*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
____________________________________
Harry Kim's Summary / Guide For:
"Secret Service - In Harm's Way"
____________________________________
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Introduction
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I bought the "Secret Service - In Harm's Way" game a while ago
(some time in 2002). I've been playing it on and off since. I
am the kind of gamer who likes to explore a game down to its every
single bit (literally). And I enjoyed every bit this game offered.
It deserved to be called one of the best First Person Shooter (FPS)
game. I wrote this summary / guide to honor this game, before it
disappears from PC games history.
Thanks to Jeff H. for writing such detailed walkthrough for this game.
Information here acts as supplemental to his guide. For more complete
information about the game, please visit his guide at
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/26872.html.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
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One Of The Best FPS
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This game is one of the best FPS ever made (at least for its release year)
and cost very little ($19.99 when it came out). Here're some of the
reasons.
1. Realistic tactical strategies. A fair challenge between you and the
computer opponents. It takes effort to neutralize them, but it's never
impossibily hard (like some FPS's). On the other hand, you're just as
fragile as they are.
2. Realistic urban environments - streets, multi-levels buildings,
underground tunnels, restrooms, vehicles, civilians, etc., all very
common-sense to walk through.
3. Authentic weapon effects - bullet holes effects for different materials,
objects/walls penetration, explosion, flying debris, shell casings, gun
loading, broken glass, sound effects, character damage (shows bullet
holes on body), lights can be shot off, breaker objects, etc., all
very beautifully done!
4. Almost all possible character controls you ever need for a FPS game.
Body movements: forward / backward, turn left / right, strafe left /
right, crouch (need to hold key), jump, lean left /
right (can shot at same time), look (and point
weapon) up / down / left / right.
Weapone control: weapon selection, fire weapon, alternative fire modes
(e.g. automatic/semi-automatic, drop or roll generade,
set timings on time bomb, and so on), scope zoom
in/out, reload, pickup weapon from floor, drop weapon
to floor, primary weapon can be aimed with either
cross-hair or realistic gun sight, some weapons have
working flash-light attached, weapon inventory
display and management dialog box, hoister weapons.
Auxillary controls: Protectee/teamate/civilian "verbal" commands, 3rd
person / 1st person toggle, night vision, binocular
view, map toggle, objective toggle, use object,
Head Up Display (HUD) elements toggle, push/move
object/person, etc.
All controlls are straight forward to learn and "common-sense" to use
in game.
5. Good story-line (detailed text, pictures, and maps debriefings) to
follow through the missions. Plus details in weapons and tactics when
arming the agent(s) for the mission.
6. Smooth game-play and good graphics (for its price and at its year of
release).
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
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Short-commings
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There're of course disadvantages of this game. Here they are.
1. Low popularity. This is obviously not a very well-known game in the
market (even in its release year).
2. Some bugs experienced in game. For example, characters can pass
through barriers that's not suppose to be passable. Another exampe,
the "realistic" physics mode of character damage/effects is not always
accurate, you can have a dead enemy standing arms open in the middle of
a room. One more example, Protectees/Teamate can be stucked sometimes
in places like the stair or behind a door. Also, you must NOT use the
CD to load the game (will cause error) -- must use the shortcut icon
on your desktop.
3. If you don't explore the game levels in details (like I did), this is a
fairly short game to go through. However, this game has very high
replayable value (at least for me). I never explore the Multi-player
mode of the game, and I think you have to host it yourself in a LAN
environment (since it says in the manual that "Internet Play is not
supported on all systems").
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
-------------------------
Tips For Better Enjoyment
-------------------------
Here are some tips to enjoy more in this game.
1. Turn all graphics/effects settings to max if you have the hardware to do
so. I compared stunning differences between my old PIII machine and my
P4 (with ATI 9000 series card). This game looks fairly decent even in
comparison to newer games.
2. In Game Play settings, make sure to use "physics" mode for character
damage. In the Parental Lock settings, check both boxes for character
damage and use "black" for damage color. That way you can see enemies
and your own character fall according to physics and have black spot(s)
on body where bullet(s) hit.
3. "giveall()" is the best cheat ever. Since the game only give you
limited choices of weapons for each mission (e.g. RPG is only available
once in all missions), the cheat will give you the chance to use any
weapon you want in any mission! To use "giveall()" follow these steps:
- First go into a game mission.
- Then hit "~" key to bring up the console.
- Then type "giveall()" in prompt and hit enter, it will take a while
to invoke.
- Now close the console by hitting "~" key again.
- To select a different weapon than the one you're holding, simply drop
it, the next weapon in line will appear.
- Each "giveall()" will give you one of each type of primary weapons,
side arms, and explosives. Each type of weapon includes 1000 counts
of ammunitions. Once you drop a weapon you can not retrieve it again
until you drop everything else. But you can always type "giveall()"
again to have the entire (massive) asenals again.
4. The game provides easy, normal, and hard difficulties. I wouldn't
suggest easy, it's wasting the game. I tried hard before on the first
few missions, it was really a little too hard (the enemies are way too
accurate in shootings). So I would recommand normal difficulty, which
is difficult enough. In case you don't know, you can set different Game
Profiles, in which you can set different Careers. To have different
difficulties in each mission in one Career, you must Branch Career.
I think this hierachical Profile and Career aspect of the game is a
little over complicated (but nothing wrong with it).
5. How do you zoom in and out a sniper scope? This is not answered by the
game's manual. It was a mystry for me in a while, until I found it out
by accident. Here's how you do it:
- Select a weapon that use a scope.
- Press the "Ready Weapon" key (Mouse 2nd Button by default) and hold
it for half a second, you will see the scope zooming in.
- To control the level of zoom in, you need to control how long you
hold the button.
- To zoom out, you simply need to undo scope and redo scope again.
- Some of the sniper rifles give very high level of zoom and very
accurate.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
6. Just like any other tactical shooter games, this game follow the same
kind of winning tactical principles. That is:
- Stay low, take cover, try to eliminate enemies before they have
a chance to pose harm on you.
- If face to face fire fight is inevitable, try to overwhelm enemies
with devistating fire power.
On top of that, this game gives two more:
- Protect the protectee in all cost. If you can leave him in a safe
location, do so.
- Avoid collateral damage to civilians as much as possible. They are
not your targets!
7. There are dozens of ways to complete one mission in this game. This is
part of the fun. You can choose the best and most comfortable route to
complete a mission. You can walk through the game environment in
different ways, kill the bad guys in different ways, protect the
protectee in different ways, and take your time in your own pace to
finish the game. The two basic approach for winning a mission are:
- Just stick to the Objectives and avoid conflicts as much as possible.
- Eliminate all terrorists (sometimes this IS the Objective).
Of course the second approach takes most time and risks, but it is the
best way to explore the game fully.
8. More weapons and tactics:
- Bullets can pass through soft walls and objects, use that for your
benefit. If you know a terrorist is behind a wall, shoot through
to harm him. Be cautious though, because the same applies to you.
- Use Nightvision and Binocular whenever possible to increase your
sights.
- Use explosives when possible. Grenade a room full of bad guys saves
a lot of work in shootings. Good thing bad guys and teamates in this
game don't know how to use explosives, save yourself from devestating
attacks and accidents (unless cause by yourself).
- Use attached flash light for illuminating dark areas and for blinding
bad guys (it does reduce their shooting accuracy).
- RPG has a large blast radius, watch out for civilians and yourself!
- Shotguns and side arms are not effective in long range, use rifles for
that purpose.
- Rolling a grenade reduce bounce and easier to place where you want it
to be. But this is only good for some situations. Throwing is still
the best way. Time you throw to make the blast more effecitve.
- Smoke grenade does reduce the visibility of the enemies and your own
at the same time.
- Flash grenade in this game unfortunately is more effective on yourself
than the bad guys.
- Motion sensing explosive (only with "giveall()" ) is the best for
situations where enemies are following behind you.
- The best guns to use in this games (my opinion) are: Barretta 9mm
for sidearm; Silenced MP5 for submachine gun; and M-16 (M4) for
automatic rifle.
- Remember the higher the rate of fire, the lower the accuracy. Use
realistic gun sight for more accurate aiming.
- When arming the agent(s), right click on the weapon to get more
information. And make sure you pick the correct type of extra
ammunitions.
- There is no knife, fist, or kicks in this game. So when there's no
more ammo, drop the weapon and go pick up another one from dead bodies
(sometimes a bug can prevent you from doing so). If there's no more
weapons to pick up, game over! Because there's no way to defense
yourself, unless you cheat :-).
9. Teamwork. Some of the missions in this game allows you to have one or
more teamates control directly by you. The contols is the same as
controlling the protectee, except for a few additional commands. You
can address your teamates by "All Team", "Agent #", and simply "You",
then follow by detailed commands. I find the teamates are too dumb and
venerable to be useful. Not only that, don't ever shoot your teamate
(not even by accident), because when injuried to certain level he will
come after you to kill you and won't stop until either you or him is
dead. It's better to work along!
10. Protection. In a few missions you have to protect a person as the
primary objective. The person is either with you in the beginning
or you have to find him/her. The best way to protect a protectee is
to bring him/her quickly ("You, Follow Me") to a secluded area where
no enemies are around. Restrooms sometimes are the best place, since
in this game the toilets are surronded by bullet-proof steel plates!
Always have the person crouch near a dark corner before leaving
him/her behind ("You, Go There"; "You, Get Down"; "You, Wait Here").
Go finish off all bad guys or come back to get the person when a
path to safety is clear.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
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Levels Walk Through
-------------------
Mission Walk Through in Jeff H.'s guide for this game is very detailed.
The information here only supplies additional details to it. I don't
suggest a fix route in completing a mission since there are more than
one way to do it. Just use common-sense and your imagination to find
the best way. I personally love to explore all corners of a mission map
and take out all bad guys.
1. Acceptable Risk
Total Bad Guys = 29
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 3
Primary Win Condition = Get the protectee across the street to a
conference room with only one entrance.
Things to be aware of:
This is the most difficult mission of all. I almost gave up playing the
game entirely because of the difficulty of this mission (I am glad I
didn't). You have to be on alert all the time and react immediate to
enemies, becasue they are coming from all directions to hunt you (and
the protectee) down viciously! Must clean up the first squadron of
enemies, before you have a chance to breath and relocate the protectee.
Watch out for bad guys on the roof tops.
Interesting sights and facts:
If you have a chance to get to the roof tops (3 buildings here can do
that), it's quite an exciting sight looking down. The burning car can
hurt you, don't get too close.
2. Reinforcements
Total Bad Guys = 31
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 3
Primary Win Condition = Get to the safe house and meet with a teamate.
Things to be aware of:
Enemies in here are just as vicious as the first mission. You will need
to endure intense fire fights from one street to the other. Watch out
for civilians, they are everywhere. You practical can NOT use any
explosives in here, because it can easily take out 3 or more civilians
in the proximity. Watch out for guards inside buidings and shooting
out! There is one civilian dressed just like a guard, don't shoot him.
Interesting sights and facts:
This is the only mission that give you RPG, but it has no use due its
large collateral damage. There are two paths to get the last part of
the mission (the last court yard), all depends on which way you take
on a critical roof top (left or right). One way is longer, the other
is shorter (skips few guards). The sliding doors in one building can
kill you if you stand in the way, watch out!
3. Element of Surprise
Total Bad Guys = 23
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 3
Primary Win Condition = Grab the protectee from the complex and exit
with him through right entrance.
Things to be aware of:
There's one lone guard staged "far" from the complex. He's in a
bridge like arhitecture on side of the street approaching the right
entrance of the complex. He can sometimes shoot you from above. Take
him out early on by walking up the wooden scaffolding in one of streets
and sniper him out in a distance. The right entrance is heavily
guarded, whereas the left entrance is not as so. The protectee is
actually closer to the left entrance. Take your pick, but remember you
have to exit through the right entrance to win (or simply kill all
enemies). Personally I like storming the right entrance with 3 other
teamates. This is one of the few missions that allows you to have
multiple teamates. There're multiple civilians that looks like
guards, don't shoot them.
Interesting sights and facts:
** 3 secret locations that are easily missed **
- Sniping position 1 to complex. Where the lone guard mentioned above
staged (walkup the scaffolding and walk on the roof top all the way
to there). there's a ladder walking up to the tower top, over
looking a large part of the right side of the complex. But doing
so will alert the guards in the complex.
- Sniping position 2 and alternate entrance to complex. There's a
door you can enter right before the straight walk way to right
entrance. Enter the building and walk to the top, you have limited
view from the square balcony onto the complex. There's a ladder on
the right side of the balcony, walk up there, and to the right is the
narrow entrance to the long balcony on the left side of the complex,
on the left you can jump on top of several buildings and sniping down
the right side of the complex.
- There is also a secret tunnel which is useless to the mission. If you
walk through the bridge like structure where the lone guard is staged
into an empty room, walk down the stair to an enclosed court yard
where a couple of civilians walking around, there is an underground
entrance to the right. Down the entrance, through the dark tunnels
will bring you back to the inside of a building passed earlier on in
the streets. However there's no way to exit the building
"gracefully", beside jumping from its roof top back on the wodden
scaffolding. I don't know why this is here since it has nothing
to do with the mission, but as a multiplayer map, this would be
interresting!
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
4. Safe Passage
Total Bad Guys = 23
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = N/A
Primary Win Condition = Bring the protectee to the plane and eliminate
terrorists in the plane.
Things to be aware of:
All the people around the protectee are guards or agents, if you
accidentally shoot them, they will kill you! First thing to do in this
mission is to tell the protectee to get down. Then take care of
terrorists in the surroundings. Watch out for the terrorist that
sometimes steps out and starts shooting from the top of staircase to
the plane.
Interesting sights and facts:
This is one mission that doesn't make any realistic sense. After the
intense shooting stopped in the outside, there're only two terrorists
left in the opposite building. However, in the plane both passenger
floor and the cargo area combined, there are over 10 more terrorists.
How in the world did they get in there!
5. Ars Gratia Artis
Total Bad Guys = 37
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 2
Primary Win Condition = Bring the protectee to either one the two
escape locations (both have a limo park outside)
Things to be aware of:
It's a big complex, easy to get loss. Terrorists look just like
civilians, and there are some figures that looks exactly like
protectees from previous missions, very confusing. Watch where
you're shooting, there are innocent people everywhere in this
building.
Interesting sights and facts:
Like I said before, restroom is the best place to hide the protectee.
6. Chemical Fingerprints
Total Bad Guys = 14
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = No Limit
Primary Win Condition = Get to the commander's trailer and arrest him.
Things to be aware of:
Two tower guards, they can sniper you out easily. Don't shoot the
enemy commander, you will end up losing the mission.
Interesting sights and facts:
You can finish the mission without exploring much. If you do explore,
you will find many interesting areas with more enemies and civilians.
Such as the glass bottom office that will stir some intense gun fight.
Don't forget the complicated underground passages and facilities.
You can sniper out the tower guards with ease hiding inside a building
through windows.
7. Cause and Effect
Total Bad Guys = 28
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = N/A
Primary Win Condition = Kill all bad guys, you have to do it this time.
Things to be aware of:
The the second most difficult mission in this game. You have to
explore the entire complicate factory facilities to hunt and kill all
enemies. Watch out for the guards in the two tall towers. Best weapon
for this level is a sniper rifle, lots of long distance targets. But
you do have to execute some intense close quarter combat as well.
Some places are totally empty, some places hide unbelievable amount
of enemies. Use explosives, use night vision when ever needed.
Interesting sights and facts:
In one of buildings in this factory, there's an elevator that goes up
and down 3 floors. That's the only time you have to use the "Use"
key (for pressing the elevator buttons) in the entire game.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
8. Stronghold
Total Bad Guys = 31
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 1
Primary Win Condition = Get the lady out from her quarter and bring
her to the mansion's exit.
Things to be aware of:
No civilian casaulty allowed, one wrong shot will end the game. The
mansion is complicated at first look, it really is not. It consists
of two separate buidings connected by court yards and underground
tunnels, that's it. Watch out for the 4 tower guards, they will
sometimes walk out their post and chase you down. The guards in here
are not as vicious as previous missions, but still deadly.
Interesting sights and facts:
Lots of area to explore, some empty, some needs intense gun fight to
pass through. There is a underground wine cella. If you shoot the wine
barrels, red wine will come out! Don't forget to find the other
hot girl.
9. Loading Zone
Total Bad Guys = 16
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = No Limit
Primary Win Condition = Have the bomb inspector check all three required
areas (In order to do that you basically have
to kill all enemies.)
Things to be aware of:
3 tower guards, watch out! Other than that, it's piece of cake. One
of the area to be checked is underground.
Interesting sights and facts:
Exploding barrels. Swinging hoisting blocks on cranes, if shot at,
cool effects!
10. Premature Discharge
Total Bad Guys = 17
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = No Limit
Primary Win Condition = Kill all enemies.
Things to be aware of:
This is not a very difficult level. On the outside use the cars and
trucks as cover. Take out as many bad guys as you can standing around.
There are only two bad guys in the tunnel take them out too. Enter
the building and take out few more guys. Task done. You can enter
the buiding through one the two side doors to get more cover if
you want.
Interesting sights and facts:
Not much. Except where are the cops?! They left their cop car here,
but they are not around and having me doing all the hard work.
11. Underground
Total Bad Guys = 22
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 2
Primary Win Condition = Bring the bomb squad to the bomb suit case in
the lowest level of the train station.
Things to be aware of:
Expect intense shoot out (with 5 or 6 guys) on top of the escalator.
Expect another intense shoot out (with another 5 or 6 guys) in a
square area besides the track. If you kill the lady terrorist near
the bomb before she gets to it, there's no worry about time. If she
gets to it first, the time will be set, and you have to let the
bomb squad disarm it as soon as possible. Keep an eye on the bomb
squad, he will sometimes stuck in the escalator, very frustrating!
Interesting sights and facts:
The train station areas are all inter-connected, as you explore more
into it. There are doors and rooms behind the escalators, in which
some contains terrorists. Here's a shortcut. There is an open
skyline in second shoot-out area mentioned above, looking down to the
lowest level (where the bomb is located). Shoot from above to kill
any terrorist in sight. Then jump down the skyline and land on a
plant (take some health out). Take out all the terrorists in that
area. Of course, the squad officer can't do that, you have to have
him wait. The bomb won't explode, the game simply ends when the
time's up.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
12. States Evidence
Total Bad Guys = 17
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = No Limit
Primary Win Condition = Get the lady to a safe place (multiple
locations inside or outside the complex).
Things to be aware of:
Very intense gun fights from beginning to end! There are enemies
coming from the front (swimming pool area). There are enemies going
into the building from the back alley. There're enemies going in
from the side. There're enemies already inside and trying to sniper
you out. You have to keep your focus - get to the lady first in all
cost.
Interesting sights and facts:
Beautiful scenics, if you have time to enjoy. Outside has the safe
house (not the only one), swimming pool, and a "barn" in the back.
Inside has basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor, and an attic.
13. Busted
Total Bad Guys = 29
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = No Limit
Primary Win Condition = Find the boss and kill him.
Things to be aware of:
The front door is heavily guarded. There are terrorists disguised
as casino workers, beware! There are plenty of area to explore, but
it's not as complicated as you think. To get to the boss, you have
to go through layers of guards. He's hiding behind a book shelf.
He will kill you with a shotgun, if you don't act first.
Interesting sights and facts:
It's a casino. There are slot machines, gambling tables, and a dance
floor! Plenty of sound effects and music, I find them annoying rather.
The "front desk" has multiple glass plates, fire a bullet at one end
and watch it penetrate all glass layers, cool!
14. Finance Reform
Total Bad Guys = 39
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 3
Primary Win Condition = Get the protectee to one of the two escape SUVs
Things to be aware of:
Confusing interior and exterior building layout at first try. This
mission has the most terrorists counts, and they are everywhere in the
building. Good thing they won't hunt you and the protectee down
actively unless provoted. Shortest way is to shoot you way through
the kitchen, then find your way to either one of the SUVs (one closer
and one slightly further). Watch out for snipers and hidden
terrorists. There are quite a few glass roofs in this building, it's
not surprising they can be used as an advantage for terrorists staging
outside (I haven't prove this yet, but strongly believe so.) Thick
fog outside, you can't see too far, but be surprised that enemies can!
Interesting sights and facts:
Tons of places to explore, if you dare to. Noted flying flies near
outside lights and sizzling kitchen stove tops, neat! There are
doors that look like windows, don't be fooled.
15. The Capitol
Total Bad Guys = 23
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = N/A
Primary Win Condition = Kill all terrorists
Things to be aware of:
Vicious enemies yet again. They are very accurate, too. Watch your
back! Think twice before you walk across that metal "bridge". Leave
your protectee in a safe place, otherwise he has no chance in here.
Pack enough ammo for this job, and bring explsives, too. Watch out
for the poison gas.
Interesting sights and facts:
The water effects (sound and visual) are cool. You can hear an enemy
fall into water after being killed. This is best mission to use the
motion sensing bomb (cheat), save a lot of shooting if you place
them in smart locations.
16. The White House
Total Bad Guys = 1
Cilivian Casaulty Limit = 1
Primary Win Condition = Kill the assassin before he can do harm to
the president!
Things to be aware of:
Only one weapon by default. Doesn't take much to get the job done,
but watch your bullets because no civilian casaulty allowed.
Interesting sights and facts:
It's the White House! Though not sure if it is accurately modelled
in here, it will worth to be explored. Grad the president to a safe
room, and take your time walking around.
*** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ***
----------
Conclusion
----------
This is a very enjoyable game -- Well designed and challenging. For such
a low price, you can forgive its short comings. Hope this guide can give
you more fun to explore the game which you never thought you could.
************** Copyright to Harry Kim 2005 ******************
* *
* This document should not be displayed and distributed *
* publicly without the consent of its rightful owner. *
* All rights reserved. *
* *
* "Secret Service: In Harm's Way" is trademark of *
* Activision Value. All rights reserved. *
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