■ The jump in aesthetic quality between the original 16-bit and this PS2 sequel is remarkable, but in many depicts far more realistic environments, but in terms of structure it retains the same mission-based formula as the game that it’s based on. Where it improves vastly in terms of gameplay is with the sheer number and variety of opponents that it throws at you at any one time. Then in terms of level design, where the original is limited to flat surfaces with small raised structures, has hills and valleys, snow-topped mountains and vast, detailed structures like oil rigs. Everything that makes the first game great is still there, however – the mission briefings, arming your helicopter pre-mission with the weapons you think will work best for the job at hand, and a difficulty curve that requires genuine skill to overcome rather than an itchy trigger finger. Essentially, offers a more intense and immersive experience than was possible with the original.
