Graphics
One of the great points about Swat 3 is the graphics. Realistic gameplay and great AI are strong points for a game but to be truly
great, you have to have the awesome graphics element as well. S3 does not disappoint in this area! As you have probably noticed
from the various screenshots in the review, the level design and the environments are outstanding. Each of the levels are extremely
realistic and you have no problem believing you are actually there. In most 3d games, you can easily notice the limitations of the
game engine as you move around in the environment. You just simply don't notice this in S3. Everything you would expect to happen
in real life, happens. You walk into a room and you see a light switch, yes you can turn the lights on and off in that room! You
walk into the bathroom and yes, you do see full length mirrors as you would in a real bathroom. There are so many little details
added to each level and your ability to interact with them is neat. Things such as sliding shower doors back, opening drawers,
and one of my favorite effects, the swivel doors. This is pretty hard to explain but once you see it in game you will know what
I am talking about. In the LA Convention Center map the kitchen has these swivel doors that when you walk up to them, they
"bounce" open in the direction you are pushing. That was just a really neat effect that I don't recall seeing in any other
type of game out there.
The S3 engine also allows for flashlights which you will find mounted on your guns and pistols. These
provide a realistic visual effect that actually come in handy in several dark scenarios. In real life you would find the flashlight
beams bouncing off of all the mirrors but you won't find that effect in any of today's graphics engines.
Also in the graphics department are the models. The SWAT officers are extremely detailed and their skins look absolutely great.
Motion capture of actual SWAT members was used to animate the models and their movements are very fluid and lifelike. When
officers change weapons you can see them letting go of their primary weapon and letting it hang on its sling and then grab
a secondary weapon from a holder for example. In the majority of computer games you find players pulling weapons out of nowhere
and putting them away "inside their body". You won't find that in S3. When an officer is done with his MP5, you will find it
hanging from his body while using a secondary weapon. This is a really nice touch and adds to the whole feel of the game. There
are some annoyances in the model animations though. The moving of the officers are plagued with the "sliding feet" syndrome.
What happens is that if you are looking at yourself in the mirror and move left or right, you see your body move for a few feet
THEN your feet start moving like you are walking. Unfortunately the movements aren't synchronized and it comes across very poorly.
Getting back to the good points, you will find several civilian models and terrorist types that are very realistic. Throughout
your missions you will find civilians that you have to get evacuated from the scene. First, you must cuff them so you are sure
who is a terrorist and who isn't. Be on the lookout for several terrorists disguised as civilian cooks for example.
