Hands on with Syphon Filter: Combat Ops on PSP

As mentioned recently in our review, multiplayer is a key component in what makes PSP-exclusive Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow (multiplayer mode pictured) such an amazing game. Plenty of maps, customizable avatars, inventive game types, and a long list of community features ensure an already hugely enjoyable experience is elevated to something outstanding.

About the only thing missing from the fully-featured package is a map editor. But that's about to be remedied.

Tucked away as a playable demo on the retail version of Logan's Shadow is Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, a multiplayer-only mission editor that enables you to create and share maps. This intriguing expansion promises to build upon series' online community by facilitating user-created content.

We tested out the array of editing options planned for the game and are pleased with the potential within. Simply put, Combat Ops makes it possible to play with up to seven other people using maps created in a special editor called Mission Modifier mode.

Both ad-hoc and infrastructure mode are supported, although the map sharing functionality should be particularly nice online. The core multiplayer elements found in Logan's Shadow remain intact (controls, game types, leaderboards, etc), just spiced up with the added ability to create your own missions.

Making missions is a two-step process involving the basic Mission Modifier and a detailed Combat Modifier mode. Before you can enter the latter to tweak available weapons, objects, and other options on your map, you first have to create it in the former.

The game offers three choices when drafting a map: create an original, remix a map made by another user, or toy with an official map. Regardless of what kind of map you're editing, the controls and options remain the same.

In the limited demo we played, only the base village map was available, although the final game will include a range of locations. Five variations on the village locale were listed under the official maps menu, but we decided to draft our own to test out the features fully.

Once the setting had been selected, three sections – central, alpha, and beta – could be customized. A drop-down menu enables you to pick from various terrain types and structures, such as a temple complex or series of thatched huts. A ravine sandwiched by two hut clusters characterized our map.

With the lay of the land decided, you move forward to establish the weather and set two competitive teams. Missions can occur during day or at night. Additionally, potential weather effects include fog, rain, snow, dust, and flooding. Suckers for disaster, we flooded our daytime map.

Aside from deathmatch, all of the game types in Combat Ops are team-based. As such, you need to set factions for each of the two sides used on your map. There are ten in total to choose from, most of which are familiar if you've played through Logan's Shadow. IPCA (the covert ops agency Gabe Logan runs), basic soldier, the Brotherhood, and a contract mercenary faction are just a few examples.

Once you decide upon factions, you're finished with the Mission Modifier. Before you can complete a map, though, you need to tweak specifics in Combat Modifier. Here is where you can set weapons crates, add zip-lines, place barrels and other obstructions, and even denote spawn points for each team.

There's an amazing amount of variety in the types of weapons you can use – bolt guns, laser mines, a sawed-off shotgun, smoke grenades, standard AK-47, etc. What's cool is the ability to place unique objects like zip-lines. However, you'll have to design the terrain to accommodate a variance in height to throw one in.

Adding these objects is done by walking around your map and opening a windowed menu with the D-pad. You don't have free range to drop items anywhere on the map, instead you have to place them within wire-frame boxes. Simply run up to a box, choose from any number of objects, and confirm it with the X button. It's a unique approach to map editing, although we're not entirely sold on its ease of use.

Sony has yet to release official details on the game, such as its intended release date and full slate of features. It's hard not to escape the thought that Combat Ops should have been included with Logan's Shadow. It's possible it simply couldn't all fit onto one UMD or there are features in Combat Ops we've yet to hear about.

Either way, we'll obviously keep you posted on this promising expansion to the engrossing Syphon Filter PSP experience so click 'Track It!' to be alerted of such updates.