Grab your 9mm and let's go!

I was really surprised by this game. Action games have never really appealed to me but this one's an exception. In Syphon Filter, you play Gabe Logan, a man who is trying to save the world from terrorists and viral bombs and stuff. Believe me, it's a lot more fun than it sounds. Take a look:

Gameplay: Syphon Filter is full of action and is not the kind of gaming you find in something like Metal Gear Solid. Sometimes you do have to be sneaky, but most of the time you get to use your wide arsenal of weapons to do some serious take-down. If you haven't heard yet, one of the most entertaining weapons to play with at first is the taser. It has a long distance range and you can burn up whoever you please.

Plus, another cool thing is that Syphon Filter is very realistic. You can actually target different parts of the body to inflict different amounts of damage. Capping a guy in the head makes for an instant kill while shooting in the legs isn't very effective. Big guns, such as a shotgun will blow away your enemy, when smaller guns just go in and that's it. SF will even show blood marks where you shot them, it will even do this after they are dead. Weapons include everything from Sniper rifles to grenade launchers. SF lets you use manual aiming or lock-on aiming to kill. You can only get a head shot with manual aiming, which can make for a challenge if it is a moving target. The Sniper rifle can zoom in and out with the shoulder buttons so you can nail somebody from hundreds of feet away.

The objects in the game are very interactive. When you shoot a streetlight they break, disappear, and it gets darker for that area. Bottles break, mirrors and even police cars go soaring into the air after shooting them enough. All of these factors increase the realism of it. Even all of the weapons are real, and were modeled into the game. SF is a lot of fun because it is very clear about what you have to do in order to move on. The wonderful voice acting helps, you have a girl named Mei Ling who briefs you on your mission objectives.

The one complaint that I have is that some of the levels are mad hard. In the beginning it can even be challenging but near the end of the game there are some levels that can just plain tick you off even if you know what to do. This is especially frustrating because sometimes it feels like you will never move on and then it is probably best to use some codes to put you on a different level. Maybe even get all the weapons--whatever it takes. Very cool levels like city streets, the park, and even the subway and inside buildings. One of my favorite parts of the game is where you get to nail a guy in the head to save two of your CBDC pals inside a tennis court. Weather effects like raining are very cool also, such as the park levels.

Sound: The music in this game is pretty good. It's not too loud but keeps the action mood going throughout the game. When you are spotted by an enemy or you start to attack somebody the music picks up. Very cool effect. As I mentioned before, the voice acting is all very real, on time and on the ball.

Replay Value: SF is a lot of fun, and if you own the game I can gaurantee you will probably go through it more than once, that is if you can get through it once. Either way, Syphon Filter is good for one of those days where nothing sounds good to play. It passes time and doesn't have any problems as far as I saw. This is everything you'd expect from this type of game. The storyline is mediocre, so if you're looking for more of a memorable experience you should check out Metal Gear Solid. Both of these are sure to please.

Syphon Filter is a classic and you can probably find it for a good price. If you're interested in buying it, a quick rental would give more assurance. However, if you like shoot 'em ups pick this one up.