SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle
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| SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle | |
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| Developer(s) | Sierra Northwest |
| Publisher(s) | Sierra Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | November 23, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Tactical shooter First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, with multi-player option available in upgrades |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| System requirements | Microsoft Windows 95/98, Pentium 233 MHz, 32 Mb RAM, 550Mb Hard Disk Space, 4 Speed CD-ROM, 800x600 SVGA High Color Monitor, 4 Mb Video Card, DirectX 7, Windows-compatible soundcard. |
| Input | Keyboard / Mouse |
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle (often referred to by fans as simply SWAT3 or SWAT3:CQB) is a tactical squad-based first-person shooter. It remains the biggest selling title of the SWAT series and the only game to come close to the popularity of the first titles of the Police Quest series, from which SWAT originated.
As the name indicates, the game is based on CQB tactics. The player is in charge of a 5-man SWAT team, and unlike other tactical shooters such the Rainbow Six series, the player is a police officer; therefore "arresting" rather than "neutralizing" suspects is the primary objective. The improper use of deadly force (when a suspect is wounded and unable to use weapons, has surrendered or poses no threat) is penalized in the game.
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[edit] Versions
The game was released in three separate versions. Each newer version contains all the changes from the earlier version.
- SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle, the original, which does NOT include multiplayer.
- SWAT 3: Elite Edition, which added five more scenarios and ability to play as SWAT team member instead of team leader, and two-element missions. It also gains a multiplayer mode.
- SWAT 3: Tactical Game of the Year Edition, which added a few more scenarios, as well as an Advanced Tactics CD which contains actual SWAT training footage.
The official patches are available free of charge at the publisher's website and upgrade one version to the next (i.e., upgrading the original SWAT3:CQB to SWAT3: Elite Edition).
[edit] Story
In 2005, the United Nations Nuclear Abolishment Treaty is about to be signed, and the event will take place in Los Angeles. LAPD SWAT has the responsibility of ensuring everything goes smoothly, as both domestic and foreign terrorists plan on using the signing as a platform for their demands. To make matters worse, lost Soviet portable atomic demolition devices ("suitcase nukes") are reported to have buyers in the LA area.
[edit] Basic weapons and items
The game was shipped only with a limited range of weapons. The expansions later added a larger range of weapons, which also included different sights and magnified optics.
- Primary weapons
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- MP5
- Benelli M4 Super 90
- MP5SD (sound suppressed version with reduced muzzle-flash)
- M4A1
- Secondary weapons
- Tactical Aids
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- Flashbang grenade
- CS gas grenade
- C2 plastic explosive door breaching charges
- Lightstick
- Leatherman multi-purpose tool
- Opti-Wand, an alternative to the "mirror on a stick" method for looking around corners safely.
Unlike other games, some weapons are actually able to penetrate through walls, which makes spray-firing a risk, as a stray bullet can pass through a wall and hit a civilian or VIP. Each weapon has two kinds of ammo (usually full metal jacket and hollow point), which have to be balanced, as the player is not able to carry the maximum of both. The secondary ammo of the M4A1 is a less than lethal rubber bullet and the M4 Super 90 a breaching slug that can be used to open locked doors.
[edit] Missions
The original game had 16 missions total, ranging from fast deployment to VIP protection. Some of the maps are based on true locations such as the LA City Hall and the Convention Center. The expansions added more maps, but neither of them is used on the 5-man campaign, only with the additional 10-man campaign that was distributed later on Sierra's website.
- Freeway Sniper Search Warrant
- The first mission is a search warrant for the home of Martin Brenner, a freeway sniper. It serves as a basic introduction to the game.
- High-Risk Arrest Warrant/Barricaded Suspect
- Arrest Warrant service for Victor Getts, a suspect of vehicular manslaughter, bomb manufacturer and member of a domestic terrorist group known as Sovereign America.
- Embassy Bombing Hostage Rescue
- Rescue operation for the Turkish ambassador Jemil Kemal, who has been kidnapped by "Kurdish Peoples Party" terrorists and held to ransom.
- Home Invasion Hostage Rescue
- Rescue Donald Foreman, CEO of Teledyne, a large cable provider, his wife Linda, and his two children. They are being held hostage in their home by heavily armed terrorists.
- Orthodox Cathedral Hostage Rescue
- Hostage Rescue operation for the Orthodox Pope Alexei III and his retinue. They are being held in an Orthodox Cathedral by terrorists. Matters are complicated by the private security team hired to protect Alexei.
- Hyperion Treatment Plant Search and Reconnaissance
- The aircraft of the Algerian president has been shot down by a Surface-to-Air missile, and the resulting chaos caused by the shutdown of LAX has created a significant number of vulnerable targets for more missiles, including the plane of Russian president, Igor Stomas. The missile is traced to a Waterworks construction site, and SWAT is dispatched to investigate.
- Bank Robbery Hostage Rescue
- Sovereign America have raided a bank, seriously wounding a police officer in the process, but the resulting police attention prevents their escape. Marie Bonds, a character from SWAT 3's predecessor, Police Quest is one of the bank employees held hostage.
- DBN TV Station Hostage Rescue
- A Russian Communist group called The People's Liberation Party have stormed a television studio during an afternoon talk show, holding LA Mayor Marlin Fitzpatrick, Tolerance Defense League Chairman Herman Moyer, host Donna Briggs and many members of the audience and station staff hostage. The group demands an international broadcast, to give a message of Soviet reunification.
- Phoenix Club High-Risk Arrest Warrant
- Search and Arrest warrant for the Phoenix Club and its owner Ric 'Dog' Peters. Peters also controls a terrorists-for-hire group called Malta, responsible for the Foreman Home Invasion and Cathedral incident.
- Hotel Carlysle Hostage Rescue
- The People's Liberation Party, claiming responsibility for the Waterworks incident, have again targeted President Stomas, storming his penthouse suite at the Carlysle Hotel, demanding a flight to Moscow
- Convention Center VIP Escort
- Escort duty for dignitaries at a pre-treaty signing event in the LA Convention Center. Chaos ensues when undercover and hidden terrorists arrive.
- LAX Hostage Rescue
- The People's Liberation Party have taken over the LAX control tower, broadcasting false Air Traffic Control information resulting in a midair collision. Another Surface-to-Air missile launcher is installed, threatening aircraft, including Air Force 1.
- Ventura Hotel VIP Protection
- Protection duty for a WTO conference at the Ventura Hotel. Death threats have been received by some of the attendees.
- City Hall Barricaded Suspects
- The bombing of an electric substation has left most of LA without power, save for Municipal buildings with backup generators. This was apparently a diversion, to allow Sovereign America to take over City Hall, in what their leader, Tobias Stromm, calls an "end of the world vigil": a suitcase nuke has been installed at the top of the tower.
- Storm Drain Search and Recconnaissance
- Suspicious personnel have been seen entering the storm drain system near UCLA, where a parade is scheduled to pass, carrying heavy equipment and talking about demolitions.
- Treaty Signing VIP Protection
- SWAT is tasked with protecting the Treaty signing. In a last ditch attempt to stop the signing, multiple terrorists attack, hiding a second suitcase nuke in the building. This level features most of the terrorist groups and civilian dignitaries from all of the game's previous missions.
[edit] Reviews
SWAT3 recieved a positive review from PC Gamer UK, receiving a score of 91%[1]:
"Fancy kicking down a few doors? Breaking and entering was never so fun. You control a SWAT officer who along with four other rozzers, must protect the city from all sorts of nasties. Performance in one mission determines what your next one will be. Your first few involve restraining angry civilians, but do well and terrorist organisations start cropping up. All the best ideas from other squad based games, shoehorned into a police setting, perfectly."
The game was also reviewed by GameSpot, with an official rating of 8.3 (excellent)[2]:
"SWAT 3's most impressive feature has to be the amazing artificial intelligence employed by friend and foe alike."
[edit] See also
- Police Quest - SWAT 3's predecessor series.
- SWAT series - for the entire SWAT series.
- SWAT 4 - sequel to SWAT 3.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Ultimate Guide to PC Games", PC Gamer Presents/Future Publishing, July 2003. ISBN 9771478459034.
- ^ GameSpot review, GameSpot. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
