Hidden & Dangerous 2

Hidden & Dangerous 2

Cover art
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[1]
Producer(s) Lukás Kure[1]
Designer(s) Lead Designer
Radek Havlicek[1]
Programmer(s) Lead Programmer
Marek Rabas[1]
Artist(s) Lead Artist
Martin Benes[1]
Writer(s) Radek Havlicek[1]
Composer(s) Michal Szlavik
Martin Benes[1]
Engine LS3D engine
Platform(s) Windows
Release date(s) October 21, 2003[2]
October 19, 2004 (Sabre Squadron)
Genre(s) First-person shooter, tactical shooter, third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer, cooperative modes

Hidden & Dangerous 2 (abbreviated HD2) is a 2003 World War II, stealth based, tactical first and third person shooter video game. It centres on the British Special Air Service in operations behind Axis lines 1941-45.

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.[3][4] 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.[2]

Development for Hidden and Dangerous 2 was announced on April 24, 2001, two years after the release of Hidden and Dangerous.[5]

Gameplay

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, 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, 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.[6] 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. A real time strategy mechanic also allows players to control events for staged sequential tactical maneuvers or through real time overhead command.

Campaign mode

The campaign mode in Hidden & Dangerous 2 allows for 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 twenty 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.

Multiplayer

Hidden & Dangerous 2 has a multiplayer mode that can be played via internet or local area network (up to 99 players). After closing in 2012, GameSpy server this game close. However, fans have used the stored server (favorites). It was not until the end of 2014, while the search server was moved to Qtracker, then, thanks to a little manipulation, the players were able to play on the server, it is not officially supported by, as the company and its games network holder no longer exist. So far, active and Russian and foreign fan community in this game. In multiplayer represented 4 game modes: Cooperative, Combat, Capture, Quests HD2.

Expansion

An expansion pack titled Sabre Squadron was released during October 19, 2004, in the US, 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, 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 breath while looking through a telescopic sight, a co-operative multi-player mode, along with access to the original Hidden and Dangerous 2 missions through Sabre Squadron's interface.

Reception

Hidden and Dangerous 2
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings76.97% (based on 36 reviews)[7]
Metacritic75% (based on 26 reviews)[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1UP.comB-[9]
AllGame[10]
Edge8/10
Eurogamer9/10[11]
Game Informer6/10[12]
GamePro4/5[13]
Game RevolutionB[14]
GameSpot7.3/10[15]
GameSpy[16]
GamesTM8/10
GameZone8.3/10[17]
IGN7.9/10[18]
Deaf Gamers9.3/10[19]

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 scores, reached of 76.97% and 75%, respectively based on samples of 36 and 26 reviews.[7][8]

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".[20] 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".[21] 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."[22] IGN stated Hidden & Dangerous 2 is "a great game lurking somewhere underneath all of these questionable design decisions."[2] 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."[14] Game Zone called it "a great game...underneath the AI problems, bug issues and control problems."[17] GameSpy called it "a compelling World War II experience."[16] 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."[15] GamePro also criticised the AI, while stating "If you dig tactical shooters, Hidden & Dangerous 2 should be in your sights."[13] Game Informer criticised the interface, graphics, sound and levels, calling it "an okay-at-best game."[12]

The game has sold over 1 million units as of August 2004.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Hidden & Dangerous 2 Credits". Allgame. 2003. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Adams, David (2003-10-23). "Hidden & Dangerous 2 Ships". IGN. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  3. ↑ "Hidden and Dangerous 2 Announced". IGN. 2001-04-21. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  4. ↑ Walker, Trey (2001-04-24). "GodGames announces Hidden & Dangerous 2". GameSpot. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  5. ↑ "Hidden and Dangerous 2 announced". Gamers Hell. 2001-04-24. Retrieved 2011-01-09. GodGames and Illusion Softworks today announced the development of Hidden & Dangerous 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed PC game Hidden & Dangerous. Hidden & Dangerous 2 will be released in this fall for the PC.
  6. ↑ Kemp, Anthony (1991). The SAS at War 1941-1945. New York: Signet. ISBN 0-451-17456-9
  7. 1 2 "Hidden & Dangerous 2 for PC - GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  8. 1 2 "Hidden & Dangerous 2 Critic Reviews for PC at Metacritic.com". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  9. 1 2 "Hidden and Dangerous II Review". 1UP.com. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  10. 1 2 "Hidden and Dangerous II Review". Allgame. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  11. ↑ McNamara, Tom (29 Oct 2003). "Hidden & Dangerous 2 Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  12. 1 2 Zoss, Jeremy. "Hidden and Dangerous II". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2006-01-15. Retrieved 2008-11-23. With so many WW II games on the market, you have to do better than this if you want to stand out. H&D 2 is the very definition of mediocrity: the controls are far more complicated that they need to be, the AI is weak, and it’s full of bugs. Add in some really bland graphics, and that’s enough for me to know I don’t want to play it.
  13. 1 2 Hidden & Dangerous 2 Review from GamePro
  14. 1 2 Sanders, Shawn (1 Oct 2003). "Hidden and Dangerous 2 Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  15. 1 2 Osborn, Scott (28 Oct 2003). "Hidden & Dangerous 2 Review". CBS Interactive. GameSpot. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  16. 1 2 Durham Jr., Joel (2003-11-05). "Reviews - Hidden & Dangerous 2". GameSpy. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  17. 1 2 Jkdmedia (3 Oct 2003). "Hidden & Dangerous 2 - PC - Review - PC - Review". Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  18. ↑ McNamara, Tom (29 Oct 2003). "Hidden and Dangerous 2 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  19. ↑ "Hidden & Dangerous 2 PC CD-ROM". Deaf Gamers. Deaf Gamers. 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ Hidden & Dangerous 2 Review | PC | Eurogamer
  21. ↑ games(TM) Christmas 2003, p.104
  22. ↑ Edge, Christmas 2003, p.120
  23. ↑ "Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron Screens". Gamers Hell. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
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