| Hidden & Dangerous 2 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Illusion Softworks |
| Publisher(s) | Gathering of Developers Take-Two Interactive, Global Star Software |
| Distributor(s) | GameStop (online) Gamestation (online) |
| Director(s) | Petr Vochozka |
| Producer(s) | Lukás Kure |
| Designer(s) | Lead Designer Radek Havlicek |
| Programmer(s) | Lead Programmer Marek Rabas |
| Artist(s) | Lead Artist Martin Benes |
| Composer(s) | Michal Szlavik Martin Benes |
| Engine | LS3D engine |
| Version | 1.12.0 |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | October 21, 2003[1] October 19, 2004 (Sabre Squadron) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter, Tactical shooter, Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Singleplayer, Multiplayer, cooperative modes |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (17+) PEGI: 16+ USK: 16 |
| Media/distribution | CD (3), DVD (1) |
| System requirements | |
Hidden & Dangerous 2 (commonly abbreviated HD2) is a third-person shooter / first-person shooter (playable in both modes) video game in stealth-based mode, with a touch of tactical elements, developed by Illusion Softworks (which became 2K Czech) a subsidiary of 2K Games and published by Gathering of Developers and Take-Two Interactive (Take 2 in North America and Europe), with lead design by Radek Havlicek, officially announced on Tuesday, April 24, 2001.[2][3] It is the second installment and the direct sequel to 2K Czech's predecessor Hidden & Dangerous. Hidden & Dangerous 2 was released on October 21, 2003 for Windows PCs.[1]
Development for Hidden and Dangerous 2 was announced on April 24, 2001, two years after the release of Hidden and Dangerous.[4]
Contents |
Hidden and Dangerous 2, like its predecessor, focuses on the British Special Air Service during the Second World War. It follows the same concept as the original tactical first/third person shooter. The game's LS3D engine was used by the game Mafia.
Gameplay elements such as the vocal commands, tactical map control, vehicle usage, equipment selection and the first person mechanic were significantly enhanced from the original. The ability to take POWs, added enhanced stealth options for the player. Mission types very similar to its predecessor include, espionage, sabotage, search and destroy, town liberation, prisoner rescue, retrieval of enemy officers and documents, partisan assistance and assassination. The variety of locales include Norway, Libya, a Norwegian fjord, Burma, Austria, France and Czechoslovakia.
The expansion pack Sabre Squadron adds missions in France, Libya and Sicily. Some of the missions are modelled on real SAS exploits. However most of the game takes liberty with the historical time and place of SAS operations.[5] The missions are based on sandbox style game-play where players are free to roam a map and pursue objectives usually at their leisure and choice of sequence.
The campaign mode in Hidden & Dangerous 2 allows for a single player only, playing as a lone wolf or a team leader. Players may choose from a roster of 30 men to comprise up to a four man team. Detailed mission briefings and full load-out inventory selection for each new campaign/mission. There are over twenty levels with missions in seven campaigns, set in Europe, Africa and Asia where the players visit many historical areas.
Hidden & Dangerous 2 has a multiplayer mode that can be played via internet or local area network (up to 32 players).
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Music from the game was provided by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra based in Brno, Czech Republic.
An expansion pack titled Sabre Squadron was released during October 19, 2004, in the US, introduced nine new single player missions, seven new multiplayer maps, and a now finished, deathmatch map called "Poland", which had been featured in the game's intro and was titled "London" and available for play in its unfinished state before this release, new weapons: the RPzB 54, the MAS-36, the G43, a suppressed P08 and a Harrington & Richardson Mk VI flare pistol; the ability to hold your breathe while looking through a telescopic sight, a co-operative multiplayer mode, along with access to the original Hidden and Dangerous 2 missions through Sabre Squadron's interface.
| Hidden and Dangerous 2 | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 77.46% (based on 35 reviews)[7] |
| Metacritic | 75% (based on 26 reviews)[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | B-[9] |
| Allgame | [10] |
| Edge | 8/10 |
| Eurogamer | 9/10 |
| Game Informer | 6/10 |
| GamePro | 4/5 |
| Game Revolution | B |
| GameSpy | [11] |
| GamesTM | 8/10 |
| GameZone | 8.3/10 |
| IGN | 7.9/10 |
Hidden and Dangerous 2 was released to positive reception, it is well-received by the public and has been positive with critics. On the critic aggregate reviews GameRankings and Metacritic, the game has very good scored, reached of 77.46% and 75%, respectively based on samples of 35 and 26 reviews.
Eurogamer said that "It takes all that was good about the original, improves every element, successfully adds new features and delivers a well-rounded game".[12] Allgame awarded it 3.5 out of 5[10] and gamesTM claimed that the game's "minor flaws have to be put into perspective against the sheer quality and quantity on offer".[13] 1UP.com stated Hidden and Dangerous 2 is a "really good game", but also complains about the "dubious tradition of bugs" and criticised the "same pesky bugs and problematic A.I. as the original".[9] Edge called it "One of the finest WWII games of recent memory. Hidden & Dangerous 2 manages to distract you from errors that would cripple a lesser game through its sheer ambition and scale."[14] IGN stated Hidden & Dangerous 2 is "a great game lurking somewhere underneath all of these questionable design decisions."[15] Game Revolution criticised the difficulty level, artificial intelligence and controls, but praised the game overall, saying "the atmosphere, graphics, scope, versatility and ultimately fun gameplay keeps the bad bits in check."[16] Game Zone called it "a great game...underneath the AI problems, bug issues and control problems."[17] Game Spy called it "a compelling World War II experience." [11] Gamespot called it "frustrating to play" and said "there's clearly a wonderful game hidden amongst the major bugs, cumbersome controls, questionable AI, and other flaws."[18] GamePro also criticised the AI, while stating "If you dig tactical shooters, Hidden & Dangerous 2 should be in your sights."[19] Game Informer criticised the interface, graphics, sound and levels, calling it "an okay-at-best game."[20]