IGI 2 Covert Strike Review - PC Game Reviews

IGI 2: Covert Strike Review

The game’s developers moved over to Codemasters, took notice of gamer criticism and two years later have released IGI 2: Covert Strike. Once again, you take on the role of the ex-Special Air Service (SAS) operative, David Jones. You work for IGI, the Institute for Geotactical Intelligence, which is a super secret organization dedicated to finding and eliminating terrorist threats anywhere in the world. (Osama, you better be good!)

The game consists of nineteen missions which begin with you parachuting into the mountains of northern Russia. A rebel Soviet unit have stolen an advanced microchip so you must sneak in, steal it and get out intact. Most missions follow the same pattern with you sneaking into an enemy facility to steal, plant a virus, or just blow stuff up. One false step and you’ll set off alarms. As in most Thief-style games you have a visibility meter (with an eye icon above it) that tells you how well you’re hidden. Standing raises the bar to full, which means anyone who isn’t terminally blind can and will see you. Crouching and moving or staying to the shadows lowers the meter and makes you hard to see. You are a covert operative, NOT Rambo on Viagra, so step softly! You must rely on silence, stealth and speed. Or die.


Thankfully, you are not alone in your noble quest. You are in constant contact with IGI and receive updates of enemy positions, satellite pictures, etc. You also have Bond-style tools at your disposal. A hand-held computer displays mission data and provides you with a satellite view of the area. Night vision binoculars and thermal goggles help you to stay away from any guard patrols. The game also features over 30 unique guns, including three sniper rifles, assault rifles, sub-machine guns (including twin-Uzis! YES!), pistols, shotguns, grenades… each with its own unique feel. For example, an AK-47 jerks like a wild horse while the G-11 is able to fire quick accurate bursts with no recoil. Most of these weapons have to be pried from the clod, clammy hands of your dead enemies. Since you ARE just one man, you can only carry one type of each weapon at a time: One rifle, one pistol, a knife, and an explosive. This brings in some interesting choices. Do you carry a sniper rifle with massive range or an AK-47 with more bullets but less range? Realism is the name of the game.


The level design is just as realistic. Enemy bunkers are modelled with barbed wire, spotlights and alarms. Factories have working mechanical equipment and underground bunkers, ammunitions depots, and secret weapons factories are all designed well. Some levels take place in hilly areas, and manage to give you a real feeling of scale. Trees sway and creak, snowstorms and rain hide you from enemies and the levels are full of hills, grass, rocks and bushes. The graphics engine features all the latest bells and whistles yet gives you a lot of options to tweak. Simply put, this game works on a wide variety of systems.
IGI 2: Covert Strike is not an easy game to play OR review. Everything I.G.I. 2 does, it does well. However it is in direct competition with Splinter Cell, which also has you playing a secret agent who primarily uses stealth. Since most gamers would only be able to buy one of these rival titles, it has to be the better one. Which is Splinter Cell, no question. However, SC has much higher system requirements than IGI 2, so those without a powerhouse system can safely go for IGI 2…

HIGHS: Realistic Weapons, Good Level Design
LOWS: Falls Short In Game-Play
NUTSHELL: Buy it if you can also afford SC