's lead designer was influenced over 's successful for the Nintendo 64, and implemented the game's mechanics to have a similar feel for a new 'super spy' genre.The team experienced immense difficulty in creating the game, as Garvin noted that there were 'no, or few, games' from which Eidetic could draw inspiration. Most of the team that developed Syphon Filter had little experience with making third-person action games, as Eidetic's only video game released for a console was, which was released three years prior for the PlayStation and was infamous for being critically panned as. Despite the initial difficulties with staff and lack of experience, Eidetic produced a prototype which involved a shooting segment in an. Garvin admitted that the team 'didn't know anything about making realistic shooters set in a spy world' as the game came close to being cancelled several times throughout development because the team was missing deadlines, revamping mechanics and changing the story.
During development, the team of thirteen re-wrote several drafts as the game was being conceived. The original plot of Syphon Filter was intended as a science-fiction orientated approach and involved a group of kidnapped scientists who were being forced to build a time machine by an unspecified antagonistic organisation. The storyline was radically changed when John Garvin was hired to be art director, later creative director. Reception ReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScore90/100Review scoresPublicationScore6/10B+9/109.5/10Syphon Filter received 'critical acclaim' reviews, according to video game.
Stated that, although the game borrows elements from both GoldenEye 007 and and that 'the execution could have been better accomplished, Eidetic introduced a few ideas of its own, and these go a long way towards providing the game with its own identity.' The blend of a stealth-action hybrid gameplay was praised by most critics. Doug Perry of enjoyed the implemented skill-based action that he considered was 'hard to come by in a PlayStation game'. Perry praised the game's detail and advanced graphics, but criticised the low resolution and noting that the game's was 'not perfect'. Despite this, he noted that what Syphon Filter 'gives up in frame rate it provides in character and environment detail'.similarly praised the attention to detail, calling every texture of the game 'well planned and rendered'. However, they claimed that the graphics were not as good as Metal Gear Solid.
They also noted that during some points the game 'suffers from many typical PlayStation polygonal errors', causing some textures to become 'warped' when viewed from an angle, although they noted that glitches were uncommon and did not affect gameplay in any way.The gameplay and were the most praised aspects of the game. Game Revolution noted the gameplay was 'well above average' and had an excellent, in contrast to games such as once completed. Perry praised the game's wide variety of weapons and gadgets, having counted at least thirty different weapons and equipment for the player to use, with the added bonus of secret weapons, adding to the gameplay value. Game Revolution added that the AI was 'perhaps the best part of the game', commending on how certain enemies react on when one of their comrades are killed nearby. IGN similarly praised its AI, pointing out on how every time a level is played the AI would change its behaviour, sometimes hiding behind trees or carrying different weapons.reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'With unique gameplay, a tight story, and some genuinely exciting moments, Syphon Filter is one of the first quality action games of the year and well worth a good look.'
Sequels Due to its popularity, Sony commissioned to make various sequels and spin-offs to the game. Was released in 2000 to popular reviews from critics, and another direct sequel, was released in 2001 to mixed reviews upon release. Two spin-offs were released for the in 2006 and 2007; and, respectively.
A port to the for Logan's Shadow was released exclusively in North America in 2010. The two spin-offs were met with mixed to positive reviews from critics, which led to the end of the Syphon Filter series in 2007. References. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2012. ^.
Retrieved 6 May 2015. ^ Nunneley, Stephany. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
^ Yoon, Andrew. Retrieved 29 May 2015. ^ Shuman, Sid. PlayStation US. Retrieved 2 May 2015. Stuart, Keith; Kelly, Andy; Parkin, Simon; Cobbett, Richard (15 October 2015).
The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2018. ^. Retrieved 6 May 2015. ^ 'Syphon Filter'. P. 92. ^ Fefnir (1 February 1999).
Retrieved 6 May 2015. Gerstmann, Jeff (12 February 1999).
Retrieved 6 May 2015. ^ Perry, Doug (17 February 1999). Retrieved 6 May 2015. ^ 'Finals'.
Retrieved 11 September 2015. Fujita, Mark. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
Retrieved 11 September 2015. ^. Retrieved 11 September 2015. Haynes, Jeff (2 October 2007). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
With stealth games and third-person action games all the rage right now (, Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, Tenchu, etc.), it's no surprise that a title should arrive that combines elements of both. Syphon Filter, for lack of a better comparison, takes elements of both Tomb Raider and (or, possibly even Tenchu) and knits them together to form an action game that is two-thirds gun-blasting chaos and one-third stealth. However, it's not so much a stealth game in that you can't allow yourself to be found. Oh no, you'll be seen a great deal in Syphon Filter. Rather, you'll need to use your keen sense of awareness to take advantage of your surroundings and emerge alive in this tale of kill-or-be-killed.The main character in Syphon Filter goes by the name of Gabe.
Each level has objectives that you must complete in order to advance the story line. You're kept up to date by your contact at headquarters who will periodically send you new instructions on-the-fly. No sooner have you taken down one Boss character, when your superiors radio in another set of instructions. The game is fast-paced and will keep you on your toes as militant soldiers swarm in from all sectors, sometimes attempting to get to you, but more often than not, engaging in gunfire with your fellow agents. You must be careful not to get caught in a cross-fire, as friendly fire can damage you too. Furthermore, you must also be careful not to shoot one of your own men.
Thankfully, your crew runs around in bright yellow suits, so identifying your allies shouldn't be a problem. Quite often, gunfire will be whizzing all over the place, right outside a window you might happen to be standing. It gives you a feeling that things are happening whether you're present or not, making you feel like you're part of a really big mission and not some solo hotshot.
Gabe has a large number of moves available to him. He can, of course, run in all directions, a simple process which is greatly aided by Dual-Shock compatibility.
Using the analog pad makes things much easier on the thumb in this game. Gabe, being the limber cat that he is, can also duck, duck and roll, shoot his gun, duck and shoot his gun, strafe and climb objects.
One of the best features in the game is the auto-lock. This reduces the stress caused by the sometimes awkward camera angles, because if there's a baddie in the area, Gabe will automatically lock on to him. You can even pick off guys firing at you from rooftops, which you can't even see. Another reason that this is such a welcome feature is because the graphics can be pretty rough at times, making it difficult to see the bad guy dressed in black at the end of a particularly grainy alley. Gabriel Logan has a tough assignment. He must navigate through seven assassin-filled levels while convincing gamers that Syphon Filter is no /Metal Gear clone.
Of course the latter is not really Gabriel's concern, but it's definitely something the developers (989 Studios, formerly Sony Interactive Studios) are clearly trying to accomplish.To help break away from similar games, Syphon Filter places the emphasis on action and less on puzzlesolving elements. That's not to say the action is mindless. Enemies are placed in strategic locations which require some planning prior to assault. The best example of this is in the park level where snipers are trying to prevent you from completing your objectives by cornering you into traps.
In addition to making you use your head, you'll have access to more than 20 weapons which range from the standard to the 'oh yeah' level.scopes are one of the trendier accessories making their rounds in other games and they have found a home here. Syphon Filter does up the ante a bit by adding an infrared scope which detects body heat and tracks enemies by it. Very cool.In the end, it'll take good enemy Al and proper level balancing to make Gabriel and his game standout out from the pack. OverviewShow me one red-blooded American male who has not, at one point or another in his life, dreamed of being a secret agent. Try as you may, you will not find one. I think that every kid's dream is to have all the coolest new weapons to blast the bad guys and save the world.
It looks like our childhood dreams have come true, because in you get to do all these things and more.Your name is Gabe Logan and you are a guerrilla warfare expert in the areas of Counterterrorism, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Assault and Stealth. You are trained on a number of different assault weapons with numerous targeting options. It is up to you to use these skills to stop the deadly Syphon Filter virus from being unleashed on U.S.
There is no more time for dreaming about being a secret agent, because this is the real deal. GameplayI don't know where to start. Should I begin with the awesome weapons? The challenging missions?
The surprisingly decent voice-overs? The complex yet intuitive control system? The interactive environments? No, I think I will start with the super intelligence of the enemies. You will face a number of enemies throughout your missions, but one thing I found was that they can definitely be smart. I don't want to give them too much credit, because there were times that the enemies seemed to have no brains at all, but mixed in were some pretty impressive moves on their part. For example, there were three enemies standing near each other.
I ran by and tossed a grenade between them. I heard one shout 'incoming' and the guys jumped out of the way. Another example is the constant surprises they will heap on you. I could be running across a beam way up high only to hear gunfire coming from the ground. Apparently one of the enemies detected my movement and was taking pot shots at me. This game has some of the best AI that I have seen in a PSX game to date. Now let's talk about weapons.
What secret agent would be complete without access to some seriously kick-ass weapons? Not to worry, because you will have the opportunity to lay waste with some of the coolest weapons around. One of my personal favorites was the sniper rifle.
By holding in one of the shoulder buttons and moving the control stick around, you can aim for specific areas on the enemy's body. By holding in the triangle button, you can zoom in for pinpoint accuracy. Line up the scope with the enemy's head and all it takes is one shot to send him tumbling off the roof. This weapon is enhanced later on in the game, when you find the night vision sniper rifle which detects heat from people in the area and gives off a look similar to the look in the move Predator.
If finesse is not your thing, there are also plenty of weapons of mass destruction. The M-79 Grenade Launcher is great for killing multiple enemies with one shot. Nothing clears a room faster. Let's move on to the challenging missions.
First off, the game is mission/objective based. You start out with a number of objectives that are required to complete the overall mission. It is not uncommon to have objectives added during the middle of your mission. These objectives vary from disarming bombs to killing ringleaders. There is no doubt you will find each of the missions progressively more difficult as the game progresses almost to the point of frustration.
It turns out that the majority of my frustration was the result of missing something in a dark corner or not noticing a ledge to jump up to, but this does not diminish the challenge at all.One of the things that is consistently bad in games is the voice acting. You can tell that the translations aren't accurate. This really makes a game lose credibility in my eyes. I think they did a great job making Syphon Filter as real as possible, and the voice acting played a big part in this. There is no B-movie quality acting here. You really feel as if you are in the middle of a big-budget spy flick. On to the controls.
The game has a training video that will explain all the controls to you, and I suggest you watch it. Actually, I suggest you watch it twice. This game has a ton of actions and uses every single button on the controller (some buttons are actually used for multiple actions).
I usually prefer simple controls and was a bit hesitant about the complexity of the controls. It turns out that, the more you play, the more intuitive the controls become. By the time you finish your first mission, they should almost be second nature to you. I will admit that there were some things I never really got good at, like running away from somebody and switching weapons at the same time.
It was just too difficult to watch where I was going and watch the weapons cycle past. Other than this, they are spot-on.Something else that really adds to the realism of the game is the interactive environment. If you shoot at glass, it breaks. If you see a box, you can climb on top of it.
A perfect example of the cool little touches they added to the game happens very early on. You will come to a gate with a padlock on it. You can't get past, so you will seem to be stuck. Instead, you can switch to the manual aim mode and aim your pistol at the padlock. One shot and you will blow the lock off the gate.
This may sound like a subtlety, but it is the little things like this which add up and make the overall experience work so well. I honestly don't have any real complaints about the game.
There were a few instances where the old 3D control problem reared its ugly head, but other than that I really can't complain much. Oh yeah, one other thing that bothered me a bit was that some of the missions tended to drag on a little too long and the objectives were fairly vague. This is just nitpicking, though. GraphicsThe graphics were not the best, but they were not the worst either. I could tell this game has been in development for a while.
The backgrounds looked a bit on the blocky side at times as well. The graphics did not really hurt the game in any way, which is good, but I wish they were a bit more crisp and clean. 989 Studios sneaks onto the spy scene with an awesome third-person action game that would stir even 007 to raise his martini in salute. Once you get past its lame name, Syphon Filter's captivating mix of thrilling action, sweet controls, and beautiful visuals catapults it into the ranks of the PlayStations must-buy games. Viral ThreatPlaying as Gabe Logan, an operative with the shadowy Agency, you're charged with eliminating a group of terrorists before the release a lethal virus known as Syphon Filter. An intriguing setup, it translates into the white-knuckle thrills of a Bond flick as Gabe solves challenge after challenge with a little smarts and a lot of lead.
Its the kind of twitchy, combat-heavy gameplay that will hook action gamers hard.Missions usually begin with a few objectives (locating viral bombs or terminating viral scientists) and a whole lot of terrorists in between. 989 keeps the pace snappy and surprising as your partner, Lian Xing, frequently radios in new objectives, changes in the plan, and other challenges. Mayhem isn't the only way to succeed, either-you'll often need to be a sneaky little weasel and worm your way past the enemy when their superior numbers could shred your flak jacket fastIts one hell of an exciting ride, which makes the games only significant flaw a real shame. Save points are few and too far between, though checkpoints (which you can't save at) somewhat reduce the boredom of replaying familiar territory. It's a disappointing annoyance, but it doesn't ruin the show. Target SightedLike any good spy, Gabe's got moves-sidestepping, sneaking, rolling for cover, and much more-but topnotch camerawork and targeting really set Syphon apart.
Plenty of other games leave you in the lurch when it comes to perspective, yet Syphons camera never strands you as Gabe blasts away. Lining up shots is also simple with both the intuitive Target Lock mode, which lets you easily run in one direction while shooting in another, and the in-depth Sniper mode.Factor in the smooth analog movement, and Syphon's controls score top honors for their responsiveness and ease of use. Useful radar, automapping, and inventory systems complete Gabes arsenal. Superfly SuperspyFluid animations steal the show. Gabe moves with graceful stealth as he stalks enemies, slams home new clips, and the like.
The terrorists capture the eye, too, clutching their wounds and geysering blood.Detailed scenery showcases everything from the D.C. Subway to a spooky monastery-turned-biolab.
Excellent lighting, ranging from the glare of a subway cars headlights to Gabes flashlight, makes the levels look spectacular.Killer sounds keep the tension levels high. Dramatic music warns you of imminent danger, while the weapon effects, from the whuff of a silenced pistol to the metallic cough of armor-piercing rounds, flat-out rock.
The voice acting gets a tad cheesy at times, but, hey, you can't have everything. Cunning for GoldenEye?So how does Syphon stack up against gamings spy superpowers? On the PlayStation, Metal Gear Solids thoughtful, strategic action is a different beast, and its appeal is so different from Syphon's that there's plenty of room for both (think C&C versus ).
Facing off against the N64 superstar, Syphon keeps pace with GoldenEyes one-player game, but GoldenEyes excellent multiplayer action gives it the go-ahead goal.Which leaves Syphon in the fine position of being the PlayStation's best third-person action game and one of gamings leading espionage thrillers. If intensely addictive run-n-gun action sounds cool, snap up a copy of Syphon-you won't put the controller down for days, maybe weeks. ProTips:. In Roehmer's Base, shoot out the searchlights with a silenced weapon to prevent alarms.
One-shot kills work with head shots or with the combat shotgun, 45 pistol, grenades, gas grenades, or M-79. If you get to the Mars exhibit in the museum without finding a key-card, go back to the huge rocket. With one of the stranger names in gaming as of late (rivaled only by Eggs of Steel and Irritating Stick), Syphon Filter comes to us from Eidetic and 989 Studios. In this 3D action/adventure reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid, Mission: Impossible and GoldenEye in some aspects, you control Special Operations agent Gabriel Logan as he tries to unravel the mystery behind a terrorist organization and a deadly biological weapon they possess which is capable of destroying mankind altogether. Obviously, this is a bad thing.So, as Gabe, your job is to make your way through a variety of levels, each with its own real-life look (e.g., subways, city streets, parks, etc.), and a number of enemies, obstacles and objectives to save everybody in the world. So far, the story is quite interesting and is weaved into the levels rather well, thanks to CG cinematics, above-average voice work and large, well thought-out stages. Some levels have you chasing an enemy down subway tunnels, with trains going both ways right next to you.
One wrong step, or a misjudged roll and you're dead. Another level has you following a major player in the game's plot through a museum.
But if you get too close, or pull out your weapon, his guards will be alerted and your mission will be a failure. Weapon-wise, Syphon Filter isn't lacking, but it's obvious the game's emphasis is on strategy and not carnage. Nonetheless, you'll find a variety of weapons, ranging from your standard 9mm with silencer to a deadly Assault Rifle, among many others.You may remember the developer of this one and their work on another game from the past. If not, let us refresh your memory.
Eidetic is best known for the 3D update to, with for the PlayStation. But don't worry-even this beta version of Syphon Filter is leaps and bounds better than the finished Bubsy 3D, and might even end up being a keeper when it's completed (the Review Crew will let you know soon). Please note: This preview is more of an update, showing you new pictures and such. For another preview of Syphon Filter (with more detailed info concerning the game, its story line and how it plays), check in the December issue of EGM (#113).
I'm sure many of you are anxiously awaiting to find out what scores we gave this game, especially considering 989 Studios' recent track record. Well, to be honest I'm going back and forth on Syphon Filter even now as I write this review. On one hand Syphon Filter is a lame attempt at a Metal Gear Solid-type of game. It has several minor but annoying graphical and control glitches, in addition to several examples of cheap deaths. But then on the other hand there are some original areas in many of the game's levels, and an interesting plot twist or two that get you wrapped up in the game's intriguing story.
Then I realize Syphon Filter can actually stand on its own two legs without having to rely too heavily on the hype caused by MGS. There are enough cool areas and well-executed ideas in Syphon Filter to pull this out of what could've easily been a nose-dive right into mediocrity. I give Eidetic a lot of credit. It couldn't have been easy to make a game like this-especially considering that it's out not too long after the monumental Metal Gear (which I own but never formally reviewed).
So if you can overlook the minor problems I've mentioned, you should find you've purchased yourself a nice little title. It's certainly more interesting than most people thought it was going to be. I would buy it.
Admit it: Golden-Eye always looked cool to all you PlayStation owners. Luckily, Syphon Filter might just save your day with its promising espionage-themed action. Yeah, the game's name is pretty feeble, but the premise seems charged with adrenaline: You play as a secret agent battling terrorists intent on attacking the U.S. With lethal viruses. The combat-intensive gameplay goes down in a third-person view, but you can also switch to a slick sniper view, replete with green night vision. Armed from a selection of 20-plus weapons and equipped with cool toys like a silencer and a flashlight, you save the day in missions set in subways, military bases, and elsewhere. If this hot prospect lives up to its potential, you'll finally be able to get over that GoldenEye envy.
OverviewShow me one red-blooded American male who has not, at one point or another in his life, dreamed of being a secret agent. Try as you may, you will not find one. I think that every kid's dream is to have all the coolest new weapons to blast the bad guys and save the world. It looks like our childhood dreams have come true, because in you get to do all these things and more.Your name is Gabe Logan and you are a guerrilla warfare expert in the areas of Counterterrorism, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Assault and Stealth. You are trained on a number of different assault weapons with numerous targeting options.
It is up to you to use these skills to stop the deadly Syphon Filter virus from being unleashed on U.S. There is no more time for dreaming about being a secret agent, because this is the real deal.
GameplayI don't know where to start. Should I begin with the awesome weapons?
The challenging missions? The surprisingly decent voice-overs? The complex yet intuitive control system? The interactive environments? No, I think I will start with the super intelligence of the enemies.
You will face a number of enemies throughout your missions, but one thing I found was that they can definitely be smart. I don't want to give them too much credit, because there were times that the enemies seemed to have no brains at all, but mixed in were some pretty impressive moves on their part. For example, there were three enemies standing near each other.
I ran by and tossed a grenade between them. I heard one shout 'incoming' and the guys jumped out of the way. Another example is the constant surprises they will heap on you.
I could be running across a beam way up high only to hear gunfire coming from the ground. Apparently one of the enemies detected my movement and was taking pot shots at me. This game has some of the best AI that I have seen in a PSX game to date.Now let's talk about weapons. What secret agent would be complete without access to some seriously kick-ass weapons? Not to worry, because you will have the opportunity to lay waste with some of the coolest weapons around.
One of my personal favorites was the sniper rifle. By holding in one of the shoulder buttons and moving the control stick around, you can aim for specific areas on the enemy's body. By holding in the triangle button, you can zoom in for pinpoint accuracy. Line up the scope with the enemy's head and all it takes is one shot to send him tumbling off the roof.
This weapon is enhanced later on in the game, when you find the night vision sniper rifle which detects heat from people in the area and gives off a look similar to the look in the move Predator. If finesse is not your thing, there are also plenty of weapons of mass destruction. The M-79 Grenade Launcher is great for killing multiple enemies with one shot. Nothing clears a room faster. Let's move on to the challenging missions.
First off, the game is mission/objective based. You start out with a number of objectives that are required to complete the overall mission. It is not uncommon to have objectives added during the middle of your mission. These objectives vary from disarming bombs to killing ringleaders. There is no doubt you will find each of the missions progressively more difficult as the game progresses almost to the point of frustration. It turns out that the majority of my frustration was the result of missing something in a dark corner or not noticing a ledge to jump up to, but this does not diminish the challenge at all.One of the things that is consistently bad in games is the voice acting. You can tell that the translations aren't accurate.
This really makes a game lose credibility in my eyes. I think they did a great job making Syphon Filter as real as possible, and the voice acting played a big part in this. There is no B-movie quality acting here.
You really feel as if you are in the middle of a big-budget spy flick.On to the controls. The game has a training video that will explain all the controls to you, and I suggest you watch it. Actually, I suggest you watch it twice. This game has a ton of actions and uses every single button on the controller (some buttons are actually used for multiple actions).
I usually prefer simple controls and was a bit hesitant about the complexity of the controls. It turns out that, the more you play, the more intuitive the controls become. By the time you finish your first mission, they should almost be second nature to you.
I will admit that there were some things I never really got good at, like running away from somebody and switching weapons at the same time. It was just too difficult to watch where I was going and watch the weapons cycle past. Other than this, they are spot-on.Something else that really adds to the realism of the game is the interactive environment.
If you shoot at glass, it breaks. If you see a box, you can climb on top of it. A perfect example of the cool little touches they added to the game happens very early on. You will come to a gate with a padlock on it. You can't get past, so you will seem to be stuck. Instead, you can switch to the manual aim mode and aim your pistol at the padlock.
One shot and you will blow the lock off the gate. This may sound like a subtlety, but it is the little things like this which add up and make the overall experience work so well.I honestly don't have any real complaints about the game. There were a few instances where the old 3D control problem reared its ugly head, but other than that I really can't complain much. Oh yeah, one other thing that bothered me a bit was that some of the missions tended to drag on a little too long and the objectives were fairly vague.
This is just nitpicking, though. GraphicsThe graphics were not the best, but they were not the worst either. I could tell this game has been in development for a while. The backgrounds looked a bit on the blocky side at times as well. The graphics did not really hurt the game in any way, which is good, but I wish they were a bit more crisp and clean. In the never-ending battle over which system rules, PlayStation gamers may finally have an answer for N64 owners who wave the smash hit GoldenEye in their face: Syphon Filter. Okay, so the name doesn't have even close to the same ring, but the gameplay has the guts and the graphics have the glory to be tagged as the PlayStation's answer to GoldenEye.Syphon Filter's set to strafe shelves in February with what will likely be the best third-person action game on the PlayStation.
What about Metal Gear Solid? Syphon Filter will be pretty different focusing more on run-n-gun bat-des and less on stealthy adventuring. The 75 percent preview version we played was on track with the style of a big-budget action flick and the right combo of smarts and gunplay. Three months before its release.
Syphon filter had the makings of a surefire hit. Secret AgentLike most good games. Syphon filter will begin with a compelling story.
When work started on the game back in January 1997, Ebola virus scares were as huge as X-Frles conspiracy theories. Both influences echo throughout the tale of Gabe Logan, a counterterrorist operative for the mysterious Agency, who's tasked with taking down terrorists bent on unleashing a viral plague in the U.S. As Gabe takes names and kicks butts, it will gradually become clear that larger forces are at work.including some shady happenings inside the Agency that will ultimately lead to a showdown in Kazakhstan.So what's a 'syphon filter,' anyway? 'To tell you the honest truth,' says Connie Booth, executive producer of Syphon Filter and producer of the first two games, 'it doesn't mean anything it just looks cool.
We tied it into the back story, though. Its the name of the virus that Gabe must prevent the terrorists from releasing.' Uh, okay, that settles that. PunksSyphon Filters gritty one-player-only gameplay should breathe life into its cool story line with an action-heavy focus that will evoke the excitement of playing as a commando.
Most of Gabe's problems will be solved with the right ammo and the skills to survive the gunfight, though you'll definitely need to dust off your gray matter now and then. The missions will usually dish out intense gun battles, accompanied by objectives like assassinating key figures, providing covering fire for bomb squads, and so on.But, as with Gabe's Agency, things will never be what they seem. Lian Xing, Gabe's partner and mission controller, will often radio in with sudden changes in the plan, including new tasks and new threats. 'We didn't want it to be this static thing where you go in, do your objective, and get out,' explains Booth.
'In real life, things happen. So surprises take place. Of course, they're scripted, but it feels like they're happening partly as a result of what you're doing.' The result will be a volatile, fluid feel to the gameplay that'll ratchet up the excitement.Gabe's no, though, and that means stealth will often be crucial to success. While it won't be nearly as central to the game as it is to Metal Gear Solid, sneaking past terrorists and using silenced weapons will sometimes be the only way to survive. Syphon Filter will also try to break free of corridor crawling with what Booth calls 'vertical game-play,' meaning that enemies will blast you from above or below, so you'll have to keep alert in all directions.
Fierce FirepowerWhen it comes to firepower, Gabe will have it all. Over the course of the game, you'll riddle enemies with bullets from machine guns, machine pistols, and shotguns, snipe them with silenced pistols and sniper rifles, obliterate them with grenade launchers-and even fry their eyeballs with tasers.Gabe will have the moves of a commando, too. He'll be able to bust off a slick duck and roll, crouch behind cover, strafe, and, of course, sneak.
And his health will depend on his armor-once his flak vest is toast, he'll be dead meat after a hit or two. Target LockedProbably one of Syphon Filter's coolest features will be its excellent targeting system. In many third-person action games, lining up your shot's a chore, but Syphon filter will provide three ways of aiming (see sidebar 'Targeting Explained'). If you're just running around, Gabe will automatically target the enemy in front of him. Plus, in sniper mode, you'll be able to use the sniper rifle to zoom in or use the night-vision rifle to go infrared and pick off targets at night.
Other weapons will give you a cursor to point in sniper mode so you can go for the all-important head shotFinally, you'll also be able to select and lock on to a target A meter will show you how locked on you are so you'll be able to run in one direction while shooting in another. Superspy StyleWhen it comes to graphics, Syphon Filter's striving to deliver extremely tight camera work Some games have a troublesome floaty perspective that often cuts you out of the action or traps you in tight corners (Tomb Raiders a prime example), but Syphon Filter aims to keep you in the game. If you have your back against a wall, for example, Gabe will become transparent so your view of the action won't be obscured.But his movements are a big part of what 989 Studios hopes will make the visuals truly eye-catching. In the preview version, Gabe already sprinted, aimed, rolled, and crouched with lifelike grace-the result, Booth says, of the game's unique method of animation. 'We motion-captured Gabe, then cut him into pieces,' she explains. 'That sounds kind of gross, but it lets us animate every part of his body separately, so his legs can be running or crouching while his torso's looking and aiming at his target.'
989s focusing on the enemies as well. After Gabe unloads a clip or two into them, they'll spray blood, stagger around clutching their wounds, then crumple to the ground. Dramatic music will cue in at such moments to keep the tension level high. GoldenEye for the PlayStation?That's a tall order, but Booth says that with Syphon Filter the team 'set out to create the ultimate spy/fantasy game,' and, at least in terms of the PlayStation, they appear to be headed for success. Whether Syphon Filter will ultimately match that N64 masterpiece remains to be seen, but, barring a last-minute disaster, it seems clear that PlayStation gamers will have a hot action tide to look for this February.
Targeting ExplainedSyphon Filter supplies three methods of targeting your weapons-and you'll need to use all of them to stay alive. Here's a look at how they worked in the preview version. Standard RimingWhenever Gabe's just moving around, he automatically points his gun at the nearest target straight ahead. SnipingIf you hold L1, Gabe goes into sniper mode. With everything but the sniper rifle and the night-vision rifle, this produces a crosshair you can line up on your target.If you also hold L2 or R2, you can lean out around corners, which is very useful for quietly taking out terrorists without exposing yourself to incoming fire. Target LockBy tapping R1, you can cycle between targets. If you hold R1, you stay locked on the current target, allowing you to run in one direction and shoot in another.Target lock's also useful if you sneak up on an enemy.
A meter in the upper-left corner indicates how locked on you are, so if the enemy doesn't know you're there, you can wait until your aim is perfect and take them out with one shot. If Metal Gear Solid's too sneaky and strategic for your taste, 989 Studios has the answer to your GoldenEye dreams with its action-packed espionage thriller, Syphon Filter. Bullet-Riddled BlastOkay, so the name's kinda silly, but the gameplay in 989 Studios' new spy game would impress 007 himself. Syphon Filter puts you in the flak vest of Gabe Logan, a counter-terrorist operative charged with stopping terrorists who are threatening the U.S. With a deadly virus known as (ahem) Syphon Filter.The gameplay in the early one-level demo was awesome, packing in tons of third-person gun battles and an interesting array of objectives to achieve.
But unlike the methodical Metal Gear Solid, Syphon's a shooter first, delivering the tense excitement of a big-budget espionage film.The only thing missing is two-player deathmatches, but as long as 989 stays on track. Syphon Filter should debut as the PlayStation's one-player answer to GoldenEye. Lock & LoadOne of Syphons most impressive features is its incredibly tight targeting system. Unlike most third-person shooters. Syphon's targeting is a breeze because Gabe automatically aims at the nearest enemy. You can also choose to hold LI for sniper mode or Rl to stealthily select and lock on to unsuspecting targets.
Throw in the fluid camera work and slick, edgy animations, and Syphon's already great fun.Gabe comes equipped with a powerful arsenal, including a sniper rifle, an M-16, a grenade launcher, a silenced pistol, a laser, a shotgun, and more. Cool gadgets like a grapple gun and a night-vision sniper scope add to the excitement of this hot prospect.