Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix Demo

While violence is definitely not a prerequisite in most video games, it is sort of required and expected in first-person shooters, in order to properly justify and depict the shooting part. Hence, although it might look cruel and disturbing, violence is usually in tune with reality, because guns and various other weapons leave quite the nasty scars in their wake.

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix is the response to a highly debated first title, which featured unseen levels of violence and gore. Unlike the previous installment, however, this sequel tries to be more realistic when it comes to weapons and scenarios, so there are no more sci-fi guns, nor any other kind of fantasy elements plaguing the gameplay this time around.

As far as the story is concerned, the main plot revolves around the same John Mullins, an ex soldier that now works for a shade anti-terrorist corporation and is sent on dangerous missions all over the world, in order to eliminate various terrorist leaders and put an end to their plans. In this episode, John attempts to stop the spreading of a deadly virus, by going after the organization that plans to unleash it over the population.

Although some people complained about the excessive violence depicted in the first game, they probably should have waited for the second one to get more traction for their claims, because the amount of blood and gore available this time around has increased substantially. Thus, depending on what weapon you use and where you shoot the enemies, pools of blood and various other body parts usually decorate the walls behind them, albeit in a very realistic manner.

As far as the graphic quality is concerned, the game looks rather rushed and way too dark on some occasions, even if the action takes place in broad daylight. The character animation leaves much to be desired, as do the repetitive landscapes and the poor quality of the textures used in some cases. Sound-wise, the game manages to stay afloat, thanks to the decent voice acting.

Despite all the blood and gore, Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix does not impress anyone this time around and barely manages to hold itself together in almost every way, whether it's gameplay, graphic quality, or the story and the characters that are part of it.