Amazon.co.uk Review
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix was a solid first person shooter on the PC so it was just a matter of time before the shooter was ported to the Xbox. The game puts you in the shoes of real-life soldier John Mullins who executes missions for a secretive government agency known as the Shop.
Forgettable storylines aside, there is much on offer in the single-player campaign as you find yourself battling your way through a vast number of real-world environments, from the Columbian jungle to storm-battered battleships. SoF2 introduces variety into the gameplay by tempering mindless blasting with some notable set-pieces and a number of levels where a stealthy approach is needed.
SoF2 has always attempted to distinguish itself from other first-person-shooters by offering one of the most visceral FPS experiences ever. However, the high body counts cannot detract from the games obvious flaws. The graphical power of the Xbox has been wasted here, character models look worse than the PC version and actually vanish after they are shot. Textures are bland and messy, while the sound is dull and often muffled. Enemy AI is average and groups of enemies all scramble around as individuals as opposed to working to any group dynamic. If you really want a challenge then SoF2 supports up to 12 players via system link on Xbox Live.
Despite being a huge single-player game there really isn't much here to elevate SoF2 above the average--this could have been a great chance to rework and improve on what was a great PC game, but it turns out to be a missed opportunity. --Chris Ryan
Product Description
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix for the Xbox is the explosive follow-up to the acclaimed PC first-person action game
Soldier of Fortune. As John Mullins, a military consultant working for the top-secret agency known as the Shop, players will experience fierce shoot-outs in the jungles of Columbia, the frozen wastelands of Kamchatka and the bustling streets of Hong Kong, to name but a few. During their tour of duty, players will have access to an immense arsenal of real-world weaponry including MK 23 US SOCOM, M4 with M203 grenade launcher, MSG90A1 military sniper rifle, and the MM-1 40 mm grenade launcher, as well as authentic next-generation small arms such as the OICW weapon system. Armed with this lethal assortment of hardware, players will have to tackle a wide-range of missions, including hostage rescue, intelligence gathering and search-and-destroy. Additionally, players can encounter up to 10 other warriors in
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix's multi-player modes via Xbox Live.
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix simulates the real equipment of the world's elite commando units. Locations depicted in the game are taken from actual political hot spots, and in some cases are inspired by the experiences of the actual John Mullins, a former Green Beret and military "consultant". The Xbox version also features all the latest enhancements to the game including 25 weapons, 55 single-player missions, 20 multi-player maps as well as a random-mission generator for both single-player and multi-player modes.
