Soldier of Fortune: Platinum Edition

Amazing gore, amazing graphics "for the time" sof plus mod fixes all issues with modern hardware. -dinput and in_mouse 2 is needed for the mouse issue. Otherwise controls are a breeze although a tad archaic due to its age. (namly number select being off) Just buy it. The level design can be a tad confusing but its sooooooo fun. Just blast arms off and get stuffed with pizza. Good times garanteed.

Despite the name and the cover art, SoF doesn't play like some kind of Call of Duty predecessor. The story is military themed, but the gameplay really isn't, as John Mullins controls more like a superhuman ninja than a soldier. He's basically John Wick with a moustache. Combat is fast and frantic, lending itself more to reflex based spur-of-the-moment decisions rather than tactics or planning. It's extremely violent, but it's all very stylish. It feels over-the-top in a subtle enough way that it can't be taken seriously or really offend anyone, but not so crazy that it becomes a parody. The dismemberment system is what SoF is known for, but the gameplay would still be great without it. Each map is PACKED with enemies, and shell casings litter the ground as you sprint through the levels killing everything that moves like some kind of terrifying, unfeeling exterminator. It tickles something in my primal lizard brain and remains consistently entertaining throughout. Weapons pack a satisfying punch both visually and audibly, and it has some of the best weapon animations I've ever seen in a game too. It might sound odd to say that the animation for switching to a weapon, or even just reloading one, can actually be memorable, but some of these have stuck with me for 18 years. It's almost like each gun has its own little personality, and in a way it's kind of charming. The level design is great, except for a few confusing areas. The gritty underground environments of the early game are contrasted by the Japanese skyscraper, German castle, and the slick silver rooms with sci-fi technology of the later game. Although the drab sewers of Kosovo aren't very inspired, and the Iraqi Oil Refinery is frankly a sh*t level that should never have passed playtesting, they're slight flaws in an otherwise varied and memorable selection of environments. But most importantly there's no chest high walls and highly scripted sequences here, this is turn-of-the-millennium soldiering!

The game is great. It has this specific 90's shooters atmosphere. Solid features as limb damage, kind of randomly generated enemies , quake 2 engine solidness, enjoyable old-school game play. But think twice before buying this. This this owned by Activision. Probably a big share of the money will go for the Robert Kotick's annual bonuses. This parasite does not deserves even a penny more in his wallet.

This game is a blast, great level design, insane comical action (feels like your in some 80's action movie), fast paced fun. It just oozes early 2000's. Absolutely, you need to jump through a hoop to get it running, which is unfortunate - but very much worth it! Google SoFPlus, unpack the mod into the game folder - even go a step farther and Copy/paste the SoF.exe into a new file, rename it MOHAA.exe.... sounds a bit annoying, but it really only takes a few mins then tadaaa!! SoF action packed extravaganza

Soldier of Fortune is not just one of the best and most significant games in Raven's library, it's also one of the best FPS games from its time period. The GHOUL system is unbelievably satisfying, weapons look and sound great, and the story is exactly as stupid as you'd want from a B-movie-inspired action game. Raven even managed to make a sewer level which doesn't suck; that is, on its own, enough to add at least one star to any review. I think I still rank Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force slightly higher as far as Raven games go, because I'm a big Star Trek fan, but it would not have existed without Soldier of Fortune. This is an absolute must play.