Police Quest: SWAT 2

Police Quest: SWAT 2

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	Police Quest: SWAT
Founded	1998 (1998)
Founder	Susan Frischer (lead designer)
Successor	SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Susan Frischer (lead designer), Jason Hayes (composer), Chance Thomas (composer)
Products	Police Quest: SWAT 2
Owner	Sierra On-Line
Parent	Sierra On-Line

Police Quest: SWAT 2 (displayed as SWAT₂) is a 1998 real-time tactics video game created by Yosemite Entertainment and released by Sierra FX, both divisions of Sierra On-Line, exclusively for the Microsoft Windows platform. It represents the sixth entry in the Police Quest franchise and serves as the second title within the SWAT subset. The storyline centers on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Metropolitan Division SWAT unit responding to a domestic terrorist militia threatening Los Angeles.

Presented through an isometric viewpoint, SWAT 2 tasks players with commanding units as they maneuver through various scenarios. The game includes two campaigns, offering perspectives from both law enforcement and terrorist factions.

Critically, it garnered moderate acclaim, generally surpassing the reception of its predecessor, Police Quest: SWAT. This title was followed by the 1999 release of SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle.

Gameplay

In Police Quest: SWAT 2, players engage in real-time tactical operations from an isometric angle. Commanders oversee pre-assigned squads, directing their movements and targeting foes to fulfill mission goals. Units can be organized into color-coded "elements" to facilitate efficient squad control. Each operative possesses proficiencies in "marksmanship," encompassing weapon types such as handguns, automatic rifles, shotguns, and sniper rifles, alongside "cross-training" abilities that differ by faction but generally relate to equipment handling. SWAT members also have a "certification" attribute reflecting specialized roles—such as element leader, sniper, bomb technician, EMT, or K9 handler—each conferring unique capabilities like snipers revealing areas within their line of sight. Equipment carried by units includes breaching tools, gas masks, grenades, explosives, and protective body armor.

The title features dual campaigns representing LAPD SWAT and the Five Eyes terrorist organization. While both sides have distinct arsenals and gear, these are largely symmetrical. SWAT benefits from four support options: negotiation tactics, aerial reconnaissance for enemy detection, vehicle-assisted entry methods, and sniper assistance; conversely, Five Eyes possess two support abilities—negotiations and access to a getaway vehicle. Key gameplay contrasts include SWAT deploying pre-existing personnel whereas Five Eyes recruits during missions; SWAT receiving mission briefings mid-operation while Five Eyes obtains theirs beforehand; SWAT adhering to rules of engagement prioritizing arrests; Five Eyes engaging in unrestricted attacks on police and hostages; and differing mission objectives where SWAT reacts to incidents and Five Eyes initiates them.

Plot

Set in 1999, the LAPD under Chief John De Souza mobilizes its SWAT team led by Commander Sergeant Griff Markossian alongside negotiator Sergeant Mike Alvarez to confront rising violent crime rates across Los Angeles. Their assignments encompass complex situations such as robberies, sieges, riots, and assassination plots.

The unit regularly faces off against Five Eyes, a cult-like left-wing terrorist militia commanded by the mysterious "Bashō" and his second-in-command "Dante." SWAT endeavors to disrupt Five Eyes’ operations and recruitment efforts while the militia retaliates through officer killings and spreading their manifesto. After safeguarding the Mayor of Los Angeles from an assassination attempt, SWAT thwarts a fatal attack on Parker Center, during which Sergeant Markossian is killed.

Subsequently, Five Eyes orchestrate Bashō’s liberation from prisoner transport, sparking an internal conflict between Bashō and Dante. This dispute leads to a three-way firefight at their base in Topanga Canyon. Bashō’s escape bid via LAX is foiled when Dante’s faction assassinates him and flees by airplane. Following this, Dante takes command, dissolves Five Eyes, and retreats to a tropical island beyond U.S. extradition reach.

Development

Police Quest: SWAT 2 was influenced by actual incidents such as the 1997 North Hollywood shootout and a riot similar to the 1992 Los Angeles disturbances following the Rodney King case.

The project was overseen by lead designer Susan Frischer. The musical score was created by Jason Hayes and Chance Thomas, with the main theme "Just Another Day in L.A." performed by Randall "Randy" Porter, composed by Thomas, and penned by Frischer.

During early development stages, the game was internally referred to as Police Quest 6 (PQ6), although this designation was never used in any official packaging or menus.

Release

Police Quest: SWAT 2 launched in North America on July 11, 1998. Subsequently, it became available again through GOG.com within various bundles, including the SWAT Career Pack (which contains all six Police Quest titles), the Police Quest: SWAT Force collection (featuring the first two SWAT games), the Police Quest: SWAT Generation set (comprising SWAT and SWAT 3), and the combined Police Quest: SWAT 1 & 2 package.

Reception

Overall, Police Quest: SWAT 2 garnered moderate reviews, generally receiving more favorable feedback than its forerunners according to GameRankings. Critics pointed out issues such as a complex user interface, extensive micromanagement requirements, flawed artificial intelligence, and a gameplay exploit that let players circumvent budgeting constraints by selling unused avatars' sidearms—this loophole weakened the intended financial management aspect.

Sales

Following the success of its predecessor, Police Quest: SWAT 2 also achieved strong commercial performance, with sales surpassing 400,000 units by late 1999.