And that’s immediately one of the first things that got ripped out of this game that the makers call a “fully updated version for the PS2”. No lighting hostiles anymore, no all too gruesome cut-scenes and no blood. The censorship monster has been cutting quite heavily in this game and only God knows why.

Also the multiplayer mode didn’t survive the transition from PSP to PS2 and this title has to do with only the single player campaign after which the fun ends. The mission system of this campaign has been completely taken from the PSP which means that in each “chapter” you’ll play a couple of short levels to get deeper into the plans of Red Section. Exactly the same plans that we already know from the handheld version as the storyline hasn’t been tampered with so people with a PSP will get a massive feeling of déjà-vu. That’s also the reason why I would suggest those people to definitely not buy this title as they’ll gain nothing.

So in the end the question remains whether this game is worth the effort for those that haven’t got the PSP version.

The answer to that is a bit double as although Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror plays nice on the PS2, it all looks a bit cuddly. The graphics look unfinished and the wooden characters look pushed together. It quite spoils the fun as this creates a cartoony atmosphere that doesn’t do the game justice. The soundtrack and effects make up for this a bit and try to keep the more serious atmosphere present while the controls are good enough to have anyone that has played a shooter on PS2 once getting the hang of it pretty fast. Do keep in mind that the auto-lock system from the PSP is no longer present so you’ll have to do with your two thumbs. An sich not such a problem but it does undermine the use of the taser with which you used to be able to get people down from building rooftops. Since it needs an open line of sight you have to expose yourself to enemy fire to get an unsatisfying result as, as previously noted, your victims will no longer crumble screaming and burning.