About H&D 2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hidden & Dangerous 2



Hidden & Dangerous 2 (commonly abbreviated HD2) is a third-person shooter video game in stealth-based mode, with a touch of tactical elements, developed by Illusion Softworks (which became 2K Czech) a subsidiary of 2K Games and published by Gathering of Developers and Take-Two Interactive (Take 2 in North America and Europe), with lead design by Radek Havlicek, officially announced on Tuesday, April 24, 2001.[2][3] It is the second installment and the direct sequel to 2K Czech's predecessor Hidden & Dangerous. Hidden & Dangerous 2 was released on October 21, 2003 for Windows PCs.[1]

Development for Hidden and Dangerous 2 was announced on April 24, 2001, two years after the release of Hidden and Dangerous.[4]Contents [hide]
1 Gameplay
1.1 Campaign mode
1.2 Multiplayer
2 Development
2.1 Audio
3 Weapons and vehicles
3.1 Weapons
3.2 Vehicles
4 Expansion
5 Reception
6 References
7 External links

Gameplay

Hidden and Dangerous II, like its predecessor, focuses on the British Special Air Service during the Second World War. Hidden and Dangerous 2 follows the same concept as the original tactical first/third person shooter.

Players begin each mission by selecting their teams using a roster with the personal attributes of each soldier available. A soldier's profile contains a variety of information including their skills in shooting, stealth, first aid, and Lock-picking. Players are able to choose from a roster of 30 soldiers to form squads of up to four men. Soldiers that die in missions are unavailable for the rest of the game. Soldiers achieve improvements in certain skills used during missions over the course of the campaigns as well as medals for individual accomplishments.[5]

Once the team is selected, the player receives a detailed briefing regarding the enemies strength, reported patrol routes, objectives and recommended routes of approach. While on the mission, the player can access the map/recon photo used during the briefing.[6]

After each briefing, players are able to select a wide array of gear for their squads. Uniforms, equipment and weapons can be handpicked and parceled in great detail in order to exploit the strengths of each squad member and to meet the needs of the player and the mission. Preset selections can be chosen based on load-outs tailored to the specific mission or squad position; i.e. machine gunner or sniper. Players have access to each soldiers inventory throughout missions and can transfer items from one squad member to the next. Items can also be transferred between killed or capture enemies as well as uncontrollable allied soldiers.[7]

Upon completion of the load-out the player is deployed. Players can rotate between the members of the squad in both third and first person views for direct control or can be implemented through a series of key command orders. For planned and coordinated maneuvers, a tactical map which can be ordered in real time is featured. The elaborate chain of commands can be overwhelming to those expecting to play the game in typical FPS 'shoot and scoot' fashion.

Hidden Dangerous II features realistic damage models. Hits to the head without helmet are usual fatal. Health regeneration can be implemented through use of first aid kits selected from inventory (which is limited to the character's skill in first aid). Usually a squad with an assigned medic can give first aid to regenerate health the most effectively. Medical kits can be usage meter. Stamina is also calculated based on time spent running and jumping.[8]

Vehicles can be driven ranging from motorbikes to tanks. Vehicular combat is also featured with one mission involving defending a hi-jacked bomber from incoming fighters.

A stealth feature includes the use of enemy uniforms. The player must capture an enemy in order to make use of the uniform. A regenerative stealth system utilizes a meter that monitors the amount of time the player has before his cover is blown. No allied equipment can be carried while using the disguise. Weaponry is also included to assist in areas with emphasis on covert movement.[9]

Mission types include, espionage, sabotage, search and destroy, town liberation, prisoner rescue, retrieval of enemy officers and documents, partisan assistance and assassination. Locales include Norway, Libya, a Norwegian fjord, Burma, Austria, France and Czechoslovakia. The expansion pack Sabre Squadron adds missions in France, Libya and Sicily. Some of the missions are modelled off of real SAS exploits. However most of the game takes liberty with the historical time and place of SAS operations.[10] The missions are based on sandbox style game-play where players are free to roam a map and pursue objectives at their leisure and choice of sequence. Missions are only moderately scripted so replaying a mission can be completed in a variety of ways.
Campaign mode

The campaign mode in Hidden & Dangerous 2 allows for a single player only, playing as lone wolf or as a 4-men team squad, operating around the globe. There are over twenty levels with missions in seven campaigns, set in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where the players visit many historical areas.
Multiplayer

Hidden & Dangerous 2 has a multiplayer mode that can be played via internet or local area network (up to 32 players).

Developer(s) Illusion Softworks
Publisher(s) Gathering of Developers
Take-Two Interactive, Global Star Software
Distributor(s) GameStop (online)
Gamestation (online)
Director(s) Petr Vochozka
Producer(s) Lukás Kure
Designer(s) Lead Designer
Radek Havlicek
Programmer(s) Lead Programmer
Marek Rabas
Artist(s) Lead Artist
Martin Benes
Composer(s) Michal Szlavik
Martin Benes
Engine LS3D engine
Version 1.12.0
Platform(s) Windows
Release date(s) October 21, 2003[1]
Genre(s) First-person shooter, Tactical shooter, Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Singleplayer, Multiplayer, cooperative modes
Rating(s) ESRB: Mature (17+)
PEGI: 16+
USK: 16
Media/distribution CD (3), DVD (1)
System requirements

See Development section for requirements matrix