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Syphon Filter 3 delivers some punch...but not nearly enough

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Syphon Filter 3...Great game, awesome graphics, it just comes up a bit short. Not nearly as good as the first 2 installments, Syphon Filter 3 agents like Gabe Logan, Lian Xing, Teresa Lipan and Lawrence Mujari take you through 19 different levels from Costa Rica to Australia and even to Afghanistan. With 26 different weapons to choose from (although you'll need the same 2-3 on any one level) it keeps the game interesting for replay value. Included along with the 2 player mode are 5 'mini games' that seem to just take up space on the disc. I would rather have a longer game with harder levels or a few more 'boss' levels instead.
Syphon Filter fans.....BUY THIS GAME! If you are not familiar with this series, start with the first installment. It could quite possibly be your favorite game of all time.

JUST ONE DISC!?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: June 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I finally got my hands on Syphon Filter 3 and I was little surprised (and disappointed) to open up its multi-disc case just to find ONE disc. Huh? I searched the case thoroughly, rifled through the instruction book and weapons guide, but nope, no other disc could be found. That's kinda misleading, isn't it? Especially after the previous Syphon Filter had two discs. Silly me, I expected to find at least two discs inside SF3. But whatever. The game is still great-and quite lengthy in spite of its single-disc limitations. It took me four hours just to get through one level (The Aztec Ruins) and that wasn't even the most difficult mission. That honor belongs to Gabe Logan's Afghanistan Flashback, which had me stomping my feet and screaming obscenities. (When the words "mission completed" finally appeared on the screen, I jumped up and danced-Wahoo!)

SF3 also has a feature that I hope is included with all future installments in the series: The Mini-Games. These are wonderful little missions that you can have fun with when you don't have time to immerse yourself in the Syphon Filter story. Each mission is limited to ten minutes and your able to do a variety of things with a variety of characters, including five different Gabes, two different Lians and even that worrisome Jason Chance-in his full-body armor-is available if you can stomach him. But the designers should've put the mini-games on a different disc, though. That way both the mini-games and SF3 could've been expanded. Lord knows there's plenty of room for another disc inside this case!

You'll also notice that the cut-scenes are different in SF3. The animation is more defined and the characters' mouths actually move when they talk. I didn't like this at first. I wanted the scenes to be the same as they were in parts 1 and 2, and I still think it was a mistake "improving" them this way. It lacks consistency. (And now Gabe looks like Harry Hamlin!) But I'm used to it now and I have to admit that the characters are more life-like, and the women are more beautiful-I never realized what a babe Mara Aramov is!

There are a lot of flashbacks in SF3. Too many flashbacks, if you ask me. This is because Gabe, Lian and others have been called in to give closed-door testimony on Syphon Filter and on the shadowy Agency that help procure it. Now why, I ask you, do Gabe and Lian agree to this? They're outlaws, remember? All during SF2, Government agents were trying to kill them left and right and now, suddenly, the outlaws are putting on their Sunday-best to go testify in Washington, D.C.? It makes no sense. But there they are and here come the flashbacks. You'll go all the way back to 1987, when Gabe first met Lian in Afghanistan, and even further with Lawrence Mujari (the guy that owns the Whispering Woods Mortuary) when he tells how he first encountered a "mysterious illness" in 1984, while as a freedom-fighter in Africa. These flashbacks provide excellent gameplay, of course, in a variety of settings-deserts, jungles, snowy mountains-but they don't advance the Syphon Filter story very much. There's one looooong flashback that takes place in Montana and I can't figure out what it has to do with anything! But by the end of the game, all loose-ends are tied up in a very satisfying knot. All, except one. I won't give anything away, but the door is left wide open for the fourth Syphon Filter, due out in October 2003. Man, I hope it's as good as the originals. And if it is, I hope they make plenty more!

Like An Old Friend

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 08, 2001
Author: Amazon User

When I first heard Syphon Filter 3 was going to be published for the PS1, I couldn't believe my luck-I haven't bought a PS2 yet, but will soon. Anyway, I bought the game yesterday and started playing it right away. (I thought is was supposed to be two discs but it is actually only one in a two-disc box.) Anyway, it seems as if Gabe and Lian-plus some other agents-are on trial recounting missions involving the Syphon Filter virus. You get to play out those missions. I played the first four or five levels so far.

The graphics are about what you expect from a Syphon Filter game-good for PS1, jungles, caves, buildings, etc. The gameplay is the same: run around, shoot people, pick up stuff, follow maps, choose weapons, complete objectives, and so on. This may not sound like such a stellar review so far, but after playing the first two games, I always felt like I wanted more. That's what this game gives you: Everything that made the first two great, but it is all-new.

In the first level you shoot out of a hotel window at people in a building across the street. You only get credit for certain people you hit-they're wearing uniforms-but everyone is shooting back at you. I for some reason found this first level to be quite difficult. I figured the first level is for training, but I actually died more than once. This is followed by the old trying-to-leave-the-building-peeking-around-corners-shooting-anyone-getting-in-the-way part which plays like several levels from the first two games.

The two-player death-match is back, like in #2, and added is a series of mini-games, kind of like the VR missions in MGS 1. You have a certain amount of time to complete a task, usually without being seen. The difference between these mini-games and MGS 1 is that all take place in one of several game environments. You can play as a number of characters-Jungle Gabe for instance; they even brought back the Bag Lady.

So if you want to experience the fun and challenge of the first two games and don't mind the limitations of the PS1, you'll love Syphon Filter 3. It feels like an old friend from the very beginning.

If you have 1&2...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

...then by all means purchase Syphon Filter 3. BUT if you have never played the first 2 games of this series, definitely start there.

This review is kinda hard to write, since if you are a fan of the series, no one will talk you out of purchasing this one. However, I do agree with some of the other reviewers here that SF3 is much easier than the first two installments (and my rating is probably biased because I loved 1&2).

Why is it easier? Well, in the first 2 games of the series, you are often forced to use manual targeting and stealth to pick off enemies with head shots to avoid arousing suspicion. However, in Syphon Filter 3, you can pretty much run through many of the levels with guns blazing.

Unfortunately, this removes much of the strategy of the game, and forces many of the levels to become very similar. As a result, the whole "stealth spy/assasin" feel is lost. So while there are a few challenging boards and the missions are interesting, I think some of the earlier levels (ie, the one with Lian running around the city) are much tougher than the last board.

In short, if you have 1&2, go ahead and get this one. If not, get SF1 first...it features one of the most challenging levels of the entire series (Gabe in stealth mode walking through the exhibit hall).

An Average Shoot Em Up Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: June 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This third installment of the Syphon Filter series does't at all disappoint. But it doesn't exactly meet expectations either. For their third time Gabe Logan and Lian Xing are going once again against the agency. This time they go back into the past to recount their previous missions including places like South Africa, Japan, and Ireland to stop the agency from using the virus. The plot isn't too different from the second part and has nothing new. Another thing I noticed was the length of it. I easily finished this much quicker than the second. The graphics are not all that much better, just the video clips, and you can only see their mouth move. It's a good game to play if you have both Syphon Filter 1 and 2 and you want to find out what happens to them and Mara Aramov. Other wise I would stick to the first or second part and get this with some extra money that you have laying around.

Great 3rd Installment

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Even though the PS2 has been out for quite some time now, the regular old PS release of Syphon Filter 3 is still great. For those of you familiar with SF1 and SF2, it's very similar. Thankfully, the controls are exactly the same, as are menu screens. As far as I recall, there is every weapon from SF2 in it, plus several more. The graphics are a bit better, but you can only take the PS so far. Musically this is great, and has some very interesting tracks. Multiplayer has been revised, and while it still lacks, it's not all that bad.

The difference with 3, is that there is alot less stealth involved. You won't see too many of those "have to taser everyone" you can more or less run around shooting. Sure, you will get killed very quickly, so if you can master the art of peaking around corners and getting head shots, this whole game should more or less be a breeze.

Story-wise, it's basically this: Gabe, Lian, the other guy (Lawrence perhaps?) are testifying in D.C. one at a time. So, you more or less get a level that's really a flashback, and while one person is tesifying, the other is overseas fighting to stop the spread of Syphon Filter. Those of you who remember losing a certain someone from SF2 should defintely play this.

A very well rounded game in all, a PS2 release is what it could really use.

FINALLY, THE 3RD ONE!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: August 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have known that this Syphon Filter line would definetely go on since I beat SF2... and the Syphon Filter series are the best games for PS in my opinion, with this AWESOME story and the right characters(I personally love Logan and his voice acting, even if he is limited to PS graphics) + awesome action and aiming features that are the best for PS action/shooter games. I could foresee the turn of events in SF2( Lian needs to get her Syphon Filter virus vaccine, so Gabe needs to get it from the agency labs and escape), but in the sequel I don't have any idea what is going to happen because Lian is no longer the test subject, and yeah... the agency is finished, so the only foes that are left is Mara Aramov and some old guy.
This game should definetely be on your list. And if you don't own SF and SF2, consider to get them too.

Syphon Filter 3 is Superb!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: October 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I managed to get a hold of a rare copy of this game as it was scheduled for its original release. It is by far the best playstation game ever. I loved Syphon Filter 2 even more than the first but this blows them both away. This is THE must-have playstation game. It is worth any price. It stays true to the original concept but adds so much depth that any agent will be in ecstasy. Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!

Gabe is back!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I picked up this game Thursday the 8th and I'm on the 6 or 7th level now (4 days of playing)so it's not as hard as the first two, but still as much fun. There's 3 playable characters now, more weapons, and the taser is back (make em dance!). The movie sequences make Gabe and Lian look weird IMHO, but it doesn't detract from the game. You also get head shot a lot less than in the 2nd one and the mini/training games are a nice addition (think VR type stuff for Metal Gear Solid). Overall, I'm thrilled this is finally out and I have one! :) A must for Syphon Filter fans!

Syphon Filter 3

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game after playing the first two games i found that the third game had great graphics and a wonderful storyline. But lacked in challange. The first two games were much more challanging. There was only a few places were i got stuck for more then a few mins. I only get to play at night after work and only for about 2 hours a night. It took me less then a week to beat this game. The best that i can remimber it took me a few weeks on the first two. I hope that this helps you!

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