Software:Syphon Filter 2

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game

Syphon Filter 2
North American box art
Developer(s)Eidetic
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Richard Ham
Programmer(s)Christopher Reese
Artist(s)John Garvin
Writer(s)John Garvin
Richard Ham
Composer(s)Chuck Doud
SeriesSyphon Filter
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • NA: March 14, 2000[1]
  • EU: July 20, 2000
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Syphon Filter 2 is a 2000 third-person shooter video game developed by Eidetic and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second installment in the Syphon Filter franchise and a sequel to 1999 Syphon Filter. It is the last game in the series to be released by 989 Studios in North America. In 2022, it was added to the premium collection for PlayStation Plus.[2]

Gameplay

In addition to the gameplay mechanism from the first game, Syphon Filter 2 added multiplayer which features some characters to select from (including deceased characters from Syphon Filter), as well as new maps not found in single player mode.

Plot

Hours after the events of the first game, the Agency has branded Gabriel Logan and Lian Xing as enemies of the state after uncovering its connection to Syphon Filter; labeled as terrorists to the general public. Agency operative Dillon Morgan captures Lian at the PharCom warehouses, forcing Gabe and the CBDC soldiers to rendezvous with ex-Agency operative Teresa Lipan in Arizona. Simultaneously, the Agency scrambles a squadron of F-22 Raptors from the USAF to intercept their transport over the Colorado Rockies, so Gabe and CBDC Lieutenant Jason Chance head down the mountain in search of their plane and a box of PharCom data disks. Agency operative Steven Archer attempts to stop them at all costs.

A group of conspirators, including Mara Aramov and Agency director Lyle Stevens, make a deal to deliver the virus to a rogue Chinese general named Shi-Hao. Meanwhile, Lian recovers in MacKenzie Air Force base where Morgan, Derek Falkan, and Thomas Holman are working with Dr. Elsa Weissinger of PharCom to extract infected plasma from test subjects. Lian learns that the other subject was PharCom CEO Jonathan Phagan, who somehow survived his gunshot wound long enough for the Agency to take the plasma. Weissinger protests that Phagan is useful and should be kept alive for further research, but Morgan, not intending that the U.S. government find PharCom's CEO infected with an unknown virus, deactivates his life support, which kills him and ties up a loose end.

Lian escapes the medical building and interrogates Holman to learn that Morgan is planning another operation to the PharCom Expo Center in New York to find an encryption disk. She leaves the base in a helicopter after killing Falkan and teams up with Gabe to battle Archer's forces. Gabe kills Archer during his escape, and recovers the PharCom data.

The protagonists follow Holman's lead to the Expo Center and kill Morgan before he can recover the disk he sought. After decrypting the PharCom data, Teresa realises that some information is missing. The other half is with Russian SVR Director, Uri Gregorov, who appeared at the warehouses before Gabe left. Since Lian and Uri know each other, they agree to meet in Moscow.

Aramov instigates a gunfight while they meet and Lian pursues Gregorov. Lian later learns he is an impostor working for Mara and trying to find the other half of the data. The man admits that the real Gregorov is in a Russian gulag, Aljir Prison, which once held Lian captive. Gregorov uncovered a plot to sell the virus to Shi-Hao, so Aramov intervened. Lian stops Gregorov's execution, but is almost killed by the virus and collapses. Gabe takes her back to the States, while Gregorov promises to handle Shi-Hao.

Gabe and Teresa arrive back at the Virginia safehouse overseen by Lawrence Mujari, a freelance pathologist. They decide to trade the PharCom data to the Agency for Lian's vaccine. Director Stevens double-crosses Gabe in the Agency's New York City labs, but Logan escapes, downloads all of the Agency's information, and forces Dr. Weissinger to give him the vaccine. Gabe also finds out that Chance survived the mission in Colorado, and sets him free.

Pursued by NYPD SWAT cops and Agency personnel, Gabe hurries back to their helicopter. Along the way, Logan is forced to provide cover for a SWAT officer whose partner is wounded. He does so, but Stevens, who later takes the cop hostage, orders him to drop his weapons. Despite Logan complying in surrender, Stevens kills the officer anyway. Before he can get shot, Gabe is thrown into the sewers by an explosion that Teresa sets off. Gabe assumes that Chance was killed in the labs since Teresa says he never made it to the helicopter. Gabe and Teresa eventually corner Stevens and Gabe shoots him in cold blood.

Gabe and Teresa reach the helicopter to find Chance waiting in Agency-issued super-armor. He was really working for them, and he shoots Teresa. Gabe suspected it since the Agency always knew where he was in Colorado. Both men fight, and Gabe kills the man he trusted with an assault shotgun that drives Chance into the helicopter blades, decapitating him.

A news report reveals that the Agency's existence is now public, and U.S. Secretary of State Vincent Hadden promises that the government will investigate. Gabe cures Lian and demarcates a grave for Teresa. He, Lian, and Lawrence hold a small memorial and promise to keep fighting, while soldiers watch them from a distance. In a post-credits scene, Hadden and Aramov emerge from a helicopter, with Aramov saying that the Administration will soon fall allowing Hadden to become president. Although a team of soldiers requests for permission to kill Gabe and his team, Hadden calls off the operation, telling Mara he has other plans for Gabe. Aramov laughs as the screen fades to black.

Development

John Garvin stated that, unlike development of the first game, he and co-creator Richard Ham had a complete vision of what the game would be like prior to the development process: "I think I spent a weekend and wrote the entire screenplay. Rich and I got together and he helped revise the second half of the game, introducing all the Moscow stuff, making the end of the story more espionage-like and exciting. When the [development team] came back, we spent the next year building exactly what we had written. That was the first time that we had a vision up front, which we followed until the end."[3] Garvin has expressed pride in his inclusion of a diverse cast of characters, such as the American-Indian Teresa Lipan, African-American Lawrence Mujari and Chinese Lian Xing.[3]

Syphon Filter 2 was added as a part of the premium collection for PlayStation Plus in 2022, with Trophy support added to the game.[4] It is also the first PlayStation Plus Premium game with both 50 Hz and 60 Hz modes.[5]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings81%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[7]
Edge7/10[9]
EGM5.75/10[10][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer9/10[12]
GameFan(G.H.) 98%[13]
88%[14][15][lower-alpha 2]
GameRevolutionB+[16]
IGN8.9/10[17]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[18]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[19]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarStarStar[20]

Syphon Filter 2 received favourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6]

Many reviewers[16][21][17][18][22] stated that the game differed little from the original in terms of gameplay and graphics. GameRevolution concluded: "Fans of the original should aim for the head and pull the trigger – this one's a no-brainer."[16] Douglass C. Perry of IGN praised the two-player mode and favourably compared it to similar features in Medal of Honor.[17] Jeff Ludrigan of NextGen said, "If you don't mind a serious challenge, this game will reward your persistence with nail-biting action, excellent graphics, and a well told, memorable story."[18] A less positive review came from Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot, who wrote: "If you were a big fan of Syphon Filter, you may get a kick out of the sequel, but the lackluster mission design and super-convoluted story really cancel out the improvements to the game's control."[21]

While most reviewers praised the game, the voice-acting was panned. Gerstmann stated: "Some of Gabe's lines and vocal inflection really don't fit the current situation, making it sound as if he were lounging by the pool instead of taking heavy fire from entrenched enemies."[21] Perry called the voice acting "truly awful",[17] while Patrick Klepek of Gaming Age called the voice acting "sub-par", continuing: "[...] the accents given to some of the characters are just terrible, though Gabe's voice is probably the worst offender of them all."[22]

Air Hendrix of GamePro said in one review, "When the awesome gameplay, sharp controls, and everything else are added up, Syphon 2 [sic] is destined to be another huge hit. It's one of the PlayStation's best action games—with the PS2 on the horizon, it'll also rank highly among the last great PlayStation games."[23][lower-alpha 3] In another review, The Freshman said that the game's difficulty "may turn off more casual gamers who dislike failing pinpoint twitch-action segments over and over and over, which is a pity, because Syphon 2's [sic] awesome storyline and tense action simply beg to be played. Patient gamers are in for a treat, but this virus might make you lose your hair."[24][lower-alpha 4]

In a retrospective review, AllGame editor Rich Briggs highly praised Syphon Filter 2, referring to it as "a highly entertaining title filled with rock-solid gameplay and continuous action".[7]

As of 2007, Syphon Filter 2 had sold 1.32 million units, earning platinum status.[25]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 5.5/10, and two others gave it each a score of 6/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, three critics gave it each a score of 94, 88, and 83.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game all perfect scores of 5/5 each for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor in one review.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound in another review.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (14 March 2000). "Syphon Filter 2 Poised for All-Out Sales Assault". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/15/syphon-filter-2-poised-for-all-out-sales-assault. 
  2. ↑ Smith, Rebecca (31 August 2022). "PS Plus Premium and Extra New September 2022 Games Include Sly Cooper". Evolve Media. https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2022/08/31/ps-plus-premium-extra-new-september-2022-games/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shuman, Sid (25 October 2012). "Behind the Classics: Syphon Filter". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2012/10/25/behind-the-classics-syphon-filter/. 
  4. ↑ Croft, Liam (31 August 2022). "Trophies Confirmed for Incoming PS1 Classic Syphon Filter 2". Hookshot Media. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/08/trophies-confirmed-for-incoming-ps1-classic-syphon-filter-2. 
  5. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (20 September 2023). "Syphon Filter 2 the First PS Plus Premium Game with Both 50 Hz and 60 Hz Modes". Hookshot Media. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/09/syphon-filter-2-the-first-ps-plus-premium-game-with-both-50hz-and-60hz-modes. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Syphon Filter for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198877-syphon-filter-2/index.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Briggs, Rich. "Syphon Filter 2 - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23196&tab=review. 
  8. ↑ Ham, Tom (15 March 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Syphon2/. 
  9. ↑ Edge staff (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". Edge (Future Publishing) (83): 72–73. https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d6/Edge_UK_083.pdf. Retrieved 4 October 2023. 
  10. ↑ Chou, Che; Boyer, Crispin; Davison, John; Johnston, Chris (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (129): 165. https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4f/EGM_US_129.pdf. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  11. ↑ Conlin, Shaun (9 May 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2484&full=1. 
  12. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Reiner, Andrew (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (84). https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4449. Retrieved 4 October 2023. 
  13. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "The Judge" (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (4): 37. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_04/page/n37/mode/2up. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  14. ↑ Chau, Anthony (21 March 2000). "REVIEW for Syphon Filter 2". GameFan (Shinno Media). http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1619&t=r. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  15. ↑ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (4): 12. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_04/page/n13/mode/2up. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Brian (March 2000). "Syphon Filter 2 Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34064-syphon-filter-2-review. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Perry, Douglass C. (14 March 2000). "Syphon Filter 2 Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/15/syphon-filter-2. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Lundrigan, Jeff (May 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". NextGen (Imagine Media) (65): 99. https://archive.org/details/NextGen65May2000/page/n99/mode/2up. Retrieved 4 October 2023. 
  19. ↑ MacDonald, Mark (April 2000). "Syphon Filter 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (7): 87. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-31-april-2000/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  20. ↑ Braxton-Brown, Justin (2000). "Syphon Filter 2 lives up to original". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/syphon2.html. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSpot
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Klepek, Patrick (2000). "Syphon Filter 2". http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=psx&game=syphon2. 
  23. ↑ Air Hendrix (April 2000). "Deadly Covert Ops! (Syphon Filter 2 Review)". GamePro (IDG) (139): 46–47. https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d6/GamePro_US_139.pdf. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  24. ↑ The Freshman (20 March 2000). "Syphon Filter 2 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/5156.shtml. Retrieved 5 October 2023. 
  25. ↑ "US Platinum Videogame Chart". http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



Template:Syphon Filter series Template:Bend Studio



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Syphon_Filter_2&oldid=4138782"