Enter Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. Surely a game based on a dwindling series and gameplay not suited to the PSP will struggle even more than the previous version? Surprisingly not. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror actually manages to be one of the more compelling reasons to own a PSP and signals a strong revival for a once floundering franchise. Players reprise the role of Gabe Logan in a story that’s filled with spies, terrorists, terrorist plots and unashamed action. While somewhat clichéd and predictable at times, it’s able to get off on it’s merits simply through the quality of the production.
In terms of the gameplay, the obvious question is whether the game is able to get around the weaknesses of the PSP button layout. Well, there are three basic control schemes. Two of them involve trying to put everything into a manual aim system, meaning you’ll have to use the analog nub and the face buttons to move around. While the inventory switching has been smartly moved around these fixtures, the plain simple fact is that these schemes don’t work well. Aiming is simply too much of a chore under these circumstance. However, the third scheme is a clever blend of free and targeted aim. It’s much more accurate and thankfully, the actual level and gameplay design has been taken into account for this.
Gabe goes looking for the hidden "adult literature" stash
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is blend of stealth and all-out action. The game is divided into several chapters and each chapter has a handful of episodes. At the beginning of each episode, you are given a general objective and more as you play through. Most of these objectives will have you seeking out something or going somewhere, while taking out numerous enemies in-between. If you are in the vicinity of an objective, it will show up on your mini-map and be pointed out by a visible arrow and distance marker on the screen. Enemies are shown on the map as arrows, and their awareness of your presence is indicated by their colour.
The primary control scheme in Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror that made the game play best had Gabe’s movements controlled by the analog nub and strafing with the Square and Circle buttons. X is shoot and Triangle lets you lean up against walls. The d-pad smartly lets you switch between weapons, different goggles, crouching and other actions. The R button lets you auto-target an enemy, while holding the L button will put you into free aiming. Initially, this set up is not intuitive, but after a few levels, it is not something that can’t be grasped and used effectively.
The gunplay doesn’t really lend itself to running-and-gunning. Targeting is not that effective either, primarily since the enemies seem to be well protected around their mid-regions. However, the game is extremely well suited to duck-and-cover gunplay. Enemies will advance on your position and you’re left to pick them off from behind the crates/walls/barriers. The free-aim is surprisingly effective from this position and the player is likely to be picking off headshots with relative ease. As a game that relies on some degree of stealth, it works out well. Even though there will still be circumstances where you’ll need to fight in the open, this is handled relatively well. It’s not as proficient as that duck-and-cover but players are likely to get by.
Maybe you ought to get to the other side first.
There is a fair amount of variety in each mission. You’ll often be required to resort to your IR and Night-vision goggles to get through the necessary situations and sometimes you’ll be traveling across ziplines, hiding over crates and in air vents. It’s all done in a sophisticated and enjoyable manner. Most missions aren’t as long as your traditional console-type missions. It’s a good thing from the perspective that the game doesn’t really let you save in the middle of the mission but still manages to retain some portability. Despite this, a couple of missions would be considered a little too long, if we thought of it in that manner.
There is a fair bit to do outside of the missions as well. There are a lot of unlockable rewards that await the player after completing various (and hidden) secondary objectives. These include extra weapons and secret levels. There are also training and level select modes, where the latter allows you to go through levels that you’ve already completed. There is a fairly substantial multiplayer mode and it allows up to eight players online. It’s something of a standard affair, with objective-based, deathmatch and “rogue agent” modes. The last mode is where a player carries a kit, and while they have that kit, they are the only one who can get points for kills. It’s entertaining affair if you can get the numbers, primarily because the maps are quite large. However, the maps are only five in number, so it might get old a bit quicker than it ought to.
While the control scheme is easily the least awkward of any of the shooters on the PSP so far, there are a few quirks in it that stop it from being brilliant. Primarily, that you’ll be bumping and jarring against environmental fixtures deep into the game. That, and aiming is a bit awkward when both you and the enemy moving. Enemy AI is questionable as well. At times, they show a few smart tactics, like distraction and flanking. Then there are times where they are obviously running off a loop, will charge head-first at you or disrupt your stealthy ways through (what we presumed to be) telepathic powers. One final issue with the game is that it doesn’t do much in terms of personality. It feels as if any spy/action character could have been placed into some of the character roles.
Paparazzi not allowed.
From a technical perspective, the game is very difficult to fault. Presentation-wise, the game has higher production values than have been seen in a lot of console games. The FMVs are well choreographed and everything looks and feels like it’s in the right place. As each level loads, you are treated to the story and the game is ready once the snippet is finished. Graphically, the game is very close to console quality. Even though the game is set in some droll environments, the visual quality never suffers. It manages to find a level of technical excellence that has been rarely seen on the PSP, so well in fact that it doesn’t need to rely on an artistic perspective. From textures to animations, everything is in excellent order.
From an audio perspective, the game is solid as well. The musical themes are appropriate to the spy and action themes. There is a fair amount of voicing in the game and all of it is done well. However, they are on the generic side, especially when they’re backed up by writing that feels a bit too typical. Probably the most disappointing aspect is the weapon sounds. The sounds are weak and consequently, the weapons felt like they were somewhat underpowered.
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is easily one of the best shooters on the PSP. It’s so much easier and proficient to control than almost every other title available currently. Not only that, it combines a proper level design and engaging gameplay. It’s definitely a great return to form for the series. While the control scheme is one of the most functional, it has a few quirks and the game in general does somewhat lack some personality. Still, if you’re after a bit of stealth, action or shooting on the PSP, you won’t go too wrong with this game. After all Portable Ops is still a while away.
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