Silent Scope Complete
Score: 95% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Shooter
Graphics & Sound: In terms of today's console games, Silent Scope Complete is lacking in both audio and video. But if you think back to the days when hitting the arcade was actually fun, then this collection of games is a dead on transfer. Graphically, all four of the included games are nearly identical. The same is true with the audio. Background music is pleasant and not too intrusive. The voices in the game are pretty lame, however. But again, this is expected as Complete contains four arcade-perfect ports.
Gameplay: You take on the personality of a sniper... probably the best in the world. That is why it's up to you to serve and protect all innocent people, from bystanders and hostages, all they way up to the president. All the while you will be peering through your sights, you'll also have to save your own butt as well. Konami has done an excellent job of porting over the entire arsenal of sniper action, and bringing it to the Xbox in a 4-in-1 disc. All three of the arcade classics (Silent Scope, Silent Scope 2 and Silent Scope EX) have made it into Silent Scope Complete, as well as the console original with Silent Scope 3. As a bonus, you have the option of using any light gun with the game. And, if you feel like dishing out an additional 50 dollars, you can purchase separately the official gun for the game, the Silent Scope Light Rifle. In terms of gameplay, all four games packaged into Silent Scope Complete deliver the same action, with a slightly different storyline. In fact, the stories contain the same basic plot. You have been called into the scene to help eliminate terrorists. It's simple really: Target a terrorist with your crosshair; then shoot him dead. Move onto the next target, and repeat. Not only that, but you are also against the clock in the first two games. Silent Scope 3 and Silent Scope EX take a slight skew from the original. Now your time doesn't tick away, but instead adds up. Most noticeably is that in SS3 (the console original), you can choose your destinations and save your progress, whereas the rest of the (arcade) games in Silent Scope Complete require you to start over after you lose your life.
Difficulty: In the most generic sense, all four of the games included in Silent Scope Complete have the same basic difficulty, because the entire concept of each game is to aim, shoot, and kill. Once you master the one-shot-kill, you'll also see that each game has its own difficulties about it. While I find that SS1 and SS2 seem to be overall the most difficult of the four, SS3 and SSEX seem to be somewhat easy at some points, and nearly impossible at others. The good news is that you do have a choice, albeit a small one. You will be able to select your missions, each with its own difficulty rating.
Game Mechanics: To control, or not to control... that is the question. The best part of the SS arcade series is the ability to clutch a rifle and silently pick off terrorists from behind a scope. While the analog stick (as opposed to the D-pad) of modern controllers helps to recreate the fluidity of moving the crosshair across the screen, nothing beats the feel of the arcade gun. This is where the Silent Scope Light Rifle (or other light guns) steps in. Trust me when I say that the game is much more enjoyable with a gun in your hands. However, it doesn't come without its drawbacks. The Silent Scope Light Rifle gives a great feeling to the game, but it also has its share of flaws. The biggest is the fact that the sensor that is supposed to detect your head behind the scope doesn't work very well, and is almost better left turned off. The other major drawback to using the gun is that chances are you will have to crank up the brightness (in-game) of your monitor for the gun to work, which washes out the graphics quite a bit. Still, after a brief learning curve is overcome, using the Light Rifle blows away using a standard controller. Either way you play, however, Complete is the ultimate transfer of four great games, now playable at home with your Xbox. If you were into the series, or are just into light gun games (like The House of the Dead) in general, then Silent Scope Complete is for you. And if you do decide to purchase the Silent Scope Light Rifle, you'll be happy to know that the rifle converts into a shotgun.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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