Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron

 PC
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. PC Gamer
    78
    One of the best values you'll ever find in a $10 add-on. [Feb 2005, p.72]
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  2. Computer and Video Games
    77
    Sabre Squadron's main claim to fame is its new multiplayer options, which allow you and some friends to play any of the nine new levels co-operatively. With the team AI problems eradicated, these levels become far more calculated and precise affairs (so long as your team-mates work together of course).
  3. IC-Games
    76
    The real reason to get the wallet out and evict those moths is the co-op, still the best part of the H&D series and perhaps the best squad-based multiplayer title out there.
  5. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    76
    Unsurprisingly, it’s a hit and miss affair. That’s just the internet for you.
  6. Warcry
    75
    The patient gamer will likely look past the indiscretions I have previously discussed and find a mostly enjoyable, tactical, shooter expansion pack in Sabre Squadron.
  7. GameSpot
    73
    A good expansion to the original game. It's true that the new missions feel like ones you've already played before, and it's also true that major micromanagement and AI problems--again--rear their ugly heads.
  8. PC Format
    72
    A well-timed cue to buy the original game, but not worth buying by itself. [Dec 2004, p.101]
  9. Eurogamer
    70
    It is impossible to shy away from the realisation that H&D as a franchise needs a bit of a pep up in several areas and is gradually being left behind in a genre it once dominated.
  10. Gamers Europe
    70
    If you loved H&D 2 but are wondering if there’s any point buying this – the co-op feature makes this well worth the purchase and will see you take up your addiction once again.
  11. IGN
    70
    Overall, the game needs some more technical polish and more extensive AI.
  12. Armchair Empire
    63
    The game's graphics are now dated as compared to the latest technical offerings from the likes of "Half- Life 2."
  13. Boomtown
    60
    So Sabre Squadron is preaching to the converted, playing on the strengths of its predecessor but without trying too hard to smooth its rough edges, edges that are starting to look a little rusty now.
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  14. Computer Games Magazine
    60
    Unfortunately, you need human players to get away from the awful AI. [March 2005, p.88]
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  15. Gaming Age
    25
    The game does have a multiplayer mode, but no one on the Internet is playing it. When you refresh the server list, you get nothing.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 4 out of 16
  1. Heisenberg93
    Sep 30, 2020
    7
    For a long time, since the early years I played H&D2, I wanted to get my hands on Sabre Squadron expansion, but back then it was difficult toFor a long time, since the early years I played H&D2, I wanted to get my hands on Sabre Squadron expansion, but back then it was difficult to retrieve a boxed version. With Internet spreading and the digital publication of "Courage under Fire", I finally had the opportunity to play it.

    Sabre Squadron introduced 9 new single player missions, among 4 new scenarios (or operations). In general I have appreciated almost all of them, the best operations are certainly "Houndsmith" and "Heat", although the first mission in the latter is incredibly annoying and hard due to the inexplicable high number of enemy troops and playing "Hard" difficulty makes that mission a real hell because of save slots limited to 3 and all disadvantages resulting from this difficulty. In general, the expansion offers a large number of opponents and hard difficulty, even the "Husky" operation is not a joke, but I had more fun there. Operation "Ammobox", with its single "Deadfish" mission, is the first of the package and maybe the most lukewarm, but it pushes to play stealth and can prove challenging too, on the first try. I expected a more balanced gameplay, to be honest, but I can't say I had not fun for the most part.

    The expansion also adds 5 new weapons: the Panzerschreck rocket launcher, the MAS-36 bolt action rifle, a silenced Luger pistol, a Mk VI flare gun and, finally, the Gewehr 43 autoloader rifle. The G43 was the weapon I most wanted to use in the game, one of the most famous of its kind in World War II... unfortunately I was not satisfied: the sound of reloading is inexplicably recycled from the Sten gun's, it does not match the animation properly, it's not possible to reload it by detaching the 10-rounds magazine before it is empty and in third person view the magazine itself magically disappears from the weapon's model. It's rather strange it has not received the same attention to detail as the other new weapons. Despite this the G43 is still the best of them because power and rate of fire, alongside the silenced Luger for stealth gameplay.

    For the rest, the gameplay and graphics are basically identical to H&D2 base game.

    Well, I must say I expected a bit of something more from Sabre Squadron. The missions are nice, but not always balanced, I definitely don't recommend playing this expansion on a difficulty level higher than "Normal". You will appreciate Sabre Squadron way more, preventing it from becoming something you hate.    … Full Review »
  2. BARSPAM
    Oct 1, 2004
    10
    I gave it a 10, because it's still the best WW2 game out there by a mile.
  3. MikeG.
    Sep 29, 2004
    9
    The squad mate AI is still a bit wonky and the co-op multiplay doesn't let you go back to the original H&D 2 maps, but it's still The squad mate AI is still a bit wonky and the co-op multiplay doesn't let you go back to the original H&D 2 maps, but it's still the best WWII shooter out there. Makes Call of Duty look like the pathetic scripted rail shooter that it is.… Full Review »
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