SWAT 4: Gold Edition

Do i really need to write an overly extensive review for this gem? If you are here on GOG and looking for this game than you probably know what's good :).

(note: I have the game as retail CD, an never played the expansion pack.) I really doesn't want to start with the usual "it is a tactical shooter, you've to menage your team.. blah blah blah", because this game is nowhere near that category. SWAT 4 is superb blend of simulation and arcade: not too real and not too mindlessly unreal. As you expect from a title of this genre, you have to chose your equipment instead of searching for it. The gameplay is about dealing with the threats rather than just running around a map and killing everything at sight. It may sound a little complex and the game IS complex compared to other tactical shooters. To aid you in this situation, there are some very intelligent team mates, but you can aslo play lone wolf if you want bo the the lonely hero. The game has an awesome multiplayer mode. There is just no better thing than joining with your friend to save the world. One of the few games I've played with voice chat with my friends. It really balance the slow tactical advancing with the fast gunfights, and believe me it is wise to have a plan before 2-3 players the same room with live ammunition. I can't remember if this was an in-game voice over IP function, or we used a 3rd party software however. If you're new to the genre this is the game you should start your career. While I love Rainbow Six 3 there is no doubt SWAT 4 is the best title in this type of games.

It's like Rainbow Six with a more accessible team commands menu, more of an emphasis on actual policing (zip-tying hostages, identifying evidence etc) and slightly less emphasis on the team itself. It's easily one of the best tactical shooters ever made, and with its randomization of enemy layout and enemy disposition every single game will be a little different. It also has one of the actual, genuine best missions ever put in a videogame, where you breach a house while looking for a serial killer.

This is the pinnacle of the SWAT game series, the refined friendly AI and the new command system made it a much better gameplay experience than any of the previous titles by miles. The improved graphics and sound, the greatly enhanced voice acting, it all sucks you in quite nicely. Now here is the bad. The enemy AI suffers from a pretty horrendous flaw which sucks out an awful lot of the fun. When they decide to shoot, they really don't miss. Sure they might not score the instant kill headshot on the first shot every time but they are going to hit you. If playing solo, do what you are supposed to do. Issue orders, stand in the back and let the friendly AI go in first. Multiplayer? Apologize to your buddy that gets voted to take point, because it's kind of likely he'll be sitting out the rest of the round.

This game is incredible, even all these years later, and has elements that most AAA games don't bother to include despite their incredible graphics. If you like a shooter that makes you think, and doesn't incentivize killing above all else, then SWAT will be your favorite game. Every level has unique challenges, and because the enemies are randomly spawned and their behavior changes every time you play, you can play the same level a dozen times without getting bored. Every door requires a thoughtful way to enter that will spare the lives of your squad, and get most of the suspects to drop the weapon. The AI is clever and realistic; they won't throw their lives away, and they'll find places to hide and ambush you, or barring that will retreat to their friends. In some instances (this might have been a coincidence) I saw suspects hiding with a civilians to keep us from shooting them. I've loved playing this, and I'll play it many times more. Why did I take away a star, you ask? Because there are some game-breaking bugs/poor programming that will ruin my score, and I am powerless to do anything. For starters, at least a dozen times every game I have to issue an order two times or more. The squad will remain motionless after I issue an order, and it wouldn't bother me if it didn't happen constantly. Second, the squad member AI can be mindnumbingly stupid. One time a squad member was standing in a doorway as he was being shot, and did nothing to move. Another time a squad member deployed a flashbang by running to the spot where it was to be deployed, and then tossing it on the ground while standing there. Worse is when they throw it against the wall of the room where it was supposed to go inside. There is more, but this is the worst of it. It's sad that the developers took so much care with everything except this. But, it's years later, and it will never be officially fixed. Such a shame.