Superb sound and immense levels are hampered by some gameplay flaws, which hold back some serious potential fun...
User Rating: 7.2 | Project IGI 2 PC
IGI 2 has some excellent qualities. First and foremost, the sound is absolutely the best weapon audio ever. In any game. The diversity of weapons available, their modeling, kickback and powerful report are nothing short of astounding. Also you can shoot through some materials like wooden doors and wall or crates to eliminate the enemy. But obviously you can't shoot through concrete. The ability to shoot through object is very well done. A second great quality of the game is the enormous levels and missions that you have to go through. This game came out about a year before Far Cry, and the levels are even larger than the ones in Far Cry, but they are not quite as colorful or detailed. Even still, the diverse locations that you infiltrate are very well done and despite level enormity, frame rate is excellent. Many different locales are visitied in this game. Some of these location include Libya, China and the Carpathian mountains. The mountain vista's are stunning and again, the size of the levels are impressive. Overall the graphics are very good and provide an industrial/military feel. Another great feature of the game is the protagonists movements. Accuracy of weapon fire is affected by how you are in position. If you run, your accuracy is horrible. If you stop moving and crouch, you get a pretty good shot off. If you lie prone, you get a very accurate shot at the enemy. This type of character control is excellent. Also well done is the peek function, although you can't peek and fire your weapon at the same time, the peek function is handy to covertly spy on the enemy. The in game PDA is excellent and provides your objectives and a detailed examination at locations and enemy patrols. It is vital to your success in this game and it is where you are allowed to save your progress. The overview it proves is from a satellite perspective and is very well done and easy to use and navigate. Also your character is provided with thermal goggles and a great pair of binoculars. They are both excellent. The story for the game is quite intriguing as well. It has a few minor twists that keep you involved but isn't overkill or unbelievable. All the above information is what is exceptional about this game. Unfortunately, the AI is as dumb as a rock. They use absolutely no tactics whatsoever. To make up for thier stupidity, they have an incredibly accurate shot. This can make the game very difficult and one has to take caution in proceeding. You must shoot and take cover, or you will get rushed (they generally run right at you) and they are able to pick you off quite easily. Also some of the missions can become aggravating because of the number of enemy you have to take out because the odds can be a tad overwhelming because of their accuracy. Even from great distances with a hand gun. The failure of any real enemy AI is what keeps this game down. Big time. If they had some intelligence, yet couldn't pick you off from 1000 meteres with an Uzi, this game would of received awards. Too bad because everything else is nearly perfect. InnerLoop (developer) came so close to producing a balls to the walls experience. But the weak AI and how the developer overcame this shortcoming (aggravation provided by accuracy) left a bitter taste in many gamer’s mouths. Too bad, because the game is still very, very good in most aspects. In conclusion, this game receives the highest attainable award (from me) for weapon sound and functionality. There are other great aspects to this game, but in the end, all of its goodness is severely hampered by horrible enemy interaction. I hope Innerloop will continue this series and tweak the AI and their tactics a bit. They will have a great game if they do, because there are so many good qualities to this title and with significant overhaul of AI, could be amongst the best tactical FPS games, ever.
