| SOLDIER OF FORTUNE II: PREVIEW |
Soldier
of Fortune II: Double Helix is Raven's highly anticipated first-person
shooter sequel to 1998's Soldier of Fortune. You resume your
role as John Mullins, a world-renowned mercenary, who works
for a mysterious security agency called the Shop. Stopping terrorist
activities, assasinating various targets, and generally causing
lots of mayhem is par for the course. Soldier of Fortune was
infamous for it's over the top violence and was considered extreme
even for a first-person shooter. The same level of violence
can be expected in the sequel thanks too the GHOUL II system.
This second generation system is similar to the first. GHOUL
II allows multiple areas of a character to be targeted and affected
by objects; this now changes the number of "hit-zones" on a
character from twenty-six to thirty-six. Imagine limbs and entire
sections of a soldier's body being blown off from enemy firepower.
This aspect takes video game violence to an even more gruesome
level. The GHOUL II system can be used in other areas of the
game as well. Add-ons to weapons such as silencers, scopes,
and bigger clips can be added to your weapons. 
Graphically,
Soldier of Fortune II is intensified. SOF used a modified Quake
2 engine, while the sequel uses the powerful Quake III Team
Arena engine. Raven is also implementing ROAM technology for
Quake III Team Arena to add gigantic outdoor environments. Literally
miles of terrain are now fully explorable. The level of detail
is incredible; in fact, the graphics are so good that individual
blades of grass blow in the wind. Characters even have eyes
that move realistically in their sockets. Snow, rain, and wind
will effect the environment and play apart in specific missions.
Game
play wise, SOF II corrects some of the bugs from the first game.
The new ICARUS scripting system allows for multiple ways to
complete mission objectives. Weapons are now geographically
specific. Obviously a terrorist from the Middle East is not
going to use an American made rifle; they would more likely
use a weapon native to their area like an AK-47. Unlike it's
predecessor that claimed to be a realistic combat game but ended
up being more action based, SOF II focuses on actual combat.
You will have to use your surroundings to gain an advantage
on the enemy. Either you take the direct shoot 'em up route,
or you take the stealthy knife in the back approach.
Soldier
of Fortune II promises to be a great game. With all the new
innovations, the Quake 3 engine has been pushed to its limits.
The system requirements will be high, but the payoff is immense.
With a company like Raven Software developing it, you know it
will be first-class.