DARK MIRROR : SYPHON FILTER (PS2) CODE NAME : DMS

SUMMARY

Gabe Logan is a highly-trained Precision Strike Operative, commanding a black box U.S. Agency that, legally, doesn't exist. Using Precision Strike Tactics, advanced vision technology, and the latest in high-tech weaponary, Logan's specialty is covert operations requiring deadly force. Logan and his team military response, too dangerous for civilian intelligence forces. Logan job is to infiltrate, recon and execute decisively. Once inserted, Logan is his own authority.

REVIEW

Nevertheless, the gameplay is mostly fun. It mixes entertaining shoot-outs with cooperative sequences in which you and a non-player character attack a bad situation together. In one of these, you guide a frightened UN soldier through a toxic deathtrap with your flashlight, and in another, you order Lian to pin the enemy down while you run from cover to cover. When you're simply running around shooting guys, which is most of the game, a decent cover mechanic will usually let you make extremely short work of the enemies. 

From cover, you can safely aim at bad guys without worrying about damage. Combine this with the fact that your first bullet is always dead on no matter what gun you're using, along with the general lethality of headshots, and you'll have no trouble making short work of the legions of foes who throw themselves before your crosshairs. As you get used to the game, you'll become a pro at lining up headshots with pretty much every weapon, and deftly plunk several enemies in a row with single-shot kills. Part of this is due to limited enemy artificial intelligence. (They prefer to stand in the open and shoot.) At any rate, you still feel like a hotshot.

The only real problem is that one button shares two functions: changing weapons and changing firing mode. Late in the game, you'll need to throw grenades and then quickly shift to a high-powered submachine gun to subdue the toughest foes. In the process, it's easy to mistakenly switch the gun to single-shot and waste a very valuable window of opportunity. Aside from this one hitch, the controls are smooth.

SCREENSHOT

MY RATING :  8  |  PRICE : RM10

Recommended : 9

Gameplay : 8

Graphics : 8

Sound : 9