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PC | Action | SWAT 4

Boxart for SWAT 4
SWAT 4 18 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.0
  • SOUND: 4.0
  • CONTROL: 3.0
  • FUN FACTOR 4.0
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.0
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.2

Review: SWAT 4

Review by DJ Dinobot | 04/08/2005 | 18:11:38 PM PST

Lead an elite SWAT unit after only five minutes of training! No push-ups required.

As leader of a SWAT team, you're tasked with protecting the innocent and "bringing order to chaos." In addition to a six-man entry team, SWAT 4 gives you control over two snipers who provide valuable intel about suspects' movement. Overall, SWAT 4 does a good job of capturing the intensity of close-quarters tactical combat.

"Sting and Clear!"

SWAT 4 is very much about stealth and positioning, with sudden outbursts of gunfire punctuating the careful execution of your planned sweeps. Chess with bullets might be an apt analogy. The entry team is divided into red and blue squads, allowing for flanking and trapping maneuvers. Splitting up the unit is always a gamble, but is necessary in certain situations.

Commands are issued through a highly intuitive menu accessed via left-click. For example, if your reticule is centered on a door, breach and entry options will be listed. The tab key toggles squads for those times when you need to split the element up and issue separate orders. While the command system works brilliantly, in-game movement can be frustrating. It"s much too easy to get hung up on things like doorjambs. Nothing kills the rush of a flashbang entry like getting stuck in the doorway. Also unwieldy is the weapon damage system. At one point I riddled a gangster in a tee shirt with 9mm rounds. Rather than drop like a sack of meat, he killed me with one shot from his pistol. Maybe it"s time for SWAT to ditch the armor and go casual?

Lighting and textures are mostly well executed, but the surprise gem in SWAT 4 is the sound design. Subtle but effective effects bring the environments to life. Whether it"s "happy shopper" muzak in the diamond store or the muffled cries of hostages, the soundscape is an invaluable part of the SWAT 4 experience.

Beanbags vs. Buckshot

At the end of each mission, your performance is evaluated based on a number of performance factors. One of the best ways to improve your score is to arrest, rather than incapacitate or kill, your suspects. Luckily, there are many load out options that can help you attain this goal, including beanbag shotguns and tasers. Always pack at least one non-lethal weapon, as SWAT 4 curiously lacks a melee attack option. Multiplayer (especially co-operative mode) and a quick mission editor (that lets you remix enemies and objectives for each map) add some much-needed replay value. The single player career mode is surprisingly short, and after a few missions starts to feel repetitive. Though it won't blow many minds, SWAT 4 is a pick-up-and-play tactical shooter with a solid pedigree.


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