SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate Preview

Those of you who think that the Rainbow Six series is running out of steam (or has ran out of steam), please raise your hand.

Don't make me get my mace out.

Lay off the twinkies, Stetchkov.

Yeah, I thought so.

I recently had a chance to re-play Irrational Games' SWAT 4. It was really refreshing for me to finally be able to play a game in the same vein as the R6 games but done in such a way that it actually moves the genre forward instead of condemning us to discover the minute, incremental changes to the gameplay that the R6 series is known for. For me, the game brought more suspense and a more intense micro-story-driven experience to the genre, while making the interface itself a lot more intuitive and enjoyable for those looking for a more action-packed experience. In addition, making the guns themselves less lethal (while keeping their behavior realistic and the ballistics accurate), allowed for a more action-packed gaming experience.

You need only remember the mission with the serial killer torturing his victims in his mom's basement. I maced his mom so much before I took her in it wasn't even funny. Of course, that was exactly the kind of behavior that the game was trying to discourage (as the player was forced to safeguard the civilians first and foremost), but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself a little. Mace was a grey issue so to speak. That mission was a classic.

So as you can imagine, I was very happy to hear that Irrational is working on an expansion pack to the game entitled, The Stetchkov Syndicate. The expansion pack brings a host of new levels, weapons, and enhancements to the series.

Crime is on the rise. More guns and drugs are appearing on the streets and the city is in crisis. SWAT is called in to take on a series of disturbances that eventually lead them to the root of the problem, an eastern European crime family (likely Bulgarians) that has taken up residence in the city. A final showdown will place legendary SWAT tactics against the most dangerous and ruthless criminals yet, the Stetchkov Syndicate.

Last I heard Bulgarians weren't too big on syndication, but then they did enjoy the "splendors" of communism for quite a bit of time. Some of that old party politics must've rubbed off on the criminals as well. In any case, it'd be hard to imagine some of the thugs forming a union and demanding higher wages and less work hours, or despising the proletariat or some other nonsense.

But I digress...

There is a reason why the Stetchkov Syndicate was introduced into the story. Simply put, the developers needed a malevolent presence that would connect the missions and create a more cohesive plot this time around. In the original game, the developers went with the idea of each mission having its unique storyline if you will; each task demanded a different approach and had a different background. With the introduction of the Syndicate, the single-player campaign takes on a slightly different form where players are able to follow one main plotline as it unfolds through the missions. The idea with the Stetchkovs was to introduce a crime family that is in many ways above the "common law." But when the dirty politicians lose all control and stuff gets out of hand, SWAT operatives are called in to "defuse" the situation. Sometimes quite literally.

Besides the changes in the progression of the single-player campaign (The Stetchkov Syndicate brings 7 new single and multiplayer player levels), the developers have their sights set on improving the very things that people found to be most enjoyable about the game. For instance, the co-op mode.

The expansion will feature 10 Player Coop, up to two teams of five. In the original you could "only" play with four of your buddies, but this time around, ten of you will be able to assemble two teams to tackle the randomly placed enemies on a level. Just think about it. This takes the tactical side of the co-op play to a whole new level. Teams will be able to coordinate with each other, making their tactics a lot more diverse.

In addition to this, the team is dedicatedly working on fixing the issues that bothered fans about the original. For instance, the expansion will feature Voice over IP, built in voice communication between teammates. Game's producer Paul Pawlicki explains: "...players will need their own microphone, but that's it. Then all they need to do is install the expansion pack and press a hotkey to talk to their teammates."

Further changes will include a way for players to initiate a vote to kick and ban immature kids who are team killing for the hell of it, change the map, or even the game mode. As well as the addition of a skin chooser, that lets you drop in user-created textures and enable them in the multiplayer game. Other changes in the multiplayer include stat tracking and ladders and rankings for multiplayer, Held commands (orders can be held in single player until the leader gives the GO command), and unique Leader in Coop (option to have only one person issue commands and lead the team). Finally, the expansion will feature an all-new multiplayer mode - Smash & Grab. This is a team-based multiplayer game mode that will divide the teams into the Suspects and the SWAT Officers (as many of the other SWAT 4 gameplay modes do). The primary objective of the Suspects is to grab a suitcase that will spawn in semi-random locations within the map, and carry it to an exit point found in within another point in the level. The primary object of the SWAT Officers is to prevent the Suspects from getting the suitcase to the exit point or arrest the Suspect carrying the briefcase. All of this must be done within the allotted time specified before the match is begun.