Despite
the hype, this expansion pack for Hidden & Dangerous
2 doesn't change much in terms of the gameplay nor
does it fix all of the little problems. If you liked
the original and you can live with the shortcomings,
then Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron will
likely serve you well - especially the online co-op
modes.
One
of the things that I like most about this game is
the realism. This is not your typical next-gen console
shooter. It's a smart and deliberate look at war.
It's easy to get killed and the game makes getting
killed a real pain in the ass. You won't find any
magic potions or health power-ups. Your life is a
very valuable commodity in this game, which is made
all the more frustrating from the lack of help that
you'll get from the AI.
Without
a doubt the biggest complaint about the original game
was the unintelligent artificial intelligence on both
sides. The hype would have to believe that your team
will now back you up in the toughest of situations
and the enemy will actually try to take cover and
flank you rather than stand out in the open waiting
to get shot. While it's true that some of the AI is
better programmed in this expansion pack, they do
tend to fall apart after a while. 
Things
start out really good with your teammates shooting
Germans with uncanny precision. Even the Germans duck
and take cover. But it doesn't take long until the
Germans are out in the open again, this time picking
off your guys like they were targets in a shooting
gallery. They seem unaware that they're under attack,
allowing the Germans to lob grenades at them with
little action or reaction - with the exception of
getting blown apart.
Some
of the events in the game are scripted. You'll run
into the same problem at the same place every time
as you trip the wire and set off an event such as
a sniper at a window. Your best defense is stealth.
It's easier to avoid detection altogether by getting
close to the ground and moving very slowly. It can
take a lot of time and it can be quite frustrating
because you don't always know if you're doing it right.
Sometimes you'll get away with it and other times
you'll alert the enemy and find yourself overwhelmed.
You
can change control of any character but then you'll
have to re-program your orders. At least you can pause
the game to do this since it's fairly time consuming
- not to mention a pain in the ass. A new online co-op
mode allows you to get rid of the AI for a (hopefully)
more sentient and reactive team of human gamers. You
can play through all the new maps and utilize vehicles
like jeeps and tanks. If there's one reason to purchase
this game it's for the online component.
The
cutscenes are powerful and help to put you in the
mood. The sense of realism conveyed throughout the
game is inconsistent due to the AI programming but
there's enough of it that is strongly embedded so
that we never actually lose the fantasy. We can psychologically
blame the shoddy AI for being amateurs. The various
weapons sound great and require some precision for
aiming. The animations are good with full facial expressions.
Some of the environments suffer from blurry textures
but there is a sense of dimension to them that makes
them almost larger than life.
This
expansion pack isn't all that impressive in terms
of the single player campaigns but it does rock online.
That should be your only reason for going to war.
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