Syphon Filter 3 - PlayStation

Syphon Filter has never been for the weak-skilled. It features location-based damage (a head shot is fatal), making it one of the more frustrating or exhilarating of games, depending on how you look at it. The controls are as responsive as they've always been, and the camera system doesn't fail, which is a rarity in third person action games. The graphics are quite good for the PlayStation, if only slightly improved from Syphon Filter 2. The gameplay is extensive, with not only the story-based missions but also some mini-games and a multiplayer option that lets you gun for a friend in head-to-head combat.

Given the flashback nature of the missions, Syphon Filter 3 might be confusing for new players, so it's best for fans of the series, or as something to buy along with the earlier classics. In many ways the game feels like an expansion pack to Syphon Filter 2, which isn't a bad thing at all; overall, it's a compelling game that proves there's life yet in the old PlayStation. --Bob Andrews