SWAT: Global Strike Team

SWAT: Global Strike Team Description

Since the early days of Doom and Wolfenstein, the first-person shooter genre has evolved considerably. It began as a simple game in which players were responsible for flipping switches and slaughtering endless hordes of monsters. But today, although such games still exist, many FPS games are now far more strategic. Good examples of this are Rainbow Six and SOCOM, but now there's another from Vivendi that goes by the name, SWAT: Global Strike Team. A long-awaited sequel to the long running SWAT series, Global Strike Team, as you would expect, is a team-based action game in which players assume the role of an elite anti-bad guy team. Set well into the 21st century, SWAT pits players in a broad range of tactical missions that actually discourage all out shooting in favour of law-enforcement tactics. Missions entail you and your teammates completing a variety of tasks that range from arresting terrorists to disarming bombs. But the idea here is to avoid bloodshed as best you can. Sneaking up on unwitting terrorists is always satisfying, but the trick lies in your ability to coerce them into surrendering. With the help of the Xbox Live headset, players can shout commands at the enemy in the hope of completing a mission peacefully. But there are those who are unwilling to co-operate. Should peaceful tactics fail and your enemy raises his weapon, feel free to shoot him. However, most missions come with a set of rules. Shoot your foes without good reason and you'll be penalised hard. The headset function works extremely well in SWAT and adds a unique layer of depth to the game as a whole. Those without an Xbox Live kit simply have to use buttons to issue commands, but a headset comes recommended. Unfortunately the game doesn't boast online play, but it does accommodate several split-screen multi-player modes for up to four players, so not a great deal is lost. Global Strike Team compares favourably with most other team-based FPS outings, and will be enjoyed my many - particularly fans of the previous games.