History VideoGame / SoldierOfFortune

* HaveANiceDeath - If you jeopardize the mission or accidentally hit one of your allies, they yell "execute him" and you die instantly (they don't even actually shoot you).

* MadeOfIron - Whereas the first two ''Soldier of Fortune'' games featured semi-realistic enemies that could only survive a couple assault rifle bullets (with the exception of the first game's armor-plated final boss), ''Payback'' features several boss fights against enemy mercs who can take a few clips of assault rifle fire before dying. Most of these bosses aren't even wearing body armor.

** EliteMooks - The Order soldiers in the first game who appeared in the last few levels and were equipped with body armor and automatic slugthrowers. The second game has elite Prometheus soldiers wearing a blue suit of full body armor (making them look exactly like [[VideoGame/RainbowSix Team Rainbow]] operatives), which allowed them to withstand multiple assault rifle shots (in a game where 1 or 2 shots is usually sufficient to kill) and even allowed them to survival a few headshots from lower-caliber firearms.
** GasMaskMooks - Various enemies in the first game, although somewhat justified in that they work in a WMD plant. The Prometheus soldiers in the second game also wear gas masks.
*** {{NINJA}}: Japan in the first game (see RuleOfCool again).
* TheMole - In ''Soldier of Fortune 2'', Taylor is suspected to be one. Turns out it's [[spoiler:Assistant Director Wilson, who established Prometheus with Nachrade as means to get rich by blackmailing the world governments to pay them for Romulus' antidote.]]
* MurderSimulators - Oddly averted, considering its nature. While the games have gotten a bit of notoriety, they'll haven't been able to muster the same level of controversy as other violent games.
* NeutronBomb - [[spoiler:Jessica Six. Dekker plans to destroy the UN and therefore The Shop by firing it on New York.]]
* NGOSuperpower - Arguably, The Order and Prometheus. The Shop, not so much.
* NintendoHard - ''Soldier of Fortune 2''. Full stop. Especially on the hardest difficulty.

* ReedRichardsIsUseless: In the first game, Mullins confronts Saddam Hussein face-to-face but is unable to simply shoot him because this was back in the 1990s when the real life Saddam was the guy considred to be in charge of Iraq, for better or worse. May also be considered a FunnyAneurysmMoment.

** Villainous example: the nameless scientists working in the Prometheus complex in Kamchatka will pick up fallen weapons and attack Mullins with them, proving they're terrorists just like the armed grunts. {{Reluctant Mad Scientist}}s, they are not. The scientists will sometimes attack the terrorists.

** Villainous example: the nameless scientists working on the Prometheus complex in Kamchatka will pick up fallen weapons and attack Mullins with them, proving they're terrorists just like the armed grunts. {{Reluctant Mad Scientist}}s, they are not.

** In the beta, when going to the windows at the beginning of the last mission, allied Marines could be seen fighting Prometheus soldiers outside the Shop HQ building. They are not present in the retail version, probably because of being out-of-place there.

** The OICW is an experimental futuristic assault rifle with a computerized scope that allows you to zoom in at long range, see in nightvision, and even highlights enemies with red targeting boxes. It also comes with a semi-automatic grenade cannon with a laser-targeting system and computer-assisted range-finder that can be used to set grenades to airburst at whatever range you like. It's also [[SomeDexterityRequired incredibly clunky, with an awkward menu-driven interface that requires]] ''[[SomeDexterityRequired five separate buttons]]'' [[SomeDexterityRequired to use. The grenade launcher is impossible to fire without using this system]]. In an interview Mullins discussed the door stop of a manual that comes with the thing, and summed it up as a lot of useless bells and whistles the developers would love the government to spend millions on.

** The security guard standing outside Sam Gladstone's room in the Hospital mission of the 2nd game. GenreSavvy players will think "[[{{Redshirt}} he's toast!]]", but he is actually quite capable of defending himself against the attacking mooks despite only being armed with a regular 1911 handgun. He may still die, but it's not unlikely that he'll survive either.

* FauxActionGirl - The female Prometheus soldiers in [=SOF2=] are noticeably weaker and poorer equipped than their male counterparts, the game code makes it obvious this was a very deliberate choice. Also, the female boss in ''Payback'' is probably the easiest to kill of all the game's bosses.
** And Deviant 1, who isn't much of a threat, despite being part of a DualBoss battle, the other opponent in which is the Interrogator, ThatOneBoss.
** Alas, poor Taylor.

* ArtificialStupidity: Even if [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard the NPCs are complete cheaters]], it doesn't compensate for this. They are all-too-happy to LeeroyJenkins in a conga line around the corner to be slaughtered by volleys of fire from your shotgun, willing to run from cover to play GrenadeHotPotato with any grenade you threw (so cooking them off works wonders), and worst of all, if you're leaning, they'll fire ''at the thin air below the exposed part of your body'', allowing you to shoot them down with impunity[[note]]in a curious case of cheat backfire, it's even worse for them in Consultant difficulty or up, as there's no firing spread so there's no chance of their cone of fire growing to the point where it includes Mullins' body[[/note]].

A series of {{First Person Shooter}}s from Creator/{{Activision}}, most of which were developed by Creator/RavenSoftware. What happens when you take VideoGameCrueltyPotential and LudicrousGibs to their [[RefugeInAudacity extreme]]. The main selling point of the series is the extremely detailed damage system that simulates many areas of bodily damage (and gruesome deaths to go along with it). You are given many tools to play with said damage system, from Shotguns for full limb chopping action to Pistols and other such weapons for those precision groin shots, along with extras like Flamethrowers and Microwave guns (pretty much as insane as it sounds). The game apparently had the real-life mercenary John Mullins (who also starred in the game) make sure the game was as realistic as possible. The storyline and weapons like the microwave gun puts the extent of his guidance under serious dispute, but [[RuleOfFun nobody cared]]. It also stood out for being a surprisingly decent FPS even without the gore system, as well as having some interesting ideas like the possibility to customise your difficulty setting ("stock" options were provided that scaled up, but you could also have stuff like very limited inventory space but easy enemies, or vice versa, along with other options like the save system).

** The Raptor SMG in the original. It has a magazine size of 40, can easily dispatch enemies both in short and long range, very reliable for headshots, and is perhaps the easiest weapon to find ammo for. The boring part is that it's also the "cleanest" gun in the game - you can't explode heads or amputate limbs with it.
** In the sequel, the AK-74. It's the most no-nonsense of the three available assault rifles, with no attachments at all if you don't pick one with a useless bayonet at the mission start, but it takes up the least real estate on the screen, lacks the M4's ridiculous muzzle climb, and is cnsiderably accurate when fired in short bursts of 3 rounds or less. It's also already available from the second mission.

* BoringButPractical: The Raptor SMG in the original. It has a magazine size of 40, can easily dispatch enemies both in short and long range, very reliable for headshots, and is perhaps the easiest weapon to find ammo for. The boring part is that it's also the "cleanest" gun in the game - you can't explode heads or amputate limbs with it.

** Villainous example: the nameless scientists working on the Prometheus complex in Kamchatka will pick up fallen weapons and attack Mullins with them, proving they're terrorists just like the armed grunts. {{Reluctant Mad Scintist}}s, they are not.

** The whole contingent of Soviet Biopreparat soldiers in the Prague levels have [=M3A1=] Grease Guns as primary weapons and Colt 1911A1's as sidearms. Why they have that loadout instead of Kalashnikovs of any variety and Makarov pistols as secondaries, [[TheyJustDidntCare the game never ever touches up on]].

** The OICW is an experimental futuristic assault rifle with a computerized scope that allows you to zoom in at long range, see in nightvision, and even highlights enemies with red targeting boxes. It also comes with a semi-automatic grenade cannon with a laser-targeting system and computer-assisted range-finder that can be used to set grenades to airburst at whatever range you like. It's also incredibly clunky, with an awkward menu-driven interface that requires ''5 separate buttons'' to use. The grenade launcher is impossible to fire without using this system. In an interview Mullins discussed the door stop of a manual that comes with the thing, and summed it up as a lot of useless bells and whistles the developers would love the government to spend millions on.

** The security guard standing outside Sam Gladstone's room in the Hospital mission of the 2nd game. GenreSavvy players will think ''"[[{{Redshirt}} he's toast!]]"'', but he is actually quite capable of defending himself against the attacking mooks despite only being armed with a regular 1911 handgun. He may still die, but it's not unlikely that he'll survive either.

* BlackoutBasement: ''Double Helix'' has two or three levels in the Kamchatka mission after John knocks out the generator, and the final mission [[spoiler:in [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs the invaded Shop HQ at Lockhart]]]].

* BlondGuysAreEvil: Alexei Nachrade.

''Soldier of Fortune: Payback'' (2007), unlike the previous two games, it has nothing to with John Mullins' story, and was developed not by Raven Software but by budget-price developer Cauldron. The results are pretty much [[{{Sequelitis}} what you'd expect]].

** Also, in the second game, Vergara and the Colombian rebels does this to the village of Pureza, attacking it with the Romulus virus. [[NightmareFuel The results]] [[BodyHorror are not pretty]].

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Ridiculously overdone in ''Soldier of Fortune 2''.

* AdjustableCensorship
* AKA47: In the first game. Subsequent entries use real-life gun names.

* AdrenalineMakeover: Inverted with Taylor, who has a butch haircut and is seen wearing a SpyCatsuit in the ending of the first game, while having a softer ponytail and wearing standard office clothes in the sequel.

* BaldOfEvil: Wilhelm "Sabre" [[spoiler:Dekker]]. Also, the Interrogator. Both count as [[WalkingShirtlessScene Walking Shirtless Scenes]].

* BoringButPractical: Raptor SMG in the original. It has a magazine size of 40, can easily dispatch enemies both in short and long range, very reliable for headshots, and is perhaps the easiest weapon to find ammo for. The boring part is that it's also the "cleanest" gun in the game - you can't explode heads or amputate limbs with it.

* ConcussionFrags: In ''Double Helix''. Unless you're throwing an M84 flashbang, expect your grenade to work like a concussion model, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation grenade's description be damned]].

** The whole contingent of Soviet Biopreparat soldiers in the Prague levels have M3A1 Grease Guns as primary weapons and Colt 1911A1's as sidearms. Why they have that loadout instead of Kalashnikovs of any variety and Makarov pistols as secondaries, [[TheyJustDidntCare the game never ever touches up on]].

* AwesomeButImpractical: The OICW in the 2nd game is an experimental futuristic assault rifle with a computerized scope that allows you to zoom in at long range, see in nightvision, and even highlights enemies with red targeting boxes. It also comes with a semi-automatic grenade cannon with a laser-targeting system and computer-assisted range-finder that can be used to set grenades to airburst at whatever range you like. It's also incredibly clunky, with an awkward menu-driven interface that requires ''5 separate buttons'' to use. The grenade launcher is impossible to fire without using this system. In an interview Mullins discussed the door stop of a manual that comes with the thing, and summed it up as a lot of useless bells and whistles the developers would love the government to spend millions on.

** The security guard standing outside Sam Gladstone's room in the Hospital mission of the 2nd game. Genre savvy players will think ''"[[{{Redshirt}} he's toast!]]"'', but he is actually quite capable of defending himself against the attacking mooks despite only being armed with a regular handgun. He may still die, but it's not unlikely that he'll survive either.
** The civilians in Hong Kong will sometimes randomly picked up a dropped weapon and open fire on the gangsters attacking you. They're not exactly great combatants, but do get a honorable mention for effort.

* HaveANiceDeath - If you jeopardize the mission or accidentally hit one of your allies, they yell "execute him" and you die instantly(they don't even actually shoot you).

* SightedGunsAreLowTech: Inverted. The only sighted weapon that isn't the SniperRifle is the ridiculously hi-tech [[CoolGuns/AssaultRifles OICW]]; the rest are all hip-fired and aimed via a targeting reticle.

* PornStache: Yeah...

* RedShirt: Most allies that don't directly accompany you fill this role, usually having scripted deaths. The police in the Subway mission, The KLA soldiers in the Kosovo mission etc.
* RuleOfCool: In the first game, in case the LudicrousGibs and weapons like the MPG weren't a clue, the part where you fight your way through a ''nuclear base under a slaughterhouse'' is the point you realize the game doesn't actually aim for realism.
** Also the more outlandish weapons in the first game, and, at one point, busting into one of Saddam Hussein's fortresses and having in your sniper sight, unfortunately you can't shoot him.

* SemperFi - Played straight in ''Soldier of Fortune 2''. Hawk is an ex-Marine himself.

* ShoutOut - During the Helicopter Extraction level in part 2, for a little "mood music", the pilot puts on "Ride Of The Valkyries", an ode to ''Film/ApocalypseNow''. The box gets destroyed by gunfire shortly after.

* SociopathicHero - Mason in ''Payback'' definitely comes across as one of these. Notably, while both Mullins and Mason shoot an unarmed prisoner in the face, Mullins does it to TheDragon after he mocks the deaths of Mullins' friends (which he has just recently caused), whereas Mason does it to some random Arab accountant for calling him names.
** Well Mason WAS going to let him live, until the accountant stupidly bragged that if he was in Mason's position, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill him, then Mason probably realized that letting him live wouldn't be a very smart idea.

* StockScream - The second game uses a number of stock screams for Mullins' death sounds.
* SunglassesAtNight: Again, Nachrade.

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Played straight. The most hilarious variant is that if you shoot a civilian in 2, Mullins is apparently so overcome with guilt he ''spontaneously dies''.