You start out with a number of objectives that are required to complete the overall mission. First off, the game is mission/objective based. Let's move on to the challenging missions. This game has some of the best AI that I have seen in a PSX game to date. Apparently one of the enemies detected my movement and was taking pot shots at me.
I could be running across a beam way up high only to hear gunfire coming from the ground. Another example is the constant surprises they will heap on you. I heard one shout "incoming" and the guys jumped out of the way. I ran by and tossed a grenade between them. For example, there were three enemies standing near each other. I don't want to give them too much credit, because there were times that the enemies seemed to have no brains at all, but mixed in were some pretty impressive moves on their part. You will face a number of enemies throughout your missions, but one thing I found was that they can definitely be smart. Should I begin with the awesome weapons? The challenging missions? The surprisingly decent voice-overs? The complex yet intuitive control system? The interactive environments? No, I think I will start with the super intelligence of the enemies. In the end, it'll take good enemy Al and proper level balancing to make Gabriel and his game standout out from the pack. Syphon Filter does up the ante a bit by adding an infrared scope which detects body heat and tracks enemies by it. Zoom scopes are one of the trendier accessories making their rounds in other games and they have found a home here.
In addition to making you use your head, you'll have access to more than 20 weapons which range from the standard to the "oh yeah" level. The best example of this is in the park level where snipers are trying to prevent you from completing your objectives by cornering you into traps. Enemies are placed in strategic locations which require some planning prior to assault. That's not to say the action is mindless. To help break away from similar games, Syphon Filter places the emphasis on action and less on puzzlesolving elements. Of course the latter is not really Gabriel's concern, but it's definitely something the developers (989 Studios, formerly Sony Interactive Studios) are clearly trying to accomplish. He must navigate through seven assassin-filled levels while convincing gamers that Syphon Filter is no Tomb Raider/Metal Gear clone. It gives you a feeling that things are happening whether you're present or not, making you feel like you're part of a really big mission and not some solo hotshot. Quite often, gunfire will be whizzing all over the place, right outside a window you might happen to be standing by. Thankfully, your crew runs around in bright yellow suits, so identifying your allies shouldn't be a problem.
Furthermore, you must also be careful not to shoot one of your own men. You must be careful not to get caught in a cross-fire, as friendly fire can damage you too. The game is fast-paced and will keep you on your toes as militant soldiers swarm in from all sectors, sometimes attempting to get to you, but more often than not, engaging in gunfire with your fellow agents. No sooner have you taken down one Boss character, when your superiors radio in another set of instructions. You're kept up to date by your contact at headquarters who will periodically send you new instructions on-the-fly. Each level has objectives that you must complete in order to advance the story line. The main character in Syphon Filter goes by the name of Gabe. Rather, you'll need to use your keen sense of awareness to take advantage of your surroundings and emerge alive in this tale of kill-or-be-killed.