Project IGI 2: Covert Strike
Score: 75% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Codemasters Developer: Innerloop Media: CD/2 Players: 1 - 16 (Internet/LAN) Genre: First Person Shooter
Graphics & Sound: Those already spoiled by the awesome beauty that is Splinter Cell may hold their expectations a bit too high for Project IGI 2: Covert Strike, but hey, graphics aren't that important. For stealthy first person shooters, gameplay should be number one -- and this one delivers. That isn't to say it's an ugly game, of course; IGI 2's environments and textures are exceptionally well crafted, and the character models certainly aren't dreadful. But, one can still set the graphics to ultra-low and still have a great time sniping terrorists. Oddly enough, the sound department delivers a mixed bag this time around. Gunshots and footsteps come across quite authentically, whereas their sources aren't always completely discernable (see Game Mechanics below for details). A subtle, modern spy-tune soundtrack backs the action nicely, though, and the voice acting leaves little to be desired.
Gameplay: As agent David Jones, it's your job to single-handedly shut down terrorist organizations, intercept enemy intelligence, destroy hostile installments, and escape in one piece. No new premises here, but it still sets the stage for a pretty fun game. Think Metal Gear Solid meets Thief II and you've got the idea. Each mission sends the player deep into enemy territory with the capability to carry only one assault weapon, one small arms item, a knife and a few explosives. Being a covert agent, you'll need to remain unseen until combat is absolutely necessary -- and even then, try to keep things silent and clean. Of course, if you're the guns-blazing type, a few missions essentially require you to massacre over 30 enemy soldiers in the face of compromising your objectives; it's just all in how you plan your moves. HQ provides you with one of the most useful items ever conceived in a first person shooter: the Zimo-Tech Map Computer, which links a real-time satellite image of your surroundings to a handheld screen. This allows Jones to see the entire landscape at a glance, with enemy locations highlighted in blue, and each objective numbered on the map. Just click and drag to scope out the environment, and magnify up to four times to see which weapons the opposition is packing. Too cool. As for multiplayer, two teams scramble to defend rocket bases and installations from invaders, supplied by a full equipment shop a la Counterstrike. Online veterans won't find anything terribly innovative here, but it's a nice diversion from the single player mode. Besides, who doesn't like ambushing a hilltop full of snipers with just a knife?
Difficulty: Since stealth is the name of the game (well, not literally), players can choose to make each mission significantly easier or more challenging based solely on their actions. For instance, sniping an entire surveillance team may be far simpler rather than slinking past them on your belly, but you'll run the risk of alerting an entire camp in the process. Whichever path you take is your choice. To keep players from taking too many liberties, though, the game only allows three saves per mission, so you'll need to tread lightly no matter what.
Game Mechanics: Project IGI 2's biggest flaw, for me, lies with its poor use of audio clues. A big part of sneaking and infiltrating relies on being able to hear exactly where your enemies are, and how aware of your presence they've become; it's no good, then, when the only truly accurate way to check these things is through the map computer. Most of your enemies have only three phrases in their vocabulary (almost all of which sound like loud, growling Russian/Middle Eastern dialect), so it's tough to tell whether you've been spotted, or if the bad guys are just having a chat. Volume-to-distance ratios on enemy gunfire are also aggravatingly offset -- even if a sniper is several hundred yards away, it'll still sound as if the shot went off a few inches from your ear. This makes it difficult to gauge your distance from foes, forcing you to switch to thermal vision or the map to see where they are. Nevertheless, if you're starved for a decent covert game and already own Splinter Cell and Hitman 2, then Project IGI 2: Covert Strike should be right up your alley. Fans of the first game will feel right at home, and newcomers to the series should be pleasantly surprised with such a modestly hyped release.
-Ben Monkey, GameVortex Communications AKA Ben Lewis
Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, Pentium III or Athlon at 700Mhz, 128 MB RAM, 32MB graphics card, 8X CD-Rom, 1.9 Gb HD space   Test System: Windows 2000 Pro, PIII 800MHz, 256 MB RAM, GeForce 2MX400 w/64 MB VRAM, 32X DVD-ROM, Soundblaster Live! Platinum
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