SWAT 4: Gold Edition

Today we are taking a look at SWAT 4: Gold Edition which is a game I have spent a ton of time with. Back when this was released, I was at university, and playing this online with my dad was one of the ways that we stayed in touch. It is a truly fantastic game and one that for a while was demanding a pretty high price for the physical version, thankfully the digital version is super cheap and well worth checking out, just make sure it is the gold edition you get as that comes with the expansion.

Wait, This Has A Campaign?

SWAT 4: Gold Edition was released at a time when multiplayer was really starting to become the focus of shooters. So, it may surprise you to know that this game not only has a campaign, but it is a freaking awesome campaign. You play as the leader of a SWAT team in New York City. You will be responsible for completing 13 different missions!

This is fantastic stuff and it feels like you are in a movie. You can even play the campaign co-op which is extra awesome. As this is the Gold Edition, it also comes with the Stechkov Syndicate expansion which gives you a handful of new missions to do.

Working As A Team

The core gameplay of SWAT 4: Gold Edition I would say is that of a tactical shooter, you cannot go in all guns blazing… well you can, but you do need to try and plan attacks with your fellow players. The multiplayer on offer here is awesome and it has some fantastic game modes. I wanted to highlight a few that I always play. VIP Escort is a mode where one player is the VIP and the rest of the team needs to get them to the escape point safe and sound.

There is also a Team Deathmatch mode which is called Barricade Suspects and this is always a good and fun time. Another mode that I liked was called Rapid Deployment where bombs are all over the map and you need to find them and then get rid of them before the timer runs out. Each mode feels well thought out and is fun in its own way.

A Sign Of The Times

For a game that was released over 10 years ago, I have to say that SWAT 4: Gold Edition is still not a bad-looking game. Back when this was released it was quite the looker and many people raved about the graphics. While there are certainly better-looking games these days, I still think that this one holds up.

What I got a real kick out of was the fact that the game was set in New York City. This was a new location for the series and it feels darker and grittier than what the previous games in the series had offered.

Pros:

• The campaign is far better than you would think
• The game is stacked with modes
• I think that the visuals have held up very well
• This version also included the content from the expansion pack

Cons:

• It may look a tad dated in some places
• Not quite sure how large the player base is these days