SWAT 4: Special Weapons and Tactics

Rating ESRB: Mature Genre first-person-shooter Publisher Vivendi Universal External Links SWAT 4

Manufacturer's Storyline

It's not just about the badge, it's about the rush!

The adrenaline is always high as you carry on the legendary SWAT® tradition ï leading an elite squad of tactical experts into hard-hitting action that delves into every detail of the experience. From authentic weaponry and tactics to extensive SWAT scenarios you will know what it's like to be the ultimate in law enforcement. When SWAT gets the call there is no other option.

Review

SWAT 4 does its best to break into the elite realm of first-person shooters. With the bewildering success of Counter-Strike and Tom Clancy series games, a high mark has been set indeed. Swat 4 gives us 14 single-player missions. Each mission requires the SWAT team to enter a situation and neutralize any threats, while protecting any innocent by-standers in the process.

Your squad consists of basic specialists - an Assaulter, a Breacher, a Scout and a Non-lethal Specialist. These player-characters can be customized and you can pick your own weapons for each mission. As the leader, you make all of the decisions - enter rooms, open fire, etc. You'll command your other squad members by giving orders. The game provides a list of possible command options depending on the situation. This allows you to act quickly. The process is set up with the user in mind and you will get the hang of it in no time.

To open a door, simply place your crosshair on the door, right-click the mouse, and you'll get a menu of options like "move and clear" or "bang and breach." Move your crosshair over a neutralized suspect, and you'll get a "restrain" option that commands a person in your squad to use his cuffs. The tutorial mission included helps to make sense of some of the more complex commands as you get further into the game.

The primary focus of the game revolves around tactics and procedure. It relies heavily on creating a real-life scenario that the squad must respond to appropriately. If you kill a hostage, for example, the mission is over. Players must be effective in making split second decisions and place squad members in a good position to respond to possible threats.

The overall gameplay is interesting and the action can be quite intense. The AI is done well and adds an extra element of extended gameplay. The weapons solely meant to subdue or just injure suspects are interesting as well. There's a non-lethal shotgun, a taser gun, pepper spray (my fav!) and even a paintball gun - yes, a paint gun.

With all the interesting intricacies and attention to detail of SWAT 4, it unfortunately doesn't fare remotely well on the graphics end. Yes, sadly the most important element falls considerably short of the pack. So much so, that it made me lose some interest.

Final Thoughts

On the positive side, SWAT 4 is well put together and the system requirements are extremely reasonable. For die hard shooter fans that are into Counter Strike and the likes, this might not be one to go out and immediately buy at the full price.