56-395: Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a tactical shooter video game developed by Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering . It was released October 2003 for Microsoft Windows . It is the second installment and the direct sequel to 2K Czech's predecessor Hidden & Dangerous , it features similar gameplay concepts and themes. Illusion Softworks and creative director Petr Vochozka based
112-564: A multiplayer mode that can be played via internet or local area network with up to 99 players. After the 2012 closure of GameSpy servers , there is no longer official multiplayer support. In 2014, a fan-made multiplayer server was set up. It is not officially supported by the creators, as the company and its games network holder no longer exist. There is currently an active worldwide fan community in this game. In multiplayer, there are four game modes represented: Cooperative , Combat, Capture, Quests HD2. An expansion pack titled Sabre Squadron
168-630: A single-player , 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 20 levels with missions in seven campaigns, set in Europe, Africa and Asia where the players visit many historical areas. The game does not possess an overarching narrative. Players can achieve promotions and decorations for bravery, successfully completed missions and/or specific objectives. Hidden & Dangerous 2 has
224-419: A Harrington & Richardson Mk VI flare pistol), the ability to hold your breath while looking through a telescopic sight, a cooperative multi-player mode, and access to the original Hidden & Dangerous 2 missions through Sabre Squadron ' s interface. The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic . Eurogamer said that "it takes all that
280-767: 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 modeled on real SAS exploits. However most of the game takes liberty with the historical time and place of SAS operations. The missions are based on sandbox style gameplay where players are free to roam a map and pursue objectives usually at their leisure and choice of sequence. A real time strategy mechanic also allows players to control events for staged sequential tactical maneuvers or through real time overhead command. The campaign mode in Hidden & Dangerous 2 allows for
336-472: A brutally realistic, almost impenetrably-so, tactical shooter, was transformed into a more cinematic story-focused generic third-person shooter. However, in the 2010s, tactical shooters saw a fair resurgence, with the successful releases of Arma 3 (2013) and Insurgency (2014) early in the decade. The later releases of tactical shooters like Rising Storm 2: Vietnam (2017), Insurgency: Sandstorm (2018), Squad (2020), and Ready or Not (2021) in
392-425: A crosshair, different movement stances (running, walking, crouching, and prone, leaning around corners), and a weapon customization feature with a weight penalty. Counter-Strike (2000), a mod of Valve 's Half-Life (1998), was the most popular multiplayer game of its era, in spite of the release of arcade-style first-person shooters with more advanced graphics engines such as Unreal Tournament 2003 . One of
448-417: A lack of checkpoints in levels, forcing players to restart upon failure or continue with their inflicted losses. Due to this realistic but punishing gameplay, the individual heroism seen in other shooter games is drastically restrained, players are forced to rely on proper military tactics and teamwork to succeed, and playstyles are typically slower than other types of shooters. More caution and patience
504-496: A more typical action shooter of the period, but commented that it was "deeper and more versatile". The game featured a limited inventory which had to be carefully managed, a variety of mission types which often promoted guile over violence, and the impetus to plan ahead and outmaneuver the enemy—all of which are features common in the tactical shooter genre as a whole. Airborne Ranger was followed by Special Forces (1991), also by Microprose, which first introduced squad mechanics to
560-518: A revolutionary game which defined the conventions of the tactical shooter genre. The game was inspired by (and, before its connection with Tom Clancy 's novel Rainbow Six , initially focused on) the FBI Hostage Rescue Team . The game was designed to emphasize strategy in a way that would be fun for players without the best reflexes. The series has since become a benchmark for the genre in terms of detail and accuracy. Some of
616-586: A single input as opposed to individually equipping them. Melee weapons such as combat knives may also have their own slot, though games with more distant or firearm-based combat (such as Arma 3 ) may lack melee weapons entirely. Rocket launchers and grenade launchers , occasionally having their own "launcher" slot, may have varying focuses compared to their "general purpose" depictions in arcade shooters, such as dedicated ATGM and MANPADS launchers, or underbarrel anti-personnel grenade launchers that can be equipped on some rifles and carbines . In many instances,
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#1732775425058672-668: A tactical shooter: "[M]ainly you're looking for the use of: realistic constraints of player movement; realistically simulated ballistics and accuracy; squad based or multiple approach/style accessibility; and a low tolerance or low health realistic damage model. Basically, you usually move slower than most shooters, your accuracy is much lower and bullets drop over a distance, you usually have a squad to command, and all of you only being able to take two or three shots before dying." Tactical shooters are designed around realism and authenticity, primarily in regards to weapon functionality, movement, and mission objectives. A staple of tactical shooters
728-590: A weight system, weight is always a present factor that must be dealt with; however, in some, such as the Counter-Strike series, weight only applies to what is currently equipped—so a machine gun would be "heavier" than a knife, despite them both being carried by the player—meaning loopholes around weight restrictions may be found, such as equipping light weapons to move faster. Many tactical shooters (especially modern releases) feature varying degrees of weapon customization. In most modern tactical shooters, this
784-439: Is a sub-genre of first- and third-person shooters , associated with using strategy , planning , and tactics in gameplay , as well as the realistic simulations of ballistics , firearm mechanics, physics , stamina , and low time to kill . Dating back to strategy games from the late 1980s, the genre first rose to prominence in the late 1990s with the releases of several well-received tactical shooters. The popularity of
840-725: Is a series of tactical shooter simulators developed by Arma series creators Bohemia Interactive , used for infantry training by the United States military and several NATO militaries. Its Pointman user interface combines head tracking, a motion-sensitive gamepad and sliding foot pedals to increase the precision and level of control over one's avatar, enabling users to more realistically aim their weapon and practice muzzle discipline, to take measured steps when moving around obstacles or cover, and to continuously control their postural height to make better use of cover and concealment. Review aggregator A review aggregator
896-473: Is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where users can view the reviews, selling information to third parties about consumer tendencies, and creating databases for companies to learn about their actual and potential customers. The system enables users to easily compare many different reviews of
952-472: Is limited to the addition of firearm attachments such as a variety of scopes , holographic sights , laser sights , flashlights , foregrips , and suppressors . In less-grounded shooters, weapon customization may extend to stylized weapon camouflage skins and keychain -style "charms" (as seen in Rainbow Six Siege ), while in more detailed and comprehensive shooters, individual components of
1008-412: Is often sacrificed in favor of balance as well as playability. There may be considerable modifications to in-game weapons and ballistics compared to real life, deliberately done to ensure game balance in multiplayer PvP or competitive modes . For instance, tactical shooters with notable competitive scenes such as the Counter-Strike series typically allow the player to survive multiple bullet hits to
1064-465: Is required in combat, such as methodically advancing through cover and concealment as opposed to charging toward the enemy and shooting in the open. Emphasis is placed on realistic modeling of weapons and ballistics , and power-ups are generally more limited than in other shooters, if existent at all. Weapons in tactical shooters are usually designed to be inaccurate while moving and more accurate while in crouching or prone stances. Jumping, which
1120-441: Is seldom performed in real combat, is de-emphasized or even omitted, though some games may offer limited climbing or vaulting mechanics. Many tactical shooters feature "leaning", where the player can lean left or right to peek and fire around corners or behind cover without exposing the rest of their body to attack. A majority of tactical shooters have sight mechanics, where players are able to either "hip-fire" (fire without aiming
1176-680: Is still frequently found in many tactical shooters as a high-powered handgun option. Outdated weapons such as the AK-47 are often seen in modern military service in some games, despite them being mostly replaced by modern times (the AK-47 in particular having been replaced in Soviet Army service by the AK-74 in the 1970s). Experimental weapons, such as the OICW , are commonly seen in many titles, such as
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#17327754250581232-485: Is that of one "primary weapon" (traditionally a long gun such as a rifle , shotgun , submachine gun , or light machine gun ) and one "secondary weapon" (traditionally a sidearm such as a handgun ). Grenades of both "explosive"/"lethal" (such as fragmentation grenades and Molotov cocktails ) and "tactical"/"non-lethal" (such as stun grenades and smoke grenades ) varieties, and useful equipment such as medkits , are often under their own slots, sometimes used with
1288-571: Is their low time to kill , where players and NPCs can be killed in a short amount of time or with very few attacks. To account for this, a number of tactical shooters implement different levels of body armor, such as in the Rainbow Six and SWAT series, though these only offer a modicum of safety and do not guarantee player survival. The consequences of death may also be high: players may have to be revived , have lengthy respawn times, or have their character killed permanently ; there may also be
1344-503: Is widely accepted in the literature that there is a strong correlation between sales and aggregated scores. Due to the influence reviews have over sales decisions, manufacturers are often interested in measuring these reviews for their own products. This is often done using a business-facing product review aggregator. In the film industry, according to Reuters , big studios pay attention to aggregators but "they don't always like to assign much importance to them". Movie Review Intelligence
1400-494: The Ghost Recon and Delta Force series, and modern tactical shooters have tended to place more of an emphasis on the future of warfare through the implementation of drones and micro-cameras. Features now common to the tactical shooters genre originated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, starting with Airborne Ranger (1987) by Microprose . Computer Gaming World compared it to the earlier 1985 arcade game Commando ,
1456-491: The area of operations , to authentically simulate military procedure. According to IGN , tactical shooters "are about caution, care, cooperation, coordination, planning, and pacing. In these games, making decisive pushes, quick moves for cover, strategic retreats, and last ditch grabs at the gold are not only important to success, but balanced in such a way that they become enjoyable activities in play." David Treharne of GameSpew identifies four criteria for what qualifies as
1512-428: The "same pesky bugs and problematic A.I. as the original". 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". IGN stated that Hidden & Dangerous 2 is "a great game lurking somewhere underneath all of these questionable design decisions". Game Revolution criticised
1568-521: The A.I., while stating that "if you dig tactical shooters, Hidden & Dangerous 2 should be in your sights". Game Informer said that "though the campaign is long, you could pack all of the action into a container half of the size of the Max Payne 2 quest". The game sold over 1 million units as of August 2004. The Sabre Squadron expansion pack received "average" reviews according to Metacritic . Tactical shooter A tactical shooter
1624-454: The basic features associated with the genre, including utilizing support elements and vehicular units, and running a real-time simulated environment (with 3D Vector graphics ) that reacts to the player's actions. Experiments in tactical shooter design were sparse over the next five years, and included Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri , released in 1996—one of first 3D-rendered games with squad-oriented gameplay. The first major successes of
1680-688: The developers of the Half-Life expansions was Gearbox Software , who later released the game Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (2005) that further defined the genre. Critics praised the game for not only adding realism to its first-person shooter gameplay, but also in its unique tactical gameplay that allows players to command soldiers and teams during combat. By the late 2000s, arcade-style casual shooters such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) began to prove more popular than classic-style shooters such as Quake and Unreal , although
1736-461: 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". GameSpy called it "a compelling World War II experience". 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". GamePro also criticised
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1792-538: The field of true tactical shooters was largely neglected by developers since the mid-to-late 2000s. At that point, most tactical shooter franchises such as SWAT and SOCOM were discontinued, while developers such as Red Storm and Sierra went defunct or were absorbed by larger companies. Traditionally tactical shooter series like Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon drifted away from tactical realism towards cinematic action-centered themes, as can be witnessed by contemporary Rainbow Six sequels, which completely do away with
1848-473: The game may feature: the Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six series each depict counterterrorist tactical units, so the objectives seen in most of their games are centered around the typical duties of those units, namely defeating terrorists , rescuing hostages , and defusing bombs . Tactical shooters feature a wide variety of weapons often modeled on real firearms. The weapons featured depend on
1904-569: The game's setting on stealth based British Special Air Service operations behind Axis lines during the Second World War. Hidden & 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
1960-533: The game's setting, such as door wedges to seal doors and tasers to stun and arrest enemies. The setting itself defines how "realistic" the game may be: a game depicting modern warfare set in the present may use modern combat tactics with realistic weapons, while a game set in the near future or a different universe may incorporate elements of science fiction and use fictional or theoretical advanced technology, while still using generally sensible combat tactics. The setting may also determine what level objectives
2016-592: The game, difficulty, or selected options, ranging from the absence of a minimap or health bar to the full or partial absence of HUD staples such as crosshairs and ammunition counters. Some tactical shooters make use of squad -based tactics, where the player character (and usually also the enemy) is supported by a team of allied units, typically computer-controlled . While early tactical shooters had simple AI allies who followed set pathing, AI in later games has evolved with more complex responses such as autonomously seeking cover. In games with sufficiently robust AI,
2072-562: The genre came in 1998, with games such as Rainbow Six , Ghost Recon , and Delta Force , which are credited for defining and refining the genre. Other influences on the genre included games such as the SOCOM series , as well as the SWAT series , a tactical shooter spin-off of the Police Quest series of adventure games . Rainbow Six (1998) in particular has been credited as
2128-628: The genre saw a decline in the late 2000s as fast-paced "arcade"-like action shooters rose to prominence, it has seen a revitalization since the mid-2010s with the successful releases of several modern tactical shooters. Tactical shooters involving military operations in grounded and realistic settings are sometimes known as milsims . These games and (often) mods enhance the genre's realism to include aspects such as individual limb damage, realistic multi-step injury treatment, enhanced ballistic and ricochet simulations, weapon wear and malfunctions, detailed vehicle damage and repairs, and lengthy trips to
2184-454: The genre. Also considered an early tactical shooter is Hostages (1988) by Infogrames , in which the player takes the role of French GIGN operatives to besiege and raid an embassy that has been taken over by terrorists, which Destructoid compared to the later Rainbow Six franchise of tactical shooters. The next technical breakthrough came in 1993 with the release of SEAL Team by Electronic Arts . This game already offered many of
2240-709: The gun itself such as the barrel shroud and stock may be customized or replaced (as seen in Escape from Tarkov ). In games where weight is a factor, the player's equipped attachments may add to their character's weight. Despite generally aiming for realism and accuracy, some tactical shooters tend to make exceptions with their weapon accuracy. "Akimbo" ( dual wielding ) of firearms is generally rare in tactical shooters, yet it still appears as an option occasionally, such as in Counter-Strike with weapons ranging from small pistols to long-barreled shotguns. The Desert Eagle , despite being unsuitable for actual military applications,
2296-441: The late 2010s and early 2020s signaled a revitalization of the genre. Tactical shooters continue to enjoy a fairly large following as more games are released that follow the genre's design philosophy and emphasize strategy, driven largely by indie developers . Casual games like Rainbow Six Siege and Battlefield V have also demonstrated "back to roots" philosophies, such as the removal of regenerative health and "3D spotting" in
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2352-614: The latter. Outside typical tactical shooters, the game mechanics and realistic simulations of the genre have also been used in battle royale games , extraction shooters , and esports -centric games. However, as few of them feature the game design staples of tactical shooters (such as strategic planning, squad-level tactics, slow-paced gameplay, and a realistic premise), they are usually not considered as such. Tactical shooters have also been released as virtual reality games , such as Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades , Pavlov VR , Onward , and Breachers VR . Virtual Battlespace
2408-411: The most notable tactical shooters have been total conversion mods of first-person shooters which have been released for free. Infiltration , a total conversion of Unreal Tournament (1999), has been described as "turning Unreal Tournament 's wild cartoon action into a harrowing game of cat and mouse". Infiltration has been noted for detailed aiming system including hip-fire and sights while lacking
2464-561: The player character may be able to issue commands to AI squadmates, such as ordering them to cover an advance, flank a position, or clear an area of hostiles such as in Brothers in Arms . Some games in the genre allow players to plan their team's movements before a mission, which the AI then follows independently. Multiplayer tactical shooters may allow other players to assist each other either in
2520-414: The player leads a contemporary SWAT team against criminals and terrorists in an East Coast metropolis; thus, it follows that most levels in the game are inspired by the urban and suburban Eastern United States , with most levels set indoors, and most level layouts and gameplay focusing on the close-quarters combat that SWAT teams specialize in; and therefore, the game features equipment that work within
2576-694: The player's inventory, which must be managed to mitigate its effects on the player character's weight. Carry weight is a game mechanic in many tactical shooters, increasing with the weapons, armor, or items carried by the player character, and affecting movement speed, stamina, time taken to aim down sights, and the ability to focus while aiming. The weight mechanic forces players to properly manage their inventory and choose whether they value mobility, effectiveness, or protection, preventing "jack-of-all-trades" loadouts where one player can carry everything they need, and promoting cooperation between players with different loadouts and classes. In many tactical shooters featuring
2632-474: The player's selected class affects what weapons are available to them; a rifleman class, for example, may only have rifles and carbines as their available primary weapons. In most tactical shooters, the basic weapon and equipment slots are the extent of the player's inventory; however, in some more expansive games, such as the Arma series, individual items such as magazines for equipped weapons are carried in
2688-460: The same squad or even commanding their own squads, allowing human players to strategize and coordinate more effectively compared to the limited commands available for AI. Team tactics are emphasized in tactical shooters more than other shooter genres, and thus accurate aiming and quick reflexes are not always sufficient for victory. The game's setting and scope are usually reflected in the game's level designs and mechanics. For example, in SWAT 4 ,
2744-590: The same work. Many of these systems calculate an approximate average assessment, usually based on assigning a numeric value to each review related to its degree of positive rating of the work. Review aggregation sites have begun to have economic effects on the companies that create or manufacture items under review, especially in certain categories such as electronic games, which are expensive to purchase. Some companies have tied royalty payment rates and employee bonuses to aggregate scores, and stock prices have been seen to reflect ratings, as related to potential sales. It
2800-490: The series' pre-action planning stage (last seen in 2003's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield ) and the series' established counterterrorism setting as of Rainbow Six Siege (2015, in updates released later) and Rainbow Six Extraction (2022); and the futuristic settings of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (2012), which features invisibility cloaks and shoulder-mounted anti-tank rockets. Even the Spec Ops series, which began as
2856-666: The setting, but are generally intended to suit the period (so a game set in World War II would feature period-accurate weaponry and lack modern weapons such as the M16 rifle ). Ballistics are typically simulated, as are elements of authenticity such as recoil , motion blur , ear-ringing from explosions , and the feeling of being suppressed . Some developers of tactical shooters may hire technical advisors from military , law enforcement , or firearms specializations to ensure accuracy in in-game depictions. Simulating actual combat
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#17327754250582912-674: The torso (ignoring the bullet resistance of different types of ballistic vests ) and even more to the legs (rarely armored in real life), while registering an automatic kill for melee hits to the back (whether punches or knife stabs) and headshots (regardless of weapon caliber, impact point, or whether the target is wearing a helmet ). In contrast to run-and-gun shooters such as Quake which allow players to carry full arsenals, tactical shooters place considerable restrictions on what players may be equipped with, requiring players to carefully select their weapons, equipment, and inventories accordingly. The typical loadout setup used in tactical shooters
2968-517: The vocal commands, plan or real-time 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 which include the acquisition of enemy uniforms. Mission types 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,
3024-407: The weapon's sights), which is less accurate but gives a wider view of the area; or "aim down sights" (ADS) for better accuracy, increased zoom, or an aiming reticle, at the cost of restricted visibility and camera sensitivity. To highlight their emphases on realism, tactical shooters feature limited or minimalistic HUD elements compared to most other shooters, the extent of which can vary depending on
3080-410: Was good about the original, improves every element, successfully adds new features and delivers a well-rounded game". GamesTM claimed that the game's "minor flaws have to be put into perspective against the sheer quality and quantity on offer". Computer Gaming World stated that Hidden and Dangerous 2 is a "really good game", but also complained about the "dubious tradition of bugs" and criticised
3136-603: Was released on October 19, 2004, in the US, and introduced nine new single player missions, seven new multi-player maps and a now finished death-match 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. It also introduced new weapons (the RPzB 54 , the MAS-36 , the G43 , a suppressed P08 and
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