Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror – CIA Hit Squad

If there is one game with squandered potential, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror would be it. At least, it is for me. I can see others enjoying it for what it is. But man, if it didn’t shatter my hope and dreams for something Splinter Cell-like that I haven’t played before. Now, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is not a one-off game. It’s part of a larger franchise with several games under the belt for the PlayStation One. I never played any of these games, so this was my first taste of Syphon Filter. What I was wishing, and believing the game was about, was totally wrong. I expected clandestine backstabbing stealth, but what I got instead was a CIA state sanctioned murder spree.

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Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising – Red Island Menace

Soldier, strap on your boots and load your rifle. The commies are looking for a fight! And this time, it’s not the North Koreans. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a really weird game. It’s a continuation of the classic Operation Flashpoint franchise, but now with Bohemia Interactive out of the picture. So, Codemasters decided to make their own version. The game has a slight schizophrenic feel to it, as it at times does feel like OPF of old. The engine used, and the scale and sandbox freedom is almost a carbon copy. In some places it’s improved upon, and works even better than Bohemia’s Arma series. For example, having units clearing buildings and shooting from windows. What makes it an oddity, is the console focus, and above all, the mission design.

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The Raven Remastered – Raving mad Ravens

The Raven Remastered is a remaster of The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief. A game I have never played, meaning that this article will not reference that title at all, and will be a stand-alone review. The Raven Remastered is a point & click adventure game that takes heavy inspirations from the detective stories by Agatha Christie. If you ever read anything by her, or watched any movies based on her works, you will come to recognize plenty of stuff. However, this is of no problem, and actually enhances the superb atmosphere. I was ready to rate this game a five out of five in entertainment value, despite a few issues, but then the ending comes along…

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Xcom 2: Resurrection by Greg Keyes [Book Review]

Xcom in-universe stories and lore? Yes, please! Xcom 2: Resurrection is a prequel to the fabulous Xcom 2, set between the two games, Xcom: Enemy Unknown and Xcom 2. While it’s an okay story, and expands on the world-building in the compelling existence of a post-alien invasion earth, it has a couple of issues. Now, I don’t expect a mesmerizing writing style in any of these kinds of books, and I would say it’s adequate in this one. However, the plot feels pretty hacked up, as locations shift way too often, with the main characters coming off as pretty one-note.

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