Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8947 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2004-07-09
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Syphon Filter is a peculiar franchise. The first game was a very decent pastiche of Metal Gear Solid, but subsequent sequels seemed to become increasingly less so, to the point where this fourth title is really make or break for the series.

The Omega Strain's big new feature, as with many sequels nowadays, is that the game is now playable online, and rather than being an afterthought or grossly simplified version of the single player mode there's actually an impressive attempt to put the whole game online, where it's playable by up to four people at a time. The only problem is that because the online and offline modes are so similar this actually means that if you know what you're doing, and particularly if you've got microphone headsets to co-ordinate yourselves with, it all becomes rather easy--a fact that a rather intrusive time limit cannot really balance out.

But the problem with the online mode isn't really that it's too easy but that the basic gameplay of the single player mode just doesn't cut the mustard anymore. Considering the advances made in Metal Gear Solid 3, the Syphon Filter franchise just seems to be treading water and the rather weak graphics, stodgy controls and generally uninspired level design are rather more typical of Syphon Filter 2 and 3 than the original. The Omega Strain is not a bad game by any means, but apart from the novelty of playing it online it really is difficult to describe it as anything other than average. --David Jenkins

Manufacturer's Description
Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain explodes onto the PS2 with edge-of-your-seat offline and online action. The newest instalment in the multi-million-selling series offers sophisticated and highly intelligent AI, richly detailed worlds, an enhanced character customisation system and groundbreaking co-operative, peer-to-peer online gameplay.

Selected as one of the chosen few to be a trained operative within Gabe Logan's new Agency, gamers will enter a world of intrigue and global espionage, battling lethal enemies through 17 thrilling missions that span the globe from Yemen to Toronto. With a deadly arsenal of all-new high tech weaponry and gadgets, players can take on commandos solo-style or go online and join up with three other agents for action-packed, strategic, team-based gameplay. While all 17 missions are available in single-player and online, online gameplay offers players the opportunity to access more of the worlds through working hand-in-hand with other skilled operatives. Gamers will need all the help they can get as the future of the world's population once again hangs in the balance.

Customer Reviews

Cool Game
I've played the online bit of it and I must say it's one hell of a good game... the graphics is nicely done as I hardly noticed any jaggies and the sound is more than good. The control is easy to handle like the old syphon filter control system, but not as easy if you're used to play Socom/2 though once you played it for an hour or two, you'll get used to it. The game supports progressive scan which is a good bonus too.
The servers are pretty stable and the game plays smoothly. The team-play online is the best bit of it IMO and also an important one for online-based missions because you wont be able to finish the game 100% (if you actually want to get everything ^_^) or complete a mission that requires team-play without going online. The only problem with it is the constant enemy respawn which is quite annoying at some point but not really a big issue.
Overall it's a pretty good game, loads of bonus to unlock, customizable character with more options as you progress in the game and other goodies. I can't say much about the offline part but I'm guessing it'll be as enjoyable as the online mode.

Such Hopes.........
I remberber, years ago when the PS1 was the most powerful console around and I remember getting a game for my birthday "Syphon Filter" and I was amazed it was so good, then I got Syphon Filter 2, it was 5 times better than the first I still have have them I did have Syphon Filter 3 but I lent it to someone who broke it.

Back to the review, as you can probably tell I am a big fan of the Syhpon Filter Series and unlike the other reviews here I own this game, sorry owned i'm trading it in tomorrow for another game.

I was so desperate to like, no love this game, making your own agent is a good idea, gaining new weapons though acceiving goals is a good idea the just made the cotrols too fiddily, the targeting is good but if you need reajust you movements you never look on to you orignal target even if they are standing next to you.

But my main beef with this game is 1 it takes too long for the levals to load and when you die you start at your last checkpoint but the game has contined as nothing has happend so if you have a time limit you have to carry from the begginging but now with half the time it's just plan annoying, i guess they where making it challanging but at the cost of the gameplay and the enjoyment of it.

I was looking forward to this game, for me it was going to be the smartest things that could happen to the PS2 but it seems that games nowadays focus on giving good graphics and not worrying about gamplay, or making it go online which for some people they don't want off consoles.

Anyway if you are more of a fan of the Syphon Filter Series than myself (unlikely) buy this game but if you want a fun enjoyable game wait for Killzone (hopefully that will be good) or get something else.

syphon filter doubts just about filtered out.
This game was a blast on the psx for gameplay and structure as everyone knows. Leaving,in my opinion, other games of it's type in the dark due to it's unrivelled gameplay.

This ps2 version delivers the same gameplay and added tweaked enemy A.I.

However, coupled with deserved and now noble graphics and sound,
i felt the producers could have pulled off a phenomina by in-coperating hand to hand combat ability, more rewarding stealth missions and more james bond type gadgets that would leave the difficult enemy A.I. to be served deserved due justice.
But only because there is no game on this planet that plays as dynamically on the ps2 or any other console have i rated this
5 stars.

The difficuly level will on the other hand have you profoundly engaging pleasurably untill someone dares to create a game to take it's crown. No other title means so much to me than all the syphon filter series. thanks Sony!!!