NOTE: I previously posted this review in issue number 2 of my 2.5D Blog-Fanzine
An international terrorist organization lead by a man named Erich Rhoemer has hatched a plan to release a deadly man made virus called Syphon Filter on an unsuspecting U.S. population. Your name is Gabe Logan. You're a covert operative who works for an organization simple known as "The Agency", and It's up to you to stop him. That is no small feat, but thankfully you get a large assortment of weapons ranging from the more fun than it should ever be to use Taser, to the more traditional assault rifles and Shotguns, and you even get a M79 grenade launcher. All of which make your task of taking Rhoemer down a little easier.
The story in Syphon Filter is as complex as a hollywood spy thriller, and the game itself plays like an action movie. The fire fights are intense, but, thanks to the three different targeting modes, manageable. When an enemy comes on screen you have the option to just fire and let Gabe do the targeting, lock on to the nearest enemy at the press of a button which makes it possible to run in one direction while shooting in another, or you can zoom in to first person view and neutralize baddies at your own discretion. Mastering all three forms is absolutely imperative when the action heats up throughout the course of the game.
The graphics are top notch for a PSone game which doesn't mean a whole lot considering the age of the hardware, but the game runs smoothly. Burning subways, great lighting effects (for the PSone), multiple firefights and a plethora of explosions can't slow this game down.
Syphon Filter is a blast to play, but it does have a few flaws. Controlling Gabe is sluggish, the stealth missions can get frustrating, and the mission objectives aren't alway clear due to them constantly being changed mid-mission. However the game is fun enough to make you look past these small hiccups.
Bottom Line: Syphon filter is an objective heavy action thriller with a storyline in the same vein as a Tom Clancy novel. The action is intense, your arsenal abundant, enemy combatants numerous, and the story has many twists and turns along the way, and while it does have a few small flaws, they don't stop Syphon Filter from being a must have for action buffs who are still interested in their PSones.