Hidden & Dangerous

Hidden & Dangerous is a 1999 tactical shooter video game developed by Illusion Softworks and published by Take-Two Interactive and TalonSoft for Windows, Dreamcast and PlayStation. The PlayStation port of the game was developed by Tarantula Studios. It is regarded as a pioneering tactical shooter. A sequel, Hidden & Dangerous 2, was released in 2003.

Hidden & Dangerous
European Windows cover art
Developer(s)Illusion Softworks
Tarantula Studios (PlayStation)
Publisher(s)TalonSoft
Take-Two Interactive (PlayStation)
Designer(s)Michal Bačík
Radek Bouzek
Programmer(s)Michal Bačík
Composer(s)Jim Rose
Platform(s)Windows, Dreamcast, PlayStation
ReleaseWindows
Dreamcast
  • NA: 1 August 2000[3]
  • EU: 8 September 2000
PlayStation
  • EU: 23 November 2001
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

The player controls a four-man British Special Air Service (SAS) team executing a number of important missions during World War II. The game features soldier selection prior to each mission. A comprehensive load-out sequence is also available where players have access to a variety of weapons and equipment. Mission briefings outline objectives, intelligence on enemy strengths and recommended plans of advance. During missions, players can command directly by toggling through the soldiers in their squad, voice commands or a tactical map which allows for real time control or planned maneuvers once the map is exited.

Missions include sabotage, search and destroy, POW rescue, and resistance aid. The game features 6 campaigns taking place in Italy, Yugoslavia, Germany, Norway, the North Sea and Czechoslovakia. 3 additional campaigns were added with the add-on released later. Despite certain historical liberties taken with actual SAS missions and time-lines, the game retains a degree of historical accuracy and intense atmosphere, including realistic wounding as squad members can be heavily wounded or killed by even brief enemy contact.

The game supports play in either the third or first-person perspectives, with the player able to actively switch between the two while in-game.

Reception

The PC and Dreamcast versions received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][5] Garrett Kenyon of NextGen said of the latter version, "While the minor bugs and graphic shortcomings keep this game from being a classic, TalonSoft has done an excellent job presenting a solid game with enough missions, options, and surprises to keep you coming back for more."[20]

Edge gave the PC version nine out of ten, saying, "Certain aspects of the control system are clunky, and there are occasional graphical anomalies, but Hidden and Dangerous [sic] is such a sweeping success that it dwarfs any criticism. It's challenging, deep, acutely atmospheric and an intense adventure. PC gaming triumphs."[24] However, Stephen Redwood of AllGame gave the same PC version three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that it was "best described as boxed potential, but consumers don't pay for potential. They pay for results."[25] Kevin "BIFF" Giacobbi of GameZone similarly gave the Gold Edition seven out of ten, saying that it "has potential - but until more patches are released and the multi-player online issue is solved, the best I would give it is just above average."[26]

The PC version was a commercial success, with 350,000 units sold globally by May 2000.[27] Sales had surpassed 1 million copies by 2007.[28] It was particularly popular in the UK.[29] According to PC Gamer US, most of the game's success derived from European markets. A writer for the magazine reported: "The game wasn't so fortunate in the States, where it received warm reviews but endured poor sales — partly because of intense competition from Rainbow Six, a lack of multiplayer options, and relatively little marketing exposure."[30]

Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom
Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom
Developer(s)Illusion Softworks
Publisher(s)TalonSoft
Designer(s)Tomáš Pluhařík
Programmer(s)Michal Bačík
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

An expansion was released in 1999, titled Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom in Europe and Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge in the US in 2000. This added new soldiers, weapons and missions in new locations including Poland, the Ardennes and postwar Greece.

Reception

Fight for Freedom received mixed to unfavorable reviews from critics, more unfavorable than the original game.

Hidden & Dangerous Deluxe

A fully updated version of the game, Hidden & Dangerous Deluxe, was released for free as a commercial promotion for the sequel Hidden & Dangerous 2.[40] It is still available as freeware.

See also

References
  1. "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 10 February 2001. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. "Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. Subsidiary TalonSoft to Ship "Hidden & Dangerous"". Business Wire. Gale Group. 26 July 1999. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
  3. Justice, Brandon (31 July 2000). "Hidden and Dangerous Deployed". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  4. "Hidden & Dangerous for Dreamcast Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  5. "Hidden & Dangerous for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. Steinberg, Scott (24 August 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous (DC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 18 October 2000. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  7. Chick, Tom (10 August 1999). "Hidden & Dangerous (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  8. Smith, Peter (19 August 1999). "Hidden & Dangerous". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 16 August 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  9. Liberatore, Raphael (November 1999). "Hidden Agenda (Hidden & Dangerous Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 184. Ziff Davis. pp. 162–64. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  10. Mielke, James "Milkman" (November 2000). "Hidden and Dangerous [sic]" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 136. Ziff Davis. p. 248. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  11. "Hidden & Dangerous (DC)". Game Informer. No. 90. FuncoLand. October 2000.
  12. "REVIEW for Hidden & Dangerous (PC)". GameFan. Shinno Media. 20 September 1999.
  13. Cheat Monkey (23 August 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  14. Olafson, Peter (1999). "Hidden & Dangerous Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 11 February 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  15. Davis, Ryan (30 August 2000). "Hidden and Dangerous Review (DC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  16. Kasavin, Greg (16 August 1999). "Hidden & Dangerous Review (PC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  17. Mad Carl (15 August 2000). "Hidden and Dangerous". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  18. Dunham, Jeremy (15 August 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  19. Blevins, Tal (11 August 1999). "Hidden & Dangerous (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  20. Kenyon, Garrett (November 2000). "Hidden and Dangerous [sic] (DC)". NextGen. No. 71. Imagine Media. p. 118. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  21. Shoults, Jeff (December 1999). "Hidden and Dangererous [sic]". PC Accelerator. No. 16. Imagine Media. p. 95. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  22. Gillen, Kieron (July 1999). "Hidden And Dangerous [sic]". PC Gamer UK. No. 71. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 March 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  23. Williamson, Colin (November 1999). "Hidden & Dangerous". PC Gamer. Vol. 6, no. 11. Imagine Media. p. 180. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  24. Edge staff (July 1999). "Hidden and Dangerous [sic] (PC)" (PDF). Edge. No. 73. Future Publishing. pp. 80–81. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  25. Redwood, Stephen. "Hidden & Dangerous (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  26. Giacobbi, Kevin "BIFF" (3 June 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous Gold Edition (PC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  27. Olafson, Peter (May 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge". PC Accelerator. No. 21. Imagine Media. p. 74. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  28. Kim, Tom (14 November 2007). "The Strange History Of Gamecock's Mike Wilson". Gamasutra. Informa. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008.
  29. Allan, Darren (July 2001). "Gaming Goes Global (England: Hating Nazis for Fun and Profit)". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 7. Imagine Media. p. 46. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  30. PC Gamer staff (February 2001). "World War 2.0 Cover Story: Hidden and Dangerous 2". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 2. Imagine Media. pp. 37–38.
  31. "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 10 February 2001. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  32. Fudge, James (31 January 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge Hits Retail". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 24 May 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  33. Melville, Bryan. "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  34. Chick, Tom (29 February 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 15 August 2000. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  35. Perkins, Dave (28 February 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 May 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  36. Liberatore, Raphael (May 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 190. Ziff Davis. p. 116. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  37. Dy, Bernard (4 April 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 14 February 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  38. Butts, Steve (25 February 2000). "Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  39. Gillen, Kieron (January 2000). "Hidden And Dangerous [sic]: Fight For Freedom". PC Gamer UK. No. 78. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 25 May 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  40. "Free Full Game: Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe". GamersHell. 9 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
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