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SWAT 4 pc Game Reviews
SWAT 4
Critic Score
Metascore: 85 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.3 out of 10
based on 49 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 55 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Show No Mercy In Defense of Life. Los Angeles: 2006. Gangs rule the city and crime's at an all-time high. As an elite SWAT officer, you must protect the lives of the innocent throughout 16 intense missions. There's no room for mistakes. Or mercy. What's it gonna be rookie? [Sierra]

PUBLISHER: Vivendi Universal / Sierra
DEVELOPER: Irrational Games
GENRE(S): Tactical Shooter
PLAYERS: 24
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Computer Gaming World
Simply put, SWAT 4 is just about the best tactical shooter available. Its outstandingly realistic and gripping play delivers everything a tac-sim fan craves. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are more perps in need of cuffing.
Read Full Review
100
VideoGamesLife
SWAT 4 is no "System Shock 2" – it’s not going to break any boundaries. However, in a world where professional finish and attention to detail is increasingly rare, its focus on filling a job role rather than filling terrorists with holes is refreshing and admirable, and is definitely worthy of investigation from anyone capable of exercising the restraint required to fully appreciate what this game is about.
Read Full Review
95
Gamers' Temple
A thoroughly enjoyable game and it also feels sort of good to be able to succeed in a first person shooter without having to kill every person that you come across.
Read Full Review
91
Gamer's Hell
It is a very difficult game that ramps up exponentially as you progress, but every completed mission leaves you with a satisfied feeling, a sense of accomplishment, like you've made a difference.
Read Full Review
91
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
This is a game that rewards care and attention by making you part of a brutally efficient machine. Other games give you a crusade, but SWAT 4 gives you the job itself - only without the hazard pay or sudden bullets to the face. [PC Gamer UK]
Read Full Review
90
GamingTrend
The gripping levels, native difficulty, realistic (and sometimes disturbing) situations, and all around fun gameplay combine into a fantastic game.
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90
Yahoo! Games
By building gameplay around non-lethal weapons, they've honored not only the police they're modeling, but the power of guns.
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90
GameSpy
There's something compelling about the room-to-room nature of the single-player missions that rarely gets old, even after you've failed a particular mission a dozen times.
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90
IGN
They've managed to make non-lethal tactics both important and fun with great sound bytes, exciting tactics, and a good selection of weapons.
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90
Cheat Code Central
Provides a great balance of gameplay features with an easy-to-use interface and realistic situations. I wouldn't be surprised if this game was being used in training sessions for special forces recruits.
90
GameSpot AU
Those looking for an excellent mix of first person action and squad-based tactics will find SWAT 4's extremely realistic and involving gameplay hard to beat.
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90
GameShark
The graphics are top notch, the sounds and vocals are excellent. Mission planning, weapon details, multiplayer scenarios, everything is just rock solid.
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90
Worth Playing
I will say, though, that the vibrant, stylish graphics and unique gameplay will have me choosing a night of SWAT 4 over "Counter-Strike: Source."
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90
Computer Games Magazine
Levels are superbly crafted for maximum tension. [July 2005, p.50]
90
Jolt Online Gaming UK
SWAT 4 doesn’t have the entire package. While a fantastic, engrossing and entertaining game, there’s a constant, nagging feeling that something’s missing.
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90
Thunderbolt
Besides these quibbles, the game is nearly perfect, and ultimately, it's just a hell of a lot of fun to play. It’s addictive and incredibly challenging.
Read Full Review
90
AtomicGamer
Irrational Games' SWAT 4 delivers an interesting first person shooter experience that rewards superior tactics and patience above all else.
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89
Pelit (Finland)
An excellent game, but should have been far more ambitious. Now it is like update for SWAT 3. How about at least a decent wounding modelling? [Apr. 05]
89
2404.org
SWAT 4 is light years beyond the previous games in the series. Irrational Games seems to have a knack for taking Sierra franchises and making them better (see Tribes: Vengeance).
Read Full Review
88
BonusStage
The realistic and methodical pace to the gameplay will likely put off twitch gamers craving the next Unreal Tournament, but anyone who enjoys a good, tension-packed tactical shooter will get their money’s worth and more in this game.
Read Full Review
88
GameZone
This game is not for trigger happy individuals because the goal is to try to keep everyone, yes that means the enemies, alive.
Read Full Review
88
PC Format
Top-drawer felon-neutralising action that will have you hooked for ages. [June 2005, p.99]
88
Gaming Nexus
Weak graphics and stability issues aside, SWAT 4 is one of the most comprehensive tactical shooters on the market. The intuitive cursor-based command system works well and the attention paid to detail leads to an exciting, edge of your seat type experience that really has to be experienced to be believed.
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87
Computer Games Online RO
For fans of the realistic tactical shooter genre, SWAT 4 is a definite must have, marking the rebirth of a series out of its own ashes. It was a 5 year wait, but trust me, it was worth every second of it.
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87
ActionTrip
The gameplay is smooth and the environments are cleverly designed, so with the addition of a solid AI, it creates a realistic and a very authentic feel. While this game may not be remembered as a trendsetter, it gives you quite an enjoyable experience.
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86
Computer and Video Games
All it needs now is a more advanced engine to power a sequel, a more involving sense of training and life in a pair of SWAT shoes... That, and a willingness to continue dealing with the dark underbelly of real world criminality without pulling any punches.
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85
GameBiz
With the Quick Mission Maker, competitive multiplayer and Co-Op, there is good replayability and you will be getting plenty of flashbang for your buck.
Read Full Review
85
Next Level Gaming
The only thing that gets on my nerves is not being able to always use deadly force. It is not only risky to stop and give the suspects a chance to shot first, but also its just more fun to shot first and ask questions later.
Read Full Review
85
GameSpot
The newest iteration of the series is the best one yet, offering an intelligent and flexible interface, a varied and highly replayable campaign, as well as multiplayer modes that include cooperative play.
Read Full Review
85
Game Chronicles
The gameplay is slower and more intense than Tom Clancy’s roster and no less authentic or compelling in its presentation.
Read Full Review
84
Game Over Online
No one has tackled this subject quite like Sierra has and Irrational has done a stellar job in preserving the look and feel of the predecessor while adding modern amenities.
Read Full Review
83
Game Informer
A little more polish and variety could have made it a landmark, but this release is far from disappointing. [May 2005, p.122]
82
Gaming Illustrated
The game is geared for realism and suspense - so ADD kids won't enjoy it while intelligent gamers looking for a level of realism will be heartedly entertained.
Read Full Review
80
Gamers Depot
A wickedly cool game. It offers us the best of standard FPS games with new parameters making the game more challenging than just gunning down goons.
Read Full Review
80
Pelaaja (Finland)
A genuine, tactical police action shooter, in which a loose trigger finger only causes problems. [May 2005, p 82]
80
Adrenaline Vault
Its graphics, excellent sound, intense gameplay, and strong multiplayer, coupled with its random character placement make it a title definitely worth checking out.
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80
Four Fat Chicks
Tactical enough that your play style will be drastically different from a normal shooter, but it's not so ridiculously tactical that they forgot to include a game with the game. In many ways, SWAT 4 strikes the perfect balance between action, tactics, and challenge
Read Full Review
80
G4 TV
One word of warning--if you’re only interesting in running around and shooting bad guys stay far, far away from this game. It’s impossible to run through this game like Rambo. You will die.
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80
Play Magazine
This is accessible crime-fighting pulp with a dark, contemporary edge. [May 2005, p.64]
80
1UP
If Irrational is able to speed up the player speed just a tad so that run speed and player movement is faster, if server admins are able to control the abuse of non- lethal equipment, and if server admins are given remote server control, then SWAT 4 would be just as spectacular for Multiplayer.
Read Full Review
80
GamePro
The single player career mode is surprisingly short, and after a few missions starts to feel repetitive. Though it won't blow many minds, SWAT 4 is a pick-up-and-play tactical shooter with a solid pedigree.
Read Full Review
80
3DAvenue
What Irrational have done with the previous game really has worked well and made the game more usable for people new to the series while keeping the hardcore fans happy with the elite difficulty.
Read Full Review
80
Eurogamer
Despite the Good Cop trappings, this really is one of the most macho games I've recently played; all guns, tactics and difficulty.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
Compelling, engrossing and thrilling.
Read Full Review
79
PC Gamer
It has a realistic edge and a hardcore, immersive feel. [June 2005, p.66]
75
PALGN
A good tactical shooter held back by a number of minor and easily resolvable errors.
Read Full Review
70
Sydney Morning Herald
The best in the series to date, this brain-over-brawn tactical shooter successfully delivers all the action of a first-person shooter at just half the pace.
Read Full Review
70
Edge Magazine
The extreme volatility of every moment carries a reward that overshadows the annoyances. [June 2005, p.85]
70
games(TM)
A true 'thinking man’s shooter', then, and one that can be enjoyed by all those capable of engaging their brain before pulling the trigger. [June 2005, p.109]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James Mc gave it a10:
Time to throw out all my Rainbow 6 games... If you were frustrated by the slow pace, boring missions, and stupid AI of the R6 games, SWAT 4 is the cure.

Missdaze R. gave it a10:
This is the best online shooting game ever built.I am a lady yet I found this game very interesting and fun.

Zee Zee gave it a5:
almost identical to the "rainbow six" series, very enjoyable but at times extremely frustrating as well. I'm only speaking for the single-player and I haven't finished it yet, but I wish there was more variety in the level design and weapon/gadget choices.

Sam F. gave it a10:
A Realistic Squad based FPS That makes it possible to realize what being in Swat is like. Unlike most shooters , you don't shoot everything but try and subdue and take into custody.

Matt N. gave it a9:
I loved this game despite a few glitches getting it up and running which have now been ironed out. The graphics are great and this is underlined by the particularly detailed and realistic environments (no random piles of boxes just to fill in space or block doorways). The fact that every time you play through bad guys appear in different locations throughout the level, and that you're free to complete the mission using any approach or tactics you want just adds to the realism. I would have liked a save feature so you don't have to replay the whole level (or am I being dense and have simply missed it?). And a greater variety of weapons wouldn't have gone a miss either. Your team mates A.I is reasonable but you never think of them as anything other than expendable. If you're looking for a very challenging game with loads of atmosphere and pressure this is the game for you.

Luis V. gave it an8:
Very nice.

Manuel H. gave it a7:
This game is nice but the handling, which is crucial for a tactical shooter, is worse than that of its predecessors. Some missions are too hard, the difficulty level is not the very consistent in the late game. I also disliked the diffculty settings because you don't only have to get a higher percentage but the enemies are also harder to master, which makes the higher levels impossible. The AI of the team members is bad. Often they stand in your way and several times they get shoot down by the enemy one after the other. Then the game is more like a first person shooter where the player has to do all the killing himself.

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