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Codemasters has picked up Innerloop’s sequel to Project: I’m Going In, IGI: 2 Covert Strike, from Eidos Interactive. In IGI2, you take control of David Jones, an ex-army man recruited by the Institute for Geotactical Intelligence (IGI). IGI is a group of trained warriors, founded by Pat Lenehan. You have to prove yourself to be among the best of the best.
Gameplay should be familiar to fans of the genre. You are given your mission objectives at the beginning. Once you begin the mission, you have to decide which method will be the best for the mission. Should you go there with guns blazing? Or carefully observe everyone and sneak in? If you choose to be careful, IGI 2 has several gadgets to help you out. You are given binoculars to see what’s going on around you. In addition, you are given a map that gives you an overview of what is happening in the area. Lastly, you are given a thermal imaging device, something that will let you find your enemies even if they hide. If you choose to go in with massive firepower, you’ll need to choose a point of attack, somewhere where you can take out multiple enemies without causing a base-wide panic.
Although most missions require the use stealth, you are given several weapons at your disposal. There are over 30 weapons including pistols, snipers, and automatics. Among the most noteworthy are the SOCOM, M16, M203, SDV Dragunov, M1014, G36, G11, and Minimi. Keeping in touch with the game’s style, you can only have one weapon and one side-arm at the time. You’ll need to know when to switch between the weapons you need in order to successfully complete missions.
As Jones, you are able to run, crawl, kneel and walk. Running should only be used if you really need to get out of the area since you will be easily noticed. If you need to aim, kneeling will give you the best option. The AI rarely notices if you crawl around them. Crawling is the best to go on without being noticed but is slower than the others.
One of the game’s lowest points and something makes multiplayer so great, is the game’s AI. Innerloop should have spent more time tweaking it. There are several times where the AI doesn’t notice you or when they do, you run a bit and they will run back. They stop the chase and you can easily sneak by. If you destroy a camera watching you outside of a building they are in, they run around inside of the building, throwing grenades… inside the building. While it doesn’t seriously affect the game, IGI 2 would have been more challenging had the AI been up to the standard. While some missions would have been extremely hard if the AI didn’t fall for these tricks, so depending on your point of view, this can be a good thing.
The graphics do a great job for their moderate system requirements. There are several missions that take place on open fields and the line of sight is impressive. Weapons have a realistic look to them and fit in with the rest of the game. Enemy models are particularly good and you’ll see plenty of them on the screen at once. Particle and lighting effects are used moderately throughout the game, adding to the great graphics.
In the audio department, IGI 2 does a respectable job as well. The background music fits the game’s action and will remind you of other games, including the remarkable Hitman 2. Sound effects sound good if not a little muted. Weapon fire sounded a little “off” but is respectable.
Powered by Gamespy, IGI 2 features a considerable online multiplayer mode. It is easy and painless to find a great group of people to play with. More so than other titles, it is remarkably easy to find a group of people that respect your playing style. Once you find a good group, you’re in multiplayer heaven. You’ll need to get used to the map and playing with actual people rather than the AI, but multiplayer adds some excitement to the game.
IGI 2 relies on stealth and tactics but also lets you have some fun with firepower. With a respectable showing in the visual and audio departments, IGI 2 doesn’t disappoint. The PC doesn’t have a lack of stealth shooters but IGI 2 proves to be a great addition to your library. Innerloop has done a great job with the sequel and should be commended.
Min. Requirements:
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Direct X 8.1
700mhz+ Processor
128MB Ram
32MB Video Card
8x CD Rom
1.9 GB free on HD
Rec. Requirements:
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Direct X 8.1
1,2000mhz+ Processor
512MB Ram
64MB Video Card
32xCD Rom
1.9 GB free on HD
-- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Mar 22, 2003
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