Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix - Xbox

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Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix (Xbox)
Also for: PC, Power Mac
Viewed: 3D First-person Genre:
Strategy: Combat
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Gratuitous Games Soft. Co.: Raven
Publishers: Activision (GB)
Released: 20 Jun 2003 (GB)
Ratings: BBFC 18
Connectivity: Xbox Live
Accessories: Memory Unit

Summary

Released for PC in May 2002, this sequel to Raven's renowned gore-fest shoot-em-up is now available for Xbox. And when we say gore fest, we mean limbs flying, guts splattering and all that jazz. It's an 18 certificate folks, and it's surely deserving of it.

Put simply, Soldier of Fortune II is a covert operative themed first-person shooter, with gritty intense action and quite a graphic emphasis on realism. You are cast into the role of John Mullins, a military consultant working for the top-secret anti-terrorist group known only as The Shop. As Mullins, you must tackle a wide-range of missions, from hostage rescue and intelligence gathering to search-and-destroy. Additionally, in order to complete your objectives, you must make use of a variety of gameplay tactics, ranging from full frontal assaults to stealth and subterfuge.

With reference again to the game's realism, SOF2 accurately recreates not only its subject matter's violent aspects, but also other areas such as scenarios and equipment. The weapons featured throughout are apparently modelled on the real equipment of the world's elite commando units, and the game's locations are taken from real life political hotspots, some even inspired by the experiences of the real John Mullins, a former Green Beret and military consultant.

Throughout the game, lifelike AI challenges you to use a combination of strategy, stealth and combat tactics as you attempt to complete your missions. Actions determine how the AI reacts (attacking/defending or stealth/non-confrontational) as well as the number of enemies that are engaged. Additionally, the type of opponent (Army, gang member, etc.) engaged will determine their reaction and difficulty level.

One of the biggest additions to this release, however, is the inclusion of online multiplayer support. You can now play through six different online game types (Deathmatch, Capture-the-Flag, Infiltration, Demolition, etc.) via Xbox Live or system link with friends. Also, a random mission generator can create an infinite number of multi-player maps, making for huge amounts of shoot-em-up shenanigans.