Silent Scope (USA) (En,Fr,De,Es,It) Gameboy Advance game

Silent Scope is a rail shooter arcade game developed by Konami and released in 1999. The game stands out for its use of a mounted sniper rifle peripheral, which players use to engage in long-range combat during various intense missions. It is the first entry in the Silent Scope series.

Plot

The game follows a dramatic story where the U.S. First Family is kidnapped by terrorists. The player, as a sniper, must rescue them through a series of missions. These missions include rescuing the President's daughter, wife, and eventually the President himself, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation with the terrorist leader.

Gameplay

Silent Scope's gameplay is defined by its use of a mounted sniper rifle peripheral. Players view their targets through a scope that displays a magnified portion of the screen. The game has several distinct features:

• Modes: The game offers Story Mode, Time Attack, and Target Practice.
• Mechanics: Players use the sniper rifle to take out enemies, with extra points and time bonuses awarded for headshots. Missions are set in various environments, including high-rise buildings and enemy compounds, sometimes requiring night vision.
• Health and Time Management: Players have limited health and time, which can be extended by specific actions during gameplay.
• Paths and Stages: Players can choose different difficulty paths, each with unique bosses and subsequent missions.

Reception

The game received a mix of reviews across different platforms, reflecting its engaging arcade experience but mixed success in home console adaptations.

• Arcade: Highly praised for its innovative use of the sniper rifle and engaging gameplay.
• Dreamcast: Received scores like 71% on GameRankings and 63/100 on Metacritic, with comments on its short length but enjoyable high-score chase.
• PlayStation 2: Similar reception with a Metacritic score of 63/100, noted for its accurate arcade conversion but limited long-term appeal.
• Game Boy Advance: Scored 70/100 on Metacritic, praised for adapting the gameplay to a portable format.
• iOS: Critically panned with a score of 38% on GameRankings, suffering from control issues.

Critical Feedback

• AllGame: "A blast to play, though more realistic missions would be nice. Graphics are acceptable with decent animation, but music is indiscernible during action."
• GamePro: "A strong first-generation offering and a picture-perfect arcade conversion."
• Edge: "Silent Scope is all about high scores through high accuracy. Konami needed to port the consoles, and the one shot, one kill moments of euphoria and despair crystallize this as a success."
• NextGen: "It's not groundbreaking, but it's a solid shooting game with unique play mechanics."

Legacy

The success of the original Silent Scope led to several sequels and spin-offs, including:

• Silent Scope 2 (Arcade, PlayStation 2)
• Silent Scope EX (Arcade)
• Silent Scope 3 (PlayStation 2)
• Silent Scope Bone Eater (Arcade)

The series is notable for its unique use of the sniper rifle peripheral, setting it apart from other rail shooters of its time.