Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain PlayStation 2

Sony's Syphon Filter series of counterterrorist action games continues on PlayStation 2 with an outbreak of the Omega Strain. Instead of guiding Gabe Logan, the star of the previous two titles, players create their own agent from scratch in order to stop a new strain of the original's deadly virus from seeping its way across the globe. Nearly every facet of characters can be customized, from their physical appearance to the uniform and equipment used to carry out the various objectives required of them. A total of 17 freeroaming levels are set in locales ranging from Toronto and Belarus to Brazil and Uganda, each offering multiple ways to complete missions and spanning more than three times the size of previous levels in the Syphon Filter universe.

More than 100 different weapons and gadgets are available to neutralize the terrorist threat, including the ability to fire two pistols at once, though only four can be carried at one time. New equipment becomes accessible as players earn experience during the game, with a military ranking assigned to characters allowing them to acquire additional techniques or proficiency in various skills. As in previous games, the action takes place from a thirdperson perspective set behind the agent, allowing players to crouch, kneel, run, throw, and jump all while targets are locked into sight. New to the series is the ability to isolate specific body parts, such as a leg or arm, to quickly immobilize threats without necessarily killing them.

Syphon Filter: Omega Strain also features online multiplayer support for the first time. Up to four players can embark on missions cooperatively in each of the game's 17 solo missions, which contain exclusive new areas for multiplayer action in the form of special timebased scenarios. The game additionally supports USBcompatible headsets to communicate with other agents, offering squadbased strategy options during the game as well as simplifying the process of issuing commands. To help players navigate the different 3D environments, situational updates will occur during the course of a mission and a transparent map is designed to show the whereabouts of each member in the squad. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide