Silent Scope 2: Fatal Judgement - PS2

Also known as: Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette

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Viewed: 3D First-person Genre:
Shoot 'Em Up
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Konami Soft. Co.: Konami
Publishers: Konami (GB)
Released: 16 Nov 2001 (GB)
Ratings: 15+
Connectivity: I-Link Cable
Accessories: Memory Card, GunCon 45, USB Mouse
Features: Vibration Function Compatible, Analogue Control Compatible: analogue sticks only

Summary

Silent Scope 2 is the sequel to the seminal 1999 sniper game from Konami, making the journey over to PlayStation 2 from the more highbrow world arcades.

The original game was loved by some and hated by others, and was a difficult game to quantify, as its failings were as shocking as its achievements were groundbreaking. Housed in an impressive 7’ cabinet complete with full size sniper rifle, Silent Scope was enjoyable but expensive. It frustrated players as it asked for jobs to be completed without supplying the right tools. Sniper Rifles are not the best things to try and shoot down a Harrier jet with.

The original made the conversion to both PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast fairly successfully and a sequel, to debut in the arcades, was planned by Konami HQ.

Konami obviously took a long hard look at the first Silent Scope and has made concerted efforts to avoid repeating its failings. The 'scope-view' preview screen was banished from the arcade version of SS2, meaning that players now had to use the rifle properly, as opposed to controlling play with the rifle used as a glorified joystick. The environments were made interactive, massively enhancing the feeling of realism and freedom in the game. Most importantly, Silent Scope 2: Fatal Judgement was made as a multiplayer game. Now you’re talking.

The PlayStation 2 version, like the arcade, is heavily biased towards two-player gaming. A solid, narrative-led single-player mode has been included and fares as well as the original did. It is however, obvious that Konami wants the sequel to be a triumph of competitive and cooperative play.

You get the option to play as either part of a team, making the best kills between you that you can, or as a loner, trying to rattle off headshots as fast as you can. Konami has also gone some way to varying the gameplay in Silent Scope 2. There is a lot of variation in the distance that enemies appear, meaning that at one minute you are following a strolling terrorist, using full zoom at 500 metres, and the next you are shooting from the hip at some balaclava'd looney wielding a machete.

If you can forgive the cliché, you will find that if you liked the original, you will love this. It has the balance and pedigree that is the defining factor quality every single Konami game is blessed with. It is richer and deeper than the first game, massively enhanced in every way. If you were not too keen on the first Silent Scope game, Fatal Judgement may just make up for the failings of the original.