First look: Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain

Sony has released the first screenshots from Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, the fourth installment in the long-running sniper action series. When this latest installment picks up, Gabe Logan, the series' well-known hero, is working for the reformed Agency as an instrument of world peace. Gabe's ultimate goal will be to unmask the conspirators behind Syphon Filter and discover who mutated the original virus and why. The game will feature 17 massive levels, strewn throughout such exotic international locales as Quebec, Yemen, Belarus, Myanmar, and Tokyo. The Omega Strain will also feature more than 100 lethal weapons and high-tech gadgets, as well as hand-to-hand combat, knife attacks, and vanity items. The game will rely less heavily on stealth-based missions than its predecessors, but stealth will still be an important factor.

Most significant, however, will be Omega Strain's implementation of online play. The mode will allow players to join with up to three other players and take on highly skilled enemy agents. Additionally, Omega Strain will feature voice chat support to allow players to strategize with their teammates via a compatible headset accessory that will be sold separately.

We will have more coverage of Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain from the show floor at E3 2003.