MRG
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- Joined
- Mar 24, 2007
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Greetings all,
While wandering aimlessly at the local mall, I found myself standing infront of the local PC gaming store. I think it was a Gamestop, but i'm not sure. Why I ended up there is a mystery to even me, since as a whole I tend to avoid stores like them. They seem to think that just because they are inside the mall, it gives them the right to charge double over what any other retailer would cost. Well it didn't take long for me to realize that perhaps there is something to fate afterall for I found another little jewel of a game by way of the bargin bin.
Amongst the other junk in the bargin bin, I saw a single copy of a game that I remember came out a couple years ago & at the time looked interesting. For one reason or another, I ended up not buying it at the time, after which I forgot about it.
In the event that you didn't read the name of this post & simply clicked on the link because you were bored, the game I found was S.W.A.T 4.
Let me begin by saying that SWAT 4 is a fun game that left me with a big brown-you-know-what eating grin on my face after playing it. For those that need a comparison, I would have to say that the closest game to come to SWAT 4, would be the Rainbow6 series of games, though perhaps not quite as technical.
Like the above quote states, you are the team leader of a SWAT squad. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is the execution of the mission in as professional & timely a manner as is possible.
While not as graphically intense as some games, the graphics are not by any means poor & the audio is rather good. The banter between your squad mates helps to bring you into the game. There is the typical assortment of weapons & equipment such as shotguns, pistols, SMG's, several types of grenades among others. A rather interesting addition is the stun grenade which shoots out rubber pellets in a manner that takes down enemies in a fast, if non-lethal way. At which time you can subdue them by various means. 2 of which are that you can use handcuffs or wireties.
The command interface is quite indebth. The ability to split up your squad & command them remotly is clever, if not exactly new. What is new, is the fact that while you are commanding them remotely, your view of the squad is transmitted via video & audio that is transmitted via the cam that is attached to every player. So in other words your view is almost "Over the shoulder" of one of the squad members of the team thats operating remotely. You really have to see it for yourself to fully appreciate just how clever an idea it is & how well it is implimented into the game.
It took a little getting used to watching the "screen-in-screen" of the view that the member behind me was seeing. You can also go into "control-mode" when a squad member is in a good position for a sniper shot. You basically look through his eyes as he takes the shot.
In games like Splinter Cell & Rainbow6: Vegas, you get a tool that enables you to look under doors, well in SWAT 4, the tool is a little different. You can use it to peek around corners, objects or into rooms to check for enemy movement. You get the "Screen-on-Screen" feature again with a video feedback while using the tool. Extremely useful.
The missions themselves are cleverly laid out. Thus making you "think, before you "act". Going in with guns blazing will not always be the best route & will quite often cause you to fail the mission.
As you are playing, you are able to shout out various commands to either your squadmates or to enemy or civillians. Commands like "Put your hands up!" & "Don't anyone move!" in a rather convincing voice. There are a whole bunch of other commands that can be issued as well, such as "Open that door & clear the room!" For some reason (lack of sleep I think) I found it extremely funny when as I walked into a room with my squad mates, one of them yelled out in an excited voice that there were doughnuts on the table while the other member in the squad gave him a hard time. For some reason I kept laughing at this.
PRO's:
Interesting level design, decent weapon selection, Realistic audio, Custom Mission editor. Semi-Solid tactical shooter. Decent graphics for a game thats over 2 years old. A Simple to use command interface.
CON's:
Death animations are a little "off". Static gameworld. Limited ability to interact with the gameworld itself. Bullet impact on bodies is clearly rated for a Teen gamer base. However, I do recommend the game. It is alot of fun.
Final Score = 3.5/5
Official Website:
http://www.swat4.com/us/site.html
-MRG
While wandering aimlessly at the local mall, I found myself standing infront of the local PC gaming store. I think it was a Gamestop, but i'm not sure. Why I ended up there is a mystery to even me, since as a whole I tend to avoid stores like them. They seem to think that just because they are inside the mall, it gives them the right to charge double over what any other retailer would cost. Well it didn't take long for me to realize that perhaps there is something to fate afterall for I found another little jewel of a game by way of the bargin bin.
Amongst the other junk in the bargin bin, I saw a single copy of a game that I remember came out a couple years ago & at the time looked interesting. For one reason or another, I ended up not buying it at the time, after which I forgot about it.
In the event that you didn't read the name of this post & simply clicked on the link because you were bored, the game I found was S.W.A.T 4.
Let me begin by saying that SWAT 4 is a fun game that left me with a big brown-you-know-what eating grin on my face after playing it. For those that need a comparison, I would have to say that the closest game to come to SWAT 4, would be the Rainbow6 series of games, though perhaps not quite as technical.
Like the above quote states, you are the team leader of a SWAT squad. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is the execution of the mission in as professional & timely a manner as is possible.
While not as graphically intense as some games, the graphics are not by any means poor & the audio is rather good. The banter between your squad mates helps to bring you into the game. There is the typical assortment of weapons & equipment such as shotguns, pistols, SMG's, several types of grenades among others. A rather interesting addition is the stun grenade which shoots out rubber pellets in a manner that takes down enemies in a fast, if non-lethal way. At which time you can subdue them by various means. 2 of which are that you can use handcuffs or wireties.
The command interface is quite indebth. The ability to split up your squad & command them remotly is clever, if not exactly new. What is new, is the fact that while you are commanding them remotely, your view of the squad is transmitted via video & audio that is transmitted via the cam that is attached to every player. So in other words your view is almost "Over the shoulder" of one of the squad members of the team thats operating remotely. You really have to see it for yourself to fully appreciate just how clever an idea it is & how well it is implimented into the game.
It took a little getting used to watching the "screen-in-screen" of the view that the member behind me was seeing. You can also go into "control-mode" when a squad member is in a good position for a sniper shot. You basically look through his eyes as he takes the shot.
In games like Splinter Cell & Rainbow6: Vegas, you get a tool that enables you to look under doors, well in SWAT 4, the tool is a little different. You can use it to peek around corners, objects or into rooms to check for enemy movement. You get the "Screen-on-Screen" feature again with a video feedback while using the tool. Extremely useful.
The missions themselves are cleverly laid out. Thus making you "think, before you "act". Going in with guns blazing will not always be the best route & will quite often cause you to fail the mission.
As you are playing, you are able to shout out various commands to either your squadmates or to enemy or civillians. Commands like "Put your hands up!" & "Don't anyone move!" in a rather convincing voice. There are a whole bunch of other commands that can be issued as well, such as "Open that door & clear the room!" For some reason (lack of sleep I think) I found it extremely funny when as I walked into a room with my squad mates, one of them yelled out in an excited voice that there were doughnuts on the table while the other member in the squad gave him a hard time. For some reason I kept laughing at this.
PRO's:
Interesting level design, decent weapon selection, Realistic audio, Custom Mission editor. Semi-Solid tactical shooter. Decent graphics for a game thats over 2 years old. A Simple to use command interface.
CON's:
Death animations are a little "off". Static gameworld. Limited ability to interact with the gameworld itself. Bullet impact on bodies is clearly rated for a Teen gamer base. However, I do recommend the game. It is alot of fun.
Final Score = 3.5/5
Official Website:
http://www.swat4.com/us/site.html
-MRG
