Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror Review

By Kristan Reed Published 30 April, 2006

Putting Snake and Fisher to shame.

Version tested: PSP

Well, now we feel a little guilty. Firstly, we'd begun to think that Sony's gorgeous slab of PSP might not have been the future of handheld consoles after all. I mean, I'm still playing Lumines, Everybody's Golf and ahem, Midway Arcade Treasures, but ports of old PSone games and watered down multiformat titles just haven't done it for me. And then along comes Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, which you'd be forgiven for thinking might be a combination of the two, a watered down home console offering based on old PSone titles. But no, this is all built specifically for the PSP and it's good. Bloody hell, this is rather good indeed.

And there's the second reason why we feel so guilty - we'd all but lost touch with Gabe Logan and his Precision Strike gang. Like an old friend we'd failed to ring for a few years, we meant to drop him a line, but we've been hanging out with Snake and Fisher. I mean, we noticed Omega Strain on PS2 a couple of years back but, well, it wasn't very memorable was it? Sorry for not getting back in touch sooner. But it's good to see you, you look great. And if you don't mind me saying so, you feel great too. Been working out?

All of which vaguely homoerotic fan fiction is a clumsy way of saying Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is perhaps the best traditional action game on the PSP. It's not going to change the way we play videogames, but you'll likely enjoy playing every minute of it. And that's not something you can say about many games on any format.

'Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror' Screenshot 1

The on-screen map helps clarify where the bullets are coming from.

You should know the drill by now - terrorists are bad, and good guys need to teach them a lesson with a combination of guns and gadgets, stealth, shooting, and the odd wisecrack. That's the story covered then. Fortunately, Dark Mirror isn't about story, no matter how well produced the cut-scenes are. It's all about action.

The biggest stand out achievement of Dark Mirror is the simplicity of the control method and the sheer amount of function that has been tweaked around it. It's quite astonishing how many moves, features, pieces of equipment and functions have been mapped to the PSP buttons without control descending to a clumsy farce. The analog nub moves your character, face buttons are used to look and aim, and the d-pad is on hand for weapons, equipment and interacting with the environment. The game takes care to introduce each element and what should be bewildering actually turns out to be so intuitive it puts a number of other action games on the PSP to deep shame.

The amount of weapons and gadgetry on offer again is impressive, and its ease of use is testament to that same control scheme. Multiple fancy goggles, rifles with different ammo, guns with scopes, a selection of mines and a range of deadly hand-to-hand moves all come in to play, and each has its own rewards. With a few flicks of a button you'll equip UV vision, snap a guards' neck, equip a sniper rifle with explosive darts, slide down a zip line and spray lead at enemy grunts in the space of a minute with barely any button confusion. It's all about fluidity and ease of use and it's nice to see that a development team has spent so much time getting it right.

'Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror' Screenshot 2

None of that 'two gun limit' nonsense here. Fill yer boots!

That said, there are some issues, and when they do crop up they stand out in stark contrast. Gabe won't always hug a wall when you want him too, or else he'll get up nice and tight when you wanted him to flick a switch instead. Aiming from behind cover takes a little too much time, especially with such aggressive AI that doesn't hesitate to put the pressure on and advance on your position. But it's a feature we'd definitely rather have than not. Rotating through 360 degrees can also feel slow, but again, these terrorists aren't the type to sit on their arses waiting to be killed. They ain't dumb goons - they've got guns and they know how to use 'em and we're thankful of the challenge.

Where games such as Metal Gear have tried something completely different on the PSP, Syphon Filter has played it safe by sticking with what it knows best. The action is very familiar, but it's also very well executed. There's a good variety of gung-ho action and controlled creeping, so that explosives and submachine guns are just as important as tiptoes and silent kills. Each mission makes liberal use of checkpoints to feel concise and punchy for on the go play, and there's barely any backtracking. But there's no escaping the fact that switches have to be pulled, key codes discovered and tricky jets of flames negotiated in order to progress. There are some variations on a theme, such as using thermal goggles to blast enemies through ceiling titles, but it's all familiar if you've played an action game in the past couple of years. Multiplayer games follow the same template, but again there's an impressive amount of functions including buddy lists, clans, text and voice chat, that it's clearly a well thought out addition, not a last minute mode shoved onto the disc.

'Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror' Screenshot 3

Stock action phrase #273: "Looks quiet. Too damn quiet if you ask me..."

The overall presentation matches the attention to detail found elsewhere, and it easily stands shoulder to shoulder with some of EA's finest. In-game graphics are chunky and clean, where it's possible to adjust your targeting reticule and get a head shot with a weapon that doesn't support a scope, highlighting good vision, lighting and level design. Animation is smooth, with Gabe stooping the more kit he carries (this is a man with three different types of goggle, two sniper rifles, a machine gun and a pistol loading him down) and a range of lovely effects, from blazing flames to falling snow. The first time you electrocute a guard until he bursts into flames is particularly visceral and there are these kinds of touches throughout the game. Even the generic warehouses look nice, and how many of them have we seen over the past decade? The voice acting is okay and there are plenty of dialogue exchanges when the action calms down (with liberal use of big boys swearing), so you'll either be entertained or clued-up on your next goal within seconds. Dark Mirror doesn't slow down from one mission to the next.

Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is a title stuffed full of quality. It's a damn good action game for the PSP and quite possibly the best in the genre. It does suffer from familiarity, with objectives, settings and gameplay that we've tackled many times, but it's so well put together that you can't help enjoy the entertainment on offer first and foremost. With so many games promising the Earth and only serving up dirt, it's reassuring to know that good old-fashioned balls-out action, when produced with such care and skill, is still as reliable and thrilling as it should be.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bunglebonce #1 6 years ago

    First :)

    Seems like a fair enough score given what's written, and what info I've come across over the last few months.

    p.s. I'd have given Daxter a 7 too.

  • Tomo #2 6 years ago

    Gash, another good PSP game. Don't... want... to update :[

    Review read like an 8 for me tho.

  • ekko #3 6 years ago

    They've got you working Sunday mornings?

  • Spud_leg_wizz #4 6 years ago

    I love those "review read more like an X to me" posts. Never tire of 'em.

  • shot_to_the_gun #5 6 years ago

    frikkin hey...who'd have thought graphics this nice on a handheld within a decade of the PSX! tempts me to ditch my ds...

  • ManicDrunkMonk #6 6 years ago

    Oddly for the first time I don't entirely disagree with those saying this review reads like an 8.

    The reviewer seemed to suggest that we have tackled these action games sooo many times before. For many of us this isnt true. Last time I played a game anything like this was SC:CT (and that was the first in a while).

    Any news on an actual release date? And is it easy to get a headset for it, I don't really want to get SOCOM?

  • MyPointIs #7 6 years ago

    I'll join too. It read like it deserves a solid 8. And it's been getting lots of 9's everywhere else. I think it's been penalised for being an action shooter. In my opinion is more than just admirable technical psp well-rounded game; It's fun, lots of fun.

  • MadMirko #8 6 years ago

    Fitting score. Games should be rated higher when they actually bring something new to the table. This one clearly doesn't.

    That's ok, but gets only so far.

  • OnlyMe #9 6 years ago

    I want this for the PS2. Omega Strain was really really bad.

  • absolutezero #10 6 years ago

    Im really rather pleased I imported this yesterday.

    Plus I must say imreally pleased that they have'nt gone down the 1 gun at a time method. If developers are that inerested in realism to not allow you to carry more than one rifle then they should have you die with one gun shot, not 8 and then repair everything with a medipack.
    Edited by 1 at 30/04/06 @ 15:06

  • gerald #11 6 years ago

    This would fail on ps2 - it's handcrafted for portable gaming.

    I woud rate it higher. Sure it doesn't innovate in gampeplay, but is a lot of fun, a great technical achievement, controls fine and has heaps of content.
    Edited by 1 at 30/04/06 @ 15:10

  • weblaus #12 6 years ago

    So the main negative point about the game and reason for the rather low score is that it's - while supposedly really good and entertaining and all that - not something entirely new?

    I guess based on that reasoning, e.g. all racing games from now on will score 7 or lower, because we've all driven cars around tracks many times?

  • Tomo #13 6 years ago

    Oh god, come on guys, chill.

    7 is still a good score, even if underpraised. Let's not start flaming :s

  • ali-uk #14 6 years ago

    Ahh, Syphon Filter has always held a special place in my gaming heart after playing a demo of the excellent first title. If I had a PSP, I wouldn't hasten to check this out...well, unless I was emulating a few other consoles instead ;)

  • bunglebonce #15 6 years ago

    I thought it was the above, but combined with other niggles (like hugging the wall) that contributed to the score that it got.

    Games aren't scored out of 10 and penalised accordingly. A game should earn a good score.

    To hell with scores anyway, if you're deliberating over how good the game is, just read the text.

  • kangarootoo #16 6 years ago

    Te words of the review really tell you what you need to know. We aren't all the same so the score alone can never be an accurate guide for everyone. I can understand if something got a 3 and you expected an 8, but a difference of one point? Come on, let it go people. It seems that pretty much everyone (reviewer included) agree that if you like 3rd person shooters, this is the best there is on PSP and a very good game in its own right.

    So good news then, good news especially for PSP owners, great news for PSP owning 3rd person shooter fans. Not worth niggling over one point of difference then. Hurray!

  • tiddles #17 6 years ago

    Good review - personally I would give it an 8 or 9, however. True, the environments may feel kind of familiar for this kind of game, but they are nevertheless pretty varied and superbly well designed, and the package as a whole is fantastically polished.

    This is by far and away the best of the Syphon Filter series - it feels like the best moments of the PSOne games have been brought bang up to date. I think it would be impressive on PS2 - so to be playing it on a handheld is doubly so.

    My top tip would be to play it on the "Classic" control setting, rather than the more SOCOM-styled Standard settings. Sure, you lose the ability to move and aim up and down at the same time, but this is rarely required, and it's much easier to use cover when there's a dedicated button to do so. To my mind this mode also creates the best opportunities for the classic SF run and gun gameplay (where you lock on to enemies and keep moving to avoid getting hit).

    Some reviews have criticised it for being a bit short, but for me its length was just about right for handheld play. It's also got a lot of replayability - there are scores for individual stuff like number of headshots, stealth kills, using the dart gun and so on, and you're encouraged to go back and replay levels to unlock new weapons (which can then be selected at the start of a level in replay mode). Getting high scores can also unlock new bonus levels, so there's a proper incentive to do it too.
    Edited by 1 at 30/04/06 @ 16:03

  • absolutezero #18 6 years ago

    Whats the online play like? According to Edge there are a fair few options and even clan management.

  • Zero Beat #19 6 years ago

    The HUD's fugly.

  • platinum #20 6 years ago

    wow! i'm not going down and say that the game deserved much better rating but i'll point out that i imported it a month ago from the states and i had an absolute blast playing it and still play it. definetly more fun than i had with a whole bunch of games on any other console. controls are tight which is remarkable since we're talking about a shooter on the PSP. presentation is top notch. the graphics put a lot of developers to shame and raises the bar realy high for future expectations on the system. soundwise the game features some decent speech-talents and ambientnoises. so far that sounds like apretty decent game to me but syphon filter doesn't stop there. it packs some realy minor loadtimes and full wifi-multiplayer that's stable AND loads of fun WITH voice-chat. i don't know about you guys but i've never felt more next-gen than playing a full fledged wifi-online-multiplayer-shooter with headset-communication in the palm of my hand while sitting outside in the sun... it realy doesn't get much better than that! so it ain't the most innovative title ever... so what!?! it does what it does extremely well and packs a whole lot of variety in while doing so. the game never feels slow or tedious or cheap it's just fun every single moment of the ride. even multiple times through! but that didn't seem to be enough either... besides all of that the game even has some great unlockables ranging from videos and music to extra weapons and all the way to extra levels which don't feel tacked on but realy well designed and feature just as much high level of detail as the main game! hm,... don't know man but that feels like a damn fine pice of gaming to me which YES deserved a wa higher score than 7 out of 10 and i'm normaly not the type to moan about scores...

  • drumbaby #21 6 years ago

    7/10 for the review.

    9/10 for the game.

  • ChocNut #22 6 years ago

    Review reads like an 8 - the game is a great one and I'd give it an 8 myself

  • SlackMaster #23 6 years ago

    I've also been playing the US version for a few weeks now and I have to say that this is IMO currently the best game on the PSP and is easily the best game in the Syphon Filter series since the original.

    Initially using the analogue to move and the buttons to turn or look up/down is fiddly but you quickly get used to it. If you get overwhelmed and can't aim quick enough you can always use the auto aim that SF introduced to the genre.

    This is a game that is innovative and actually makes good use of the different types vision you have i.e. using thermal vision to see an ally through a ceiling so you can work together getting a server up and running or seeing enemies through a halo system set off to cover your retreat.

    There is a lot of variety in this game in terms of weapons, mini missions and the action is always fun so it never seems like your treading the same ground over and over again.

    The graphics really show you what the PSP is capable of, with fantastic character and environmental detail... tbh I really didn't think that the PSP was capable of what it's pulled off in SF.

    The music and sound is just right and sets the espionage action feel for the game and the cut scenes are well made, giving you enough information about the story without going into MGS territory of 20-30mins nonsense.

    If you ever played the original, you'll love this title as SF has finally gone back to what made it fun all those years ago... Finally we can forget about Omega strain and expect some cracking SF games once again.

    This game might follow a tried and tested formula and we all might have seen a lot of these types of games before but it's so much fun to play, really well put together and has some fantastic ideas with a great story. It's more of a 9 IMO as it should be judged by what is on the PSP rather than what is/has been available on the PS2.
    Edited by 2 at 01/05/06 @ 08:01

  • gerald #24 6 years ago

    The conclusion ("stuffed full of quality ... damn good action game ... best in the genre ... well put together ... good old-fashioned balls-out action ... produced with care and skill ... thrilling";) with only one downside ("suffer from familiarity";) reads bettter then the final score.
    I don't want to dismiss the review, the lack of innovation in gameplay and setting kind of justifies a 7, especially on EG, where innovation is king.
    Well, mostly - /points to the GTA:LCS conclusion and the 9, that one got/.

    I know, different reviewer, different opinions. The reviewers conclusion is spot on, Syphon Filter is a solid 9 for me (or maybe a 8.5 .... no, a 8.75 ... aaah, numbers everywhere :-).

  • Cloudane #25 6 years ago

    8/10 FTW!

  • paulioo #26 6 years ago

    This review is taking the Wii...

  • boggissimo #27 6 years ago

    I was surprised by the 7, given the tone of the review, but who cares, it's only a number. I played the online beta demo of this in the US, and it's absolutely great. Online play was lag-free and lots of fun.

  • Arwin #28 6 years ago

    Yep, scoring is inconsistent with a game like, say, Daxter.

  • MDL199 #29 6 years ago

    Euro gamer is basically a Nintendo boy's fan site and completely biased towards the DS so to gage the true worth of any PSP games you should always add 1 or 2 points.

    They gave the bore fest that is brain training a 9 which basically shows up what a joke their reviews are.

    Edited by 1 at 02/05/06 @ 17:58

  • tiddles #30 6 years ago

    MDL199 - you're absolutely right... only dull DS titles like Daxter get 9 on this site.

  • aidey6 #31 6 years ago

    It is an excellent game, I am loving it so far. The devised control method is excellent. The game play maybe familar, but so what, I've not played it online, but it is good the developers have added this to bring longevity to the title

  • Kay #32 6 years ago

    The game may be great but the cover is awful.

    K

  • Hughes. #33 6 years ago

    I'd have to agree with others that the text of the review and the score seem at odds with each other, it sounds pretty much unmissable.

    Any danger of a Fireteam Bravo review from you guys? Or will I have to do it myself?

  • MediaMan #34 6 years ago

    I wouldn't normally have a 'pop' at the reviewers' scoring but SF:DM is a solid 8 - especially considering it is has a good online mode that keeps the game from getting old too soon.

    The main criticisms i would highlight in the single player game are lack of ambition in the stealth element - it just isn't needed in any of the levels - and the pace doesn't change much either. Its also sadly lacking some variety in gameplay.

    It plays very well for a handheld though - and some of the FMV's are stunning too. Hopefully they can really work on the above flaws for a much improved sequel.

    In the mean time Killzone 'Liberation' for PSP is looking good. Third person perspective and stealth elements are being used. Looks like an old-school MGS style game to me with more action - which is no bad thing.

    Please don't mess it up Sony/Guerrilla !!