In a storm of sales and ongoing surging popularity, many first person shooters are fading to oblivion. Only those with the protection of a multibillion dollar company can survive. Originality and advancements are abandoned in seeking monetization of stale gameplay mechanics. The market for first person shooters becomes increasingly saturated as companies attempt to crush the others with massive capital. SWAT 4 had no massive cache of funds for backing, and while first person shooters became faster and more arcade like, SWAT was a fresh overdose of realism. Naturally, SWAT 4 was drowned in the great food, however, it remains alive in those who have experienced this one of a kind game.
In SWAT 4 you are a SWAT sergeant who has recently transferred to a squad consisting of four other officers. The missions range from serving high risk warrants, arresting a serial killer to dispatching homeland terrorists in their compound. The game has no overarching storyline or complex plot to unravel; each mission is a self-contained entity. You are not a grand hero who will save the world from an unimaginable danger. You are simply a law enforcement agent doing your job.
Unlike other tactical shooters, in SWAT 4 you play as a force of peace. Your objective is to bring order to chaos while preserving lives instead of ending them. Arresting suspects instead of shooting them and even avoiding shooting completely may be a hurdle for gamers accustomed to a "spray and pray" type form of gameplay. The game's pace is slower due to its realistic design. You and your fellow officers cannot sustain much damage before incapacitation, and what doesn't kill, injures, hindering your combat ability. The game has no save points or checkpoints, so if you die on a mission you are forced to restart it, as you would do in real life.
SWAT 4's enjoyability rises from the freedom it gives the player. As the SWAT team leader you control the actions of your four teammates, so you can play the game as a real time strategy or as a pure first person shooter, depending on your preference. However, SWAT 4 does not reach pure perfection. The only clearly negative point of this game is a result of this mechanic. I would not recommend playing alone because teammates' artificial stupidity is completely engaged at times. This can be remedied by playing with friends instead of the so-called artificial intelligence. If you wish to play without your team denying carrying out orders because they are occupied, standing stupefied waiting in a corner before they finally throw a grenade, which ricochets off a wall into your face, then play with a human online or by LAN.
SWAT 4 is an excellent tactical shooter despite occasional AI mishaps. It is best when played socially, however, be sure to warn friends of the game's difficulty if they are considering buying. For some this is a negative strike and for others it is a positive point. Those who play Operation Flashpoint, ARMA II, or Rainbow six either already have this game or would certainly enjoy SWAT 4. The game as a whole is a bit on the hard side, but if you are seeking a challenge this game is for you.
In SWAT 4 you are a SWAT sergeant who has recently transferred to a squad consisting of four other officers. The missions range from serving high risk warrants, arresting a serial killer to dispatching homeland terrorists in their compound. The game has no overarching storyline or complex plot to unravel; each mission is a self-contained entity. You are not a grand hero who will save the world from an unimaginable danger. You are simply a law enforcement agent doing your job.
Unlike other tactical shooters, in SWAT 4 you play as a force of peace. Your objective is to bring order to chaos while preserving lives instead of ending them. Arresting suspects instead of shooting them and even avoiding shooting completely may be a hurdle for gamers accustomed to a "spray and pray" type form of gameplay. The game's pace is slower due to its realistic design. You and your fellow officers cannot sustain much damage before incapacitation, and what doesn't kill, injures, hindering your combat ability. The game has no save points or checkpoints, so if you die on a mission you are forced to restart it, as you would do in real life.
SWAT 4's enjoyability rises from the freedom it gives the player. As the SWAT team leader you control the actions of your four teammates, so you can play the game as a real time strategy or as a pure first person shooter, depending on your preference. However, SWAT 4 does not reach pure perfection. The only clearly negative point of this game is a result of this mechanic. I would not recommend playing alone because teammates' artificial stupidity is completely engaged at times. This can be remedied by playing with friends instead of the so-called artificial intelligence. If you wish to play without your team denying carrying out orders because they are occupied, standing stupefied waiting in a corner before they finally throw a grenade, which ricochets off a wall into your face, then play with a human online or by LAN.
SWAT 4 is an excellent tactical shooter despite occasional AI mishaps. It is best when played socially, however, be sure to warn friends of the game's difficulty if they are considering buying. For some this is a negative strike and for others it is a positive point. Those who play Operation Flashpoint, ARMA II, or Rainbow six either already have this game or would certainly enjoy SWAT 4. The game as a whole is a bit on the hard side, but if you are seeking a challenge this game is for you.
