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Soldier of Fortune 2
The Vault · 2002

Soldier of Fortune 2

The most visceral shooter ever made, and it's got the guts to prove it.
PublisherActivision
ReleasedMay 21, 2002
Players1 Player, Multiplayer
Soldier of FortunePCShooter
GoreDismembermentPositional AudioPunkbusterMission GeneratorMultiplayer

Soldier of Fortune 2 is a first-person shooter developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. Released in 2002 for Windows, it is the sequel to the 2000 game Soldier of Fortune. The game gained notoriety for its detailed dismemberment system, which allows realistic, location-based damage to enemy characters, heads can explode, limbs can be severed, and blood spurts dynamically from wounds. The single-player campaign casts the player as John Mullins, a mercenary investigating a bio-terrorist plot involving a deadly virus. The story spans multiple international locations, from Colombian jungles to Hong Kong streets, and features a variety of weapons, including assault rifles, grenades, and the experimental OICW smart rifle. The multiplayer component includes classic modes like deathmatch and capture the flag, as well as a Counter-Strike-inspired mode called Infiltration. Soldier of Fortune 2 also introduced the GHOUL 2 damage model, which further refined the series' signature gore. While praised for its intense action and outstanding positional audio, the game received criticism for its broken stealth mechanics, long load times, and occasionally clunky AI. Despite these issues, it was considered a solid shooter with substantial single-player content and a robust, cheat-free online experience thanks to the Punkbuster anti-cheat system. Today, it remains a cult classic among fans of unapologetically brutal shooters.

Screenshots7 shots
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In the News3 mentions
Feb 221999
Kenn Hoekstra Iinterview
Kenn Hoekstra Iiinterview adds another piece to the February 1999 gaming business rush, from chats and contests to deals and studio moves.
Release
Jan 81999
Kenn Hoekstra interview continues
ActionXtreme Insiders has put part 2 of this 2 part series interview with Kenn Hoekstra of Raven Software.
Release
Jan 71999
Kenn Hoekstra talks Unreal Tournament and more
ActionXtreme Insiders has posted a new interview tied to Kenn Hoekstra, and there is enough meat here for anyone tracking the PC scene in January 1999.
Release
How to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Original CD-ROM, requires a Pentium III or Athlon 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM, DirectX 8.1-compatible 3D accelerator with 32 MB VRAM. A Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is recommended for the best positional audio experience.
Modern Re-release
Available on GOG.com and Steam for $9.99, fully patched and compatible with modern Windows. The GOG version includes the original soundtrack.
Game Record
PlatformPC
ReleasedMay 21, 2002
DeveloperRaven Software
PublisherActivision
GenreShooter
Players1 Player, Multiplayer
SeriesSoldier of Fortune
Original PC Specs
OSWindows 98/ME/2000/XP
CPUPentium III 1 GHz or Athlon equivalent
RAM256 MB
GPU / DisplayDirectX 8.1-compatible 3D accelerator with 32 MB VRAM
Storage2 GB free
Drive4x CD-ROM