Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix

If we talk about the shooters of the early 2000s, "Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix" holds a special place in my memory. It was one of the first PC games that I played and went through, like, three times.

There were times. There were times when developers could afford not just shooting games, but a real madness with blood and extremely realistic violence. As a child, this game seemed to me to be one of the best. Now, reviewing it through the prism of time, I understand that this is too much for children. The many subsequent games I played literally blurred my memories of this revelation of violence. But the game is a product of its time. Such were the realities of computer games back then. It's up to everyone to decide for themselves whether it's good or bad.

The plot of "SoF2" tries to surprise with complex intrigues, cheerfully rushes forward, like a hero of a category B movie with a weapon at the ready. The main character is John Mullins, a mercenary and a man who has to save the world again. This time, the threat is a deadly virus that the terrorists are going to use for mass destruction. At first, it all starts with relatively modest missions, but then it drags into a global story with travels around the world - from snow-covered forests to tropical jungles and city streets. A cliche? Of course. But at one time it worked, creating the atmosphere of a harsh action movie with a brave mercenary who solves problems solely with bullets and grenades.

In terms of mechanics, "Soldier of Fortune 2" seemed like something outstanding at the time. The developers have tried to make the game as realistic as possible: here you need to take into account the recoil of weapons, speed of movement, shelter, and even damage physics. Opponents die very differently, depending on where the bullet hit. Sometimes it's too "spectacular", but at that moment it just looked amazing.

At the time of release, the game boasted one of the most detailed damage systems in games. The developers used an engine that allowed enemies to take damage in 26 different areas of the body (I remembered this figure from childhood, having read in some game guide). Bullets could leave holes in limbs, tear flesh, and even tear off body parts if used with particularly powerful weapons. It looked shockingly realistic, which, of course, did not frighten the teenagers, who had the opportunity to shoot coolly.

The levels are varied. The hero will visit Colombia, Hong Kong, Prague and even Kamchatka. Each place offers its own challenges: somewhere you have to sneak in, and somewhere you have to hit in all directions, fighting off enemies. However, the level of difficulty sometimes seems inadequate: in the later stages, you had to go through the same moment ten times, dying again and again from machine gun fire, without even having time to notice where it came from.

The choice of weapons is quite rich: pistols, shotguns, submachine guns, even experimental weapons (I remember there was such a massive futuristic machine gun with a sight). Noise plays an important role - for example, if an enemy walks through broken glass, you will definitely hear him approaching. This detail gave the game a special atmosphere and allowed us to tactically wait for opponents.

Although Soldier of Fortune 2 is primarily a shooter, some missions encourage stealth playthroughs. You can use a silencer or a throwing knife and covertly eliminate enemies. It is also important to monitor the level of armor and health - they cannot be restored here with a simple shelter, as in modern shooters. We have to look for first-aid kits and armor, which adds tension to the firefights.

When I was a kid, Soldier of Fortune 2 was one of my favorite games. It offered a serious level of hardcore, dynamic gameplay and a lot of interesting details that made it special. Today it feels a little outdated, but it is still capable of giving a couple of dozen hours of intense action. Not a masterpiece, but a strong representative of its genre. The score for her is from my childhood.

"Double Helix" is not a revolution in the genre, but it is certainly a memorable project. As a child, the game was amazing for its cruelty, complexity and variety of passing. Today, it feels old-school, archaic in places, but still able to give the atmosphere of classic 90s action movies. If you are not afraid of hardcore and appreciate old-fashioned shooters, you can give the game a chance.

9 out of 10.

Ten years ago, I had a revelation… and that was the amazing ride thorough this video game. I was really blown away by this game. It was really pleasurable in 2002. It was very entertaining, realistic (with all that violence, while you shooting at your attackers you can drill holes how many you like, or you can disembowel them with the knife), good gameplay and good AI. The game also has a pretty good voice acting crew… to mention Todd Susman, Earl Boen, Mark Hammil, Alan Oppenheimer, Cam Clarke, Greg Eagles and others… The game holds missions where you can go berserk and just shoot and people and you also have stealth missions. Well, generally, you can end your nearly every mission with stealth, no need to go berserk every time. You have an excellent set of weapons and other modification variations and possibilities that you can do with your weapons. You are John Mullins, who works for "The Shop" an anti-terrorist organization in Texas… and, of course you have missions all over the world, because world is a dangerous place, but Americans, especially Texans are so good… and they are world police. That's the usual cliché

This is a very good game and it still holds up well for online fighting. I wait eagerly for SOF 3 though :-) It has good graphics and good multiplayer support. Go get this one, it is still going strong online and I am sure it is available cheap by now...

If you want a game thats main characteristic is violence, SOF2: Double Helix is for you.

I remember buying this game last year and being absolutely amazed by the realism, but I would say the game goes slightly downhill during the course of it.

The main problem with SOF2: Double Helix is that it is riddled with bugs. You shoot some guy in the head and he falls down with a lot of realism, but about 3 seconds later he goes into a "stiff" state and sometimes slides along the floor in a very mysterious way... Also if you shoot someone sitting down they just freeze.

Buggy or not, it is a good enough game in my opinion, and it's one that I played over and over again. Buy it! 7/10

Having been into computer games and video games from the age of 6 (in the mid-80s, rat tail on my head and all) I can say yes they are getting more and more realistic. From the original graphic titles like King's Quest to the most modern pieces of industry the video games we play are evolving into their own world. Soldier of Fortune 2 is no exception.

First let's deal with the realism. From the sounds of the guns reloading to the physics of knifing a man's hand off (it's all possible, trust me) the game stays true to it's element. Violence isn't rewarded and unlike the extensive and painful animations done in Soldier of Fortune 1, this game views it as what it is, a death animation. Nothing elaborate, but done nicely just the same. Walking straight up to a man and looking at his face you can see light sources reflecting off of their eyes, stubble on their chins, and expressions on their faces. Not since Max Payne have I seen such wonderfully done skins on a character.

The voice work is top notch. My favorite voice work actor of all time (Cam Clarke) does a wonderful job here while leaving his typical sound. I didn't recognize the voice honestly, where I usually jump on it. Gone is Freddy Pharkas and Die Flauder Mouse. Mark Hamill makes a vocal appearance as well and pulls off the slightly uptight assistant director part he has well. Don't think Luke, think Mark. He's done a wonderful job in voice roles from Gabriel Knight to this.

Finally a personal view. This game is very realistic in it's portrayal of violence. You can shoot someone in the face and tear off the greater part of their head, then walk up and knife their chin off, which was conveniently left. This is not a title for kids in any sense of the word. I'm 19 and it's enough for me. So anyone out there looking for a review, hope this helps. 7 out of 10 stars. The story needs touching up.