I must admit, I'm a bit conflicted about this one. On the one hand, there aren't too many games out there that let you hone your sniping skills, and there ain't much else in the video game world like taking care of business, long distance. On the other hand, by virtue of the subject matter, the game is a bit limited, and even though Konami really went out of their way to instill some longevity, it really boils down to traveling across levels on rails, and shooting your enemies. So even though Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette is an improvement on the original in just about every way, there just wasn't enough to "blow me away", as the saying goes.

Anyone who has played the original will find the control scheme and gameplay very familiar, and be able to step right up and take control, but with this game, even newbies will be able to pick the controller up, and be liquidating those terrorists in no time. The controls are simple, one stick to move the aiming reticule, one button to zoom in and out, and one to fire. That's about it, your character is "driven" through each level, and you must do your best to shoot all the terrorists before they take you out. This simplicity really shows Silent Scope's arcade roots, meant to be played in small spurts, anything longer and the repetition and tedium may get to you. And even though Konami really went to great lengths to inject some variety and depth to this formula, the core gameplay always remains the same, which really hurts what could otherwise have been a great game.

One of the more noticeable improvements are the graphics, which although improved, will probably be the thing noticed the least by Silent Scope veterans. The inclusion of both Thermal Vision and X-Ray Scopes that pop up occasionally during the game add a touch of graphical flair, but other than that don't expect a massive improvement over the first game. Even the sound quality does not show a huge leap forward, and only serves as background to the action of the game. The most obvious change is the inclusion of two different snipers, allowing a second player to play via the i.Link cable, with each player completing the levels via a different route, and often times covering each other or setting up crossfire. Even playing alone, the computer will control whichever sniper you don't choose, which effectively offers two ways to complete the game. Unfortunately, the game length is still fairly short, and you will find yourself playing the secondary modes before you know it. In addition to the familiar Shooting Range and Story modes, there is now also a Duel mode, in which you must find and eliminate the other sniper before he kills you, and Mission mode, which challenges you to complete various missions in a set amount of time. The many different modes also allow you to unlock a number of new options and cheats, and the game does a good job of notifying you of your progress and any new rewards.

Overall, Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette is a small improvement over the original, with a few new bells and whistles, but that's about it. Perhaps some more gameplay variety or depth, say by allowing you to choose where you'd like to snipe from, or by using different rifles in different situations, and I could have given a higher score. But as it stands, anyone familiar with the original will find little to warrant a purchase, and unless you're a hard core fan of the Silent Scope series or looking for a great "arcadey" sniping experience that isn't too complicated or involved, you'll probably want to rent before you buy, or maybe find this one used somewhere.  

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 7.9
Even though this is the second in the series, there are still very few games out there that offer this type of gameplay, and the tension and challenge is definitely there. If nothing else, this game is fun, even if for very short periods of time.

Graphics: 6.9
Lets be honest. These are not the most beautiful graphics you'll ever see on your PS2, and don't expect too many flashy fireworks. But most of the time you'll be so busy trying to zoom in on the next terrorist that you won't even notice.

Sound: 6.5
There is nothing in the sound of this game that really stands out, although most of the effects do a fairly good job of matching the action. The music is forgettable, and a little more ambient sound would have helped pull me into the game better, like birds chirping, or the sound of traffic passing in the distance. Too often you feel like someone cleared out the city, then let loose a couple of snipers to have at it.

Difficulty: 7.6
This is a simple game to pick up, and you will notice yourself improving steadily the more you play. With the inclusion of the Shooting Ranges and Target practices, and the fact that all you are really doing is aiming the reticule at someone, and pushing a button, this is one that isn't going to frustrate too much. Maybe a little too simple.

Concept: 7.2
The first time around, this was a great concept, although somewhat limited as an arcade port. I was a little upset that they really didn't improve upon the core gameplay the second time around.

Multiplayer: 8.5
I have to give Konami props in this category. As one of the 12 people in this country that owned and used the link cable for the original Playstation, I can only hope that this concept will take off on the PS2. I can only urge other companies to take notice of the many possibilities, and hope that the advent of online console gaming will push this feature to the forefront.

Overall: 7.3
There is nothing here that will convince anyone that the next generation of video games is here, but what this game does, it does fairly well. Its definitely fun, but if you're not a fan of shooters, you may want to give this a pass.