Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is more or less the reason why the Sony PSP exists. This is a game that shows what is possible on this little system. And because of this game developers no longer have an excuse for shooting games to be crappy on this system.
The Syphon Filter franchise got started in 1999 exactly around the time that the Metal Gear Solid series got started. I still remember playing the demo a little bit after I got Metal Gear Solid. At first it seemed like a major rip-off, but it was a really good game and it differentiated itself. The sequel after that was also really good, the third was a fall from grace. They made one for the PS2, but that was more of an online game, and was terrible.
Story:
Syphon Filter puts you in the shoes of black ops super spy Gabe Logan. Your goal is to find out what project Dark Mirror is and to stop the terrorist organization Red Sector from initiating it. Because you are in a secretive government organization you aren't the only person on the job. Your partner on this mission is Lian Xing, and she actually doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. As far as I know you get to play as her in two missions, but since the game mechanics don't change it doesn't matter.
There are a couple of twists and turns in the story, I really don't want to spoil them. The story is expertly told through computer generated movie sequences that look really nice. They do a good job of setting up the story before you start the mission, and while the mission is loading there is text that further develops what is happening. It's nothing ground breaking, but it's not schlock either.
Gameplay:
As you play the game you come across people to aid you in your task. For example for several missions you are followed by a U.N. peace corps officer. His job is to activate radio transponders so you are able to find the rest of his squad. In another mission you find an electrical engineer. His job is to open doors that you don't have the code for. In most games these people would be a hindrance for you, but all you have to do is push a button and they will find cover when the lead starts to fly.
While on the topic of flying lead, lets talk about the weapons. I really don't know what the exact amount is, but there are a lot. Your average random bad guy carries one weapon, but all of them don't carry the same type of gun. Also the type of gun they carry changes every stage. They range from assault rifle, pistol, and submachine gun. A lot of the guns of the same type have different ratings in firepower.
The real cool weapons are part of your mandatory weapons load. They are the taser and the sniper rifle. The taser can stun the enemy (I think, I never tried), but if you keep the trigger button pressed they will be electrocuted. They start to scream, and convulse then they burst into flames. It's actually hard not to laugh when you're doing this and watching them scream and runaround engulfed in flames is a gut buster. The sniper rifle fires standard rifle rounds and multifunction darts. These darts can explode, release knock out gas, and electrocute them.
The enemies in the game happen to be rather intelligent. Rarely will they just stand there and let you shoot at them. They will retreat and look for cover. Sometimes they pop out, which happens in basically every other game. When you're taking cover for too long from under enemy fire; they will look for a better firing position. As they're running they tend to roll and dive in order to make them a harder target to hit.
For a PSP game it controls smoothly. You use the analog nub (the disk below the D-pad) to control movement, and you use the four buttons on the right to aim. It harkens back to the N 64 age of first person shooters. So if you remember playing those you'll be right at home. It's kind of a pain in the but to lean up against the wall sometimes, because there are times when you need to do it fast. Eventually you just instinctively rotate the camera to face the wall and walk towards it, so it really isn't a major gripe. You can aim pretty decently, but it won't always be precise. There is an auto aim button, but you're just spraying the area and praying that you eventually hit your intended target. The other downside is that it eats up precious life saving ammunition. So I really don't recommend using it all the time, just use it out of desperation.
Graphics:
This is a really nice looking game, it looks almost like a Playstation 2 game. And since it's in the palm of your hand that's saying something. Sony has always touted the PSP as a pocket Playstation 2, but there aren't that many games that deliver this quality. The characters are highly detailed. They are capable of showing emotion in their face. The enemies are diversified in their looks. They have the same face, but they wear different outfits. There's this one level where there is radioactive material. I was shocked to see that these guys came out wearing gas masks, I also noticed that they were wearing heavier body armor. Gabe logan also uses several kinds of goggles; these include night vision, infrared, and the ability to see electromagnetic waves. The effects are expertly handled and serve their purpose. Explosions are handled nicely in the game and interact with the surrounding nicely. It's like watching an action movie; something explodes near an enemy and they go flying twenty feet in the air and fall back to earth as a crumpled mass of flesh.
Sound:
The music is almost movie quality, to be honest its better than the soundtracks for the last couple of James Bond movies. Every effect sounds clear, most of the guns sound different. You can hear the goggles turning on and off. There's a really cool hum when you switch the goggles on and off. The voice acting is pretty good as well. Gabe Logan sounds quite grizzled and experienced as he's barking orders at people. The bad guys sound quite evil as they should, because you don't want to feel symphathy towards the guy you're giving a 9mm lobotomy. When you are playing this game with the volume on maximum through a good set of headphones you're in video game heaven.
Overall:
This game is so good I almost forgot to got off the train on several occasions. You just get wrapped up in it and the missions aren't overly long either. They tend to range from twenty to thirty minutes. If you have the free time to play it you won't regret a single second. If you have a PSP and are complaining about the lack of great shooters buy this and buy it now.
"Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (PSP)" is on sale March 14, 2006 and is rated M. Shooter.
