PSP World

Logan's Shadow Review

Syphon Filter has always been one of Sony's stronger licenses and the console versions, which have straddled both the PS1 and PS2, have generally been well received by gamers and critics alike. 2006 saw the action shift to the PSP with Dark Mirror (previously seen on the PS2), which rightly joined a handful of 'must have’ titles for Sony's handheld with its incredible sound and visuals, immersive storyline and enjoyable, rewarding gameplay. What more could you ask for? Well, more of the same, to be honest and like the amazing Pursuit Force, Sony have delivered the second installment: Logan's Shadow. Magazines and the net have been awash with images and game details for some time now but can this sequel really live up to the hype? Lets hope so...

While Logan's Shadow is simply the follow up to Dark Shadow it is also so much more. Yes, there are still terrorists, double agents and a multitude of weapons (and gadgets) but this latest outing appears to have improvements in every area. The first and most notable is Gabe's ability to 'regenerate' his health thanks to new protective armor. While this doesn't alleviate the need for health packs, it does mean that this is no longer your main objective after being hit or injured. The developers have also included 'action sequences' and, as with arcade hits such as Dragon's Lair, you now control some of the pivotal action with simple button presses. This may sounds like a bit of a cop out but it does actually work in terms of gameplay, although there may still be some gamers who would prefer the whole thing to be played out more traditionally.

The biggest addition though has to be Gabe’s new underwater abilities. This seemingly small skill set really does open up numerous possibilities in the game. There are whole sections that take place underwater and while this does take some getting used to there's no denying the atmosphere. This moves nicely on to the control system which is as user friendly as it ever was. Even given the PSP's limited interface you can still pull off an incredible number of moves although some abilities such as the taser have been dropped. Finally, apart from working as a sole operative you'll also have to command NCPs at certain points in the game. They can now do more than the usual 'follow', 'stop' or 'advance' though as the new control system allows for more complicated instructions such as directing tanks or destroying other enemy vehicles. This tweaking of the overall AI is yet another improvement making some situations far more unpredictable but making the overall experience much more rewarding.

The Multiplayer has also had a makeover. There are still modes such as Deathmatch and Capture the Flag but because of Gabe's new abilities you'll also be required to conduct some of these missions underwater. There's also much more of an even playing field thanks to a new system which places more advanced players into the same team as absolute beginners. I'm sure I don't need to tell any gamer just how frustrating it can be when you keep getting killed in a multiplayer environment so this makes the whole experience far more enjoyable.

Visually Gabe's latest outing is actually slightly better than Dark Mirror with more detailed and somewhat sharper models and textures. The animation is also absolutely incredible with Gabe and the various enemies moving around with ease regardless of how complicated the maneuver is. Elsewhere the HUD (Heads Up Display) has also had a makeover and the whole thing is now a lot clearer and easier to read so working out exactly where enemies are is much easier. A mention must go to the water effects too that are now included because of Gabe's ability to swim. These look incredibly realistic especially when you view the distorted landscape as you swim to the surface. Last but not least - the FMV sequences are not only beautifully animated but also well scripted, giving you the feeling you are fully immersed in a Hollywood blockbuster rather than the usual cheesy console game.

The soundtrack is equally impressive and although Mark Snow is no longer on musical duties his replacement provides an equally immersive and atmospheric audio experience. In addition, both the sound effects and voice action are well above average blurring the line between reality and dragging you further into the on-screen action.

If you thought Dark Mirror was the finest game of its genre on the PSP, you’ll find that Logan's Shadow takes all the elements that you loved and then piled on a little more to produce the kind of experience you bought your PSP for. It's always difficult to add improvements without altering what made the original so enjoyable in the first place but the developers must be congratulated on creating just the right balance of old and new. Then there is the outstanding control system and improved Multiplayer. In fact the list just goes on and on and, while this is certainly on the 'must own' list for any PSP owner, we can only dream what the next installment will deliver.