I’ve always been skeptical at first person shooters on consoles.
The question isn’t if the genre should be left to the PC world as much as how it
will compare to those games. Few console FPS titles manage to pull it off,
SWAT: Global Strike Team does.
As you may have guessed, SWAT takes place in the not too far
future where an unprecedented escalation of threats of violence have surrounded
the world in an attempt to destabilize democracy for a transnational criminal
network. In order to fight against this common foe of the world, the nations
agreed that forming a global police force to take the criminals down is their
best hope. So they call for you, Mathias Kincaid, as the commander with the GST.
You are teamed up with two first lieutenants, Kana Lee, expert sniper, and
Anthony “TJ” Jackson, filed technician extraordinaire. Together you must stop
the major threat to world security before it is too late.
Kincaid is the main player you will be controlling, but you’ll
soon see he’s the bad “mama jama” you want to be in the elite group of three.
The game play is fairly simple and easy to pick up. Using standard weapon,
motion, and action controls, you’ll be taking care of business before you can
say “SWAT, HANDS IN THE AIR!”. Coincidentally, you will be saying those words
with a handful more in campaign mode, linear progression that gives you the
chance to decide which difficulty to play at each specific level, with 21 single
player engagements. WARNING: Easy is way too easy for the normal gamer, so
hopefully you will be using that as often as getting a root canal. Varying on
each specific mission, they can take you anywhere from 5-15 minutes each.
I think many users will enjoy the amount of variety that SWAT has
to offer with each new locale around the world. Each area will require some
unique style of taking out the enemy, varying from the use of night-vision
goggles to breaching charges. I never seemed to be bored with the gameplay,
though I would have appreciated more in the realm of enemy numbers. The number
of weapon choices is limited, but for a game like this, it’s good not to
complicate things too much (I doubt SWAT would ever use grenade launchers). You
are given an assault rifle, a shotgun, a machine gun, and a sniper rifle with a
tranquilizer pistol for non lethal approach. You are also given several
tactical aids such as a variety of grenades. But don’t expect to burst through
rooms in a blaze of fire taking out whatever is in your bullet zone, you are
bound by the law with consequences for “unauthorized force”.
Gamers will enjoy the ability to arrest the baddies and the
hostages for questioning but it puts a restraint on popping one when they are in
custody. It was interesting to me that while some may surrender upon your
arrival, their co-terrorists that stand just 3 feet away from you are not so
easily broken. Enemy AI is a bit problematic, but the general experience with
these gangsters is quite realistic. SWAT also offers voice recognition, perfect
for those users who are looking to put their USB headset to use. Without the
headset to give commands, you must resort to a simplistic squad command
interface using the directional buttons. After each mission/level, you will be
graded on how it went. Depending on how many bad guys you killed, how many
hostages were lost, and more will result in a final grade. You can also win
medals and awards if you met certain criteria.
SWAT also has multiplayer modes: cooperative, cooperative time
attack, and deathmatch (which offers many more game types). If you like working
with your friend or would rather take him out with piano wire (in game of
course), each offers its own special something to the mix. I got a little
aggravated that the game gives your opponent your exact location on the map, so
make sure that little addition is not in use.
On the PS2, SWAT’s graphics aren’t much to talk about. If you
have an XBOX, you will probably enjoy it more with the additional better
capabilities. The character models are simple, but I think in these kind of
games, keeping the reality in the units and the levels is extremely important.
SWAT manages to pull off very nice sound, ranging from radio transmissions to
the music, but the Sound FX left something to be desired.
SWAT: Global Strike Team was surprisingly a solid FPS game,
offering simplistic controls and a fun gameplay environment. There were certain
things that could have been better, but anyone who appreciates the first person
shooter will find SWAT a welcome addition to their collection.
Gameplay: 8
SWAT is a fun
experience that gamers everywhere will like. But aside from the ability to
arrest people, there is nothing new here.
Graphics: 7.5
If you have
XBOX, I would go with that version. If not, you may find the graphics a little
archaic compared to today’s FPS games.
Sound: 7.9
Fix the Sound FX and It rivals some of the top titles available.
Difficulty: All
Easy is way
too easy, Hard may be way too hard, but in the middle is just right.
Concept: 8.5
Samuel L.
Jackson couldn’t make this idea any cooler. Controlling the world’s best and
bravest is something that can’t be missed.
Multiplayer: 7.3
I liked it for
about 10 minutes, then it got old. Don’t buy SWAT for the multiplayer.
Overall: 7.5
You may have
the same fun experience if you rent it, and it may not have to spend the rest of
its existence collecting dust in your collection.
