Police Quest: SWAT 2 (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.7 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Scott Krol
• Reviewed on: 08/13/1998
• Updated on: 05/02/2000
• Released on: 06/30/1998
• Originally published on GameSpot: Police Quest: SWAT 2 (PC) Review

If you ask an average gamer to explain the focus of real-time strategy games you'll probably be told that the two most important elements are resource management and building a better combat force than your foe. With few exceptions, that's been the rule ever since Westwood's Dune II. What most people don't realize is that the real-time strategy game goes as far back as the original home computers. Combat Leader and NATO Commander were both golden age real-time games, focusing on managing troops in real time without concerning themselves with resource gathering. Real time creates a realistic situation where you must assess and react to threats instantaneously, a perfect setting for tactical simulations. It causes you to be proactive and to be constantly thinking, which is exactly what Sierra's SWAT 2 aims for, and, sometimes, it hits the mark. For the most part, though, SWAT 2 simply shoots itself in the foot.

Don't fret if you remember the first SWAT; SWAT 2 only shares the name of that horrid FMV affair. SWAT 2 is a 30-scenario real-time strategy game, which can be played either as SWAT or a terrorist organization. In addition to the scenarios, multiplayer is of course supported, and a multiplayer map editor has been included.

The 30 scenarios are divided into 15 scenarios for each side, and each scenario begins with a short animated video. The video is essentially your briefing for the upcoming scenario and gives you an idea of what your team will be facing. Scenarios for SWAT involve everything from riot control to snipers, while the terrorist side sees you starting the riots and ambushing the police. After that you can create your teams that will participate in the scenario. There is a large selection of officers and terrorists to choose from, and, thanks to the multiple means of filtering information, picking the right one is a snap. Finally you equip your teams. The SWAT player has it easier with equipment, thanks to unlimited acquisition, while the terrorist player must make do with a limited stockpile. Once that is done, the scenario proper begins, as do the problems.

The first glaring problem is that some scenarios will have your officers ill equipped to handle the situation. While perfect intelligence would not be realistic, you should be told if you'll need something special, such as repelling equipment, but some scenarios wait until you enter them before you find out that interesting tidbit. Time to restart and reequip.

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