Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

excellent
key review info
  • Game: Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
  • Platform: PSP
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: N/a
  • Reviewed on:

Blessed be the PSP, as it is the only way we can get some fresh action from the resurrected Syphon Filter series. I was a fan of the first game, I liked the second, but Sony was just cruel when releasing the third part and Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain. I mean, disappointment, with capital D. They seized the opportunity of making a game for the portable Playstation and used every bit of it creating a great game.

Story Gabe Logan is back, packing more firepower than ever and he brought his teammate, Lian Xing with him. They have to infiltrate and destroy the para-military group Red Section. Orders come from Washington and unlike the action movies you've seen Gabe doesn't take any prisoners. Far from being the invincible Chuck Norris, Gabe Logan is a Precision Strike Operative and he must infiltrate, spy, and kill the members of the Red Section. The USA agency in which Logan is involved doesn't exist legally, so you'll be on your own, traveling the world and dispatching terrorists. Gabe and Lian are very close, more than friends, because the agent protected her when she was a part of project Syphon as a carrier of a deadly virus.

Concept No less than 68 weapons are featured in the game, ranging from double-barrel guns to rocket launchers. You'll visit Alaska, Peru, Bosnia, Kalinigrad and you're not going there for a holiday. Unless you consider shooting, recon and extreme action a list of fun activities. Old Syphon Filter fans will find it tough to get used to the controls, but even I did, and I haven't played many games on PSP before.

Dark Mirror is not only a sequel for the Syphon Filter series, you can say it's a sequel for any stealth action game ever designed. You'll have to cover your teammate with the sniper or escort a civilian using the flashlight to show him the way. Sony Bend stuffed the game with options, either multiplayer or normal game ones. I won't hear "I just got bored of playin Dark Mirror" from you any time soon. There are bonus missions and hidden movies and maps to keep you warm this winter, all of it. Also, multiplayer rocks sooo hard!

Gameplay You can shoot the enemy using the great crosshair system that consists of a yellow circle at the center of the screen or the classic view of the sniping action. I must say that I didn't expect the button organization of this console to bring such comfortable gameplay. Hold the left directional button to change view, send a postcard to the enemies from the "thermal vision world" or party up in night vision. Pick-a-boo! Peak a boo in fact, as you peak around corners and murder the hell out the terrorist boo. Hollywood would be really jealous of your shooting talents and the dramatic scenes of the game.

007 and Solid Snake watch out! There's a new superspy in town and he's not taking prisoners. He has more guns than all the Wild West gunners have ever seen. The AI is quite clever. The enemies dodge, hide behind walls, call backups, hit you when you're close or watch their backs. The Story mode of the game has 7 missions plus one bonus level. I forgot to mention that you have a dart sniper. Now how cool is that? And it's not the darts you play in pub, but gas darts and explosive darts. Try a little bit of stealth and soon you'll discover the ancient ritual of snapping necks in some dark corner of the map. Cruel, huh?

The game tends to slow down sometimes when you rotate the camera or watch the enemies from behind corners. I could say something about the slow loading times, but it's just the limitations of PSP, nothing more.I thought that NPC-s lost their common sense when I played the last stealth games, but now they seem to have found it together with the will to live as they take cover when the enemies try to shoot them. So, here's the briefing of today's Gabe Logan : kick some enemies in the face, avoid the contraptions that let them know I'm here, kick some doors open, climb walls, hang on ropes, shoot the bad guys, have dinner, go to bed. This game has people on fire, from the heating systems in the game.

Video You won't see two environments looking the same way. The game's menus look cool and the shades of grey are a good choice for a third person shooter. If this game was a girl I'd definitely take her out for a date as she's hot! Good-looking graphics show Sony Bend's titanic work on this title. Practically they pulled the original Syphon Filter out of the mud and gave it a coat of pure gold. A feature worth mentioning is the actual presence of weapons in the character's holsters. You'll see Gabe carrying a Dragunov sniper and a machine gun tied to his back and the guns and grenades hanging from his waist. It's not like the episodes of Highlander, where the virile hero pulled out a huge sword of gun even when he was in his underwear. Gabe knows where to keep his arsenal.

In-snipe action (did I just invent a word ?) is greatly designed as you'll be able to play with the crosshair views available not only for the sniper, but with normal guns as well. Little console, big time graphics. You never thought that little thing could look so good did you? Wipe the screen, stoop drooling! It's all pixels and great graphics. You'll notice weather changes, flame effects, people in flames, cool explosions, the general working day average for an agent "at the office". How can a console, that small handle fog effects, wicked light effects, fire effects and tons more? This must be some sort of magic. Sony Bend, you got the One Ring to rule them all didn't you?

Sound The truth is out there. No, this is not X-Files, only the maker of its brilliant music: Mark Snow. He's the one to get the credit for the soundtrack of the game. A definite mood-setter and you'll never turn the audio off. The enemies are very vocal, when they get shot, because they yell in their native language. You'll recognize the Russian and Arab accents adding a realistic approach to the sound of the game. By pressing the Select button you'll give orders to your allies or guide NPC-s. Can you do the rocket dance? How about the turret dance? You'd better dodge when some big caliber projectile is heading hour way. You'll know it when you hear the familiar sound that they make.

Multiplayer The next door neighbor upsets you? Shoot him! Grab the PSP and challenge him to a Syphon filter duel. In fact, challenge the whole block! Thanks to the wireless technology you can compete with up to 7 players. The infrastructure multiplayers allow you to battle other players in Deathmatch mode, Team Deathmatch mode, Objective and Rogue Agents mode. You can view leaders of the hierarchy of Syphon Filter's scores or create your own clan.You have a buddy list a voice chat, a whole party through the wireless system. Why even get out when Gabe's crying out for attention and the next door neighbor is crying about the bullet he got from you?

Conclusion Let me know in case some other game exploiting more of the PSP's capacities appears. Guess not! Quite a hit this game. I must say that i never held in my hand such quality graphics and gameplay, all under one name: Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. This game has a problem: it's so damn good! It was kind of hard to find flaws, but it has its own little bugs and glitches. Control is not as angelic and fluffy as it seems in the first place and the AI is a tough cookie to crack. Asides from floating in mid-air or small lags the game has no major defect.

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story 8
gameplay 8
concept 9
graphics 9
audio 9
multiplayer 9
final rating 9
Editor's review
excellent
 
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