Cold Winter

The Good
This is a seriously playable and fun first-person shooter that, in good ways, feels very old skool. There's really no messing around or pretense here: just run around and shoot the bad guys.

As I said in the tag line, it really does remind me a lot of Goldeneye on the N64, albeit with somewhat better graphics. The action is fast-paced and fun, and I love the rag-doll physics, which are something of a rarity on the PS2. It's also absolutely possible to behead, or amputate limbs, with carefully placed shots, which is highly entertaining in a messed up sort of way.

The mission structure is good, and is supported by an excellent story line, bolstered by decent voice acting - not surprising given the quality of the cast (Tom Baker, anyone?) - and an excellent soundtrack. The story is genuinely great, and sprinkled with truly emotional moments.

The Bad
The cover mechanic wasn't something I really used or needed. It felt sort of tacked on.

Graphics are a bit hit and miss - sometimes they feel a bit drab, and there's the inevitable boxiness and fuzziness we've all come to expect from PS2 games.

This game is crying out for a sequel but, sadly, we're unlikely to ever see one since Swordfish Studios are no more.

The Bottom Line
It's like an updated Goldeneye N64 so, if you like that game, or its recent Wii port, you're going to love Cold Winter.