Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix

Developers
	Raven Software
Publishers
	Activision
OS X	MacPlay
Engines
	id Tech 3
Release dates
Windows	May 20, 2002
macOS (OS X)	September 9, 2002
Reception
Metacritic	80
IGDB	68
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	First-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	Shooter, Stealth
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Asia, Contemporary, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America
Series	Soldier of Fortune

Soldier of Fortune
Soldier of Fortune	2000
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix	2002
Soldier of Fortune: Payback	2007

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix is a singleplayer and multiplayer first-person shooter and stealth game in the Soldier of Fortune series.

General information

Soldier of Fortune 2 Multiplayer Community - patches, mods and forum.

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Simple disc check. Original and Gold releases.
GOG.com		Gold Edition

Free demo versions are available from GameFront: singleplayer, multiplayer.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patches are available for both Windows and OS X.

Sui's Fix

Installing Sui's Fix

Download latest Sui's Fix and extract it. Move extracted files (winmm.dll and folders base and scripts) to <path-to-game>. Edit the file <path-to-game>\scripts\SoF2-Fixes.ini to configure the fix. Notes The fix requires the Gold Edition (1.03). Fix works only for singleplayer. Modified function responsible for obtaining resolution to allow for resolution override. Implemented FOV override on library load (FOV scales as hor+) Implemented HUD cropping fix by AntonioR. Added option to override the window style with borderless mode.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	<path-to-game>\base\
macOS (OS X)

sof2sp.cfg contains singleplayer settings.

mp\sof2mp.cfg contains multiplayer settings.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	<path-to-game>\base\save
macOS (OS X)

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy

Video

Basic video settings.

Advanced video settings.

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution			Use Sui's Fix or see Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor			See the WSGF entry.
Ultra-widescreen			See the WSGF entry.
4K Ultra HD			Use Sui's Fix or see Widescreen resolution.
Field of view (FOV)		Default FOV is 80°. See Sui's Fix or Field of view (FOV).
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Slider, maximum is 16x.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		FSAA, up to 4 samples.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
120+ FPS		Capped at 91 FPS. See High frame rate.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Widescreen resolution

Running the game in widescreen resolution in single player[citation needed]

Start the game. Open the console (⇧ Shift+~). Type in: r_customwidth X, where X is width of your desired resolution (for example, for 1680x1050 resolution, replace X with 1680). Now, type in: r_customheight Y, where Y is height of your desired resolution (for example, for 1680x1050 resolution, replace Y with 1050). Type in: r_mode -1 to make the game use custom resolutions. Type in vid_restart to restart the renderer and apply new resolution settings. Notes See the WSGF entry to fix the HUD in widescreen. This method doesn't work for multiplayer.

Setting the single player configuration file for widescreen[citation needed]

Run the game at least once and set the graphic options to your preference. Edit the file <path-to-game>\base\sof2sp.cfg. Set r_customwidth X, where X is width of the desired resolution. Set r_customheight Y, where Y is height of the desired resolution. Set r_mode -1 to make the game use custom resolutions. Notes See the WSGF entry to fix the HUD in widescreen. This method does not work for multiplayer. Image will be Vert- and FOV will need to be adjusted to compensate.

Running the game in widescreen resolution in multiplayer[citation needed]
Download Soldier of fortune 2 Multiplayer Widescreen Patch. Extract the file to <path-to-game>. Run the patch and choose the desired resolution. Notes In the game parameters, select 640x480 as the default resolution, otherwise the patch will not work. This method does not work for singleplayer.

Field of view (FOV)

Changing FOV using hex editor

Go to the installation folder. Open cgamex86.dll with a hex editor such as HxD. Go to the address AEB00 (game version 1.00) or AEA54 (game version 1.03 / Gold Update). By default, is set to 38 30, which is 80. Change it to the desired value (39 30 (90) for 16:10 monitors and 39 35 (95) for 16:9). Save the file and run the game. To check FOV while in game, type in cg_fov (without the attribute behind it). Notes Be sure to backup cgamex86.dll before editing. cg_fov may also need to be changed in sof2sp.cfg for this solution to work.

Changing FOV using console in singleplayer[citation needed]
Start the game. Load a saved game or start a new game. Open the console (⇧ Shift+~). Type in: setrandom sv_cheats 1 to enable cheats. Now type in: cg_fov X where X is a value of horizontal FOV between (default is 80, maximum is 160). Notes Every time a cutscene is being played, your FOV is going to switch back to 80. See the above hex edit for a permanent solution.

Changing FOV using console in Multiplayer[citation needed]
Changing FOV in multiplayer is easier, because command cg_fov X is not cheat-protected. Start SOF2 Multiplayer. Join a server (or host it) Open the console (⇧ Shift+~). Type in: cg_fov X, where X is a value of horizontal FOV between 80 (min) and 100 (max).

High frame rate

Custom FPS cap[citation needed]
Start the game. Open the console (⇧ Shift+~). Type in com_maxfps followed by the desired FPS cap (e.g. com_maxfps 120). Notes Exceeding 60 FPS will cause the character to get stuck in some places.

Head bob

Disable head bob
Open the configuration file. Change the value of seta cg_bobup, seta cg_bobpitch and seta cg_bobroll to "0". Save the file. (save with read-only attribute, to prevent change from reverting itself)

Oversized Crosshair

Reduce the Oversized Crosshair
Open the configuration file. Change the default value of seta cg_crosshairSize "24", to a lower, desired, one. Save the file. Add the Read-Only attribute to prevent change from reverting itself.

FPS OSD is missing

Restore the missing FPS OSD (on-screen display) when using custom resolutions
Open the configuration file. Add new line with: seta r_customPixelAspect "1" Save the file. Add the Read-Only attribute (to prevent change from reverting itself. Notes r_customPixelAspect "1" this cvar is used to toggle the use of custom screen resolution/sizes (0: off, 1: on)

Input

Input settings.

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration		See Mouse acceleration.
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion		Open the console and enter /m_pitch -0.022.
Controller
Controller support

Controller types

Additional information
Haptic feedback		Mouse Force Feedback.

Mouse acceleration

Both mouse acceleration and mouse filtering are disabled by default. There is an option to enable mouse filtering under "Misc Settings". Mouse acceleration can be activated using console command cl_mouseAccel 1.

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound		Up to 7.0 with EAX enabled.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support		EAX 3
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Spanish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		64
Online play		64	The official GameSpy service shut down in 2014; custom master server available here.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated		Dedicated servers can be made in-game or with Linux dedicated server.
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Issues fixed

Game can't be uninstalled (Error: "Could not open INSTALL.LOG file")

This happens when there is a space in the game's install path.

Copy folder to C drive and run UNWISE.EXE
Go to <path-to-game>. Copy Uninstall directly to the C: drive. Go into the copied folder and run UNWISE.EXE. After uninstalling, remove the folder from C: drive.

Brightness slider not working/Brightness too dark

Edit sof2sp.cfg
Go to <path-to-game>\base\. Open sof2sp.cfg. Search for seta r_overBrightBits "1" and set to seta r_overBrightBits "0".

Game refuses to boot but the process is visible in the taskbar

Rename executable
Go to <path-to-game>. Rename SoF.exe to mohaa.exe.

Use Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit
Download and install Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit. Run the program (C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Application Compatibility Toolkit\Compatibility Administrator (32-bit). Find the entry for Soldier of Fortune, right-click on Sof.exe to open the context menu and click on "Disable".

Shadow glitch

Lower shadow quality
Running the game with the projection shadows on causes this glitch to happen. Go to the options menu. Select scalability settings. Change shadow quality setting to "blob".

FPS drops on modern systems

Change Light Flares setting[citation needed]
Go to the options menu. Select Video Options. Just below the Gamma slider, change the Light Flares setting to Simple or Off.

Graphics settings are lost each time when starting multiplayer

Edit sof2mp.cfg[citation needed]
Go to <path-to-game>\base\MP\. Open sof2mp.cfg. Add these lines: seta cg_shadows 3 seta cg_shellejection 1 seta cg_goredetail 2 Notes Solution to fix texture filter and FX quality reset remains to be found.

Impossible to download custom maps / mods

Run Sof2MP.exe as administrator[citation needed]

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
OpenGL	1.2

Executable	PPC	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	DirectSound, OpenAL
Cutscenes	Bink Video
Multiplayer	GameSpy
Anti-cheat	PunkBuster	[citation needed]

Mods

SoF2 RMG Expansion and SP Tweaks Mod

Adds the multiplayer only SIG 551, MP5, and Silver Talon to the singleplayer game

WilliamMacau's Killer Weapon MOD

An Weapon Overhaul Mod

SOF 2: Remastered Edition

Includes Widescreen, FOV and HUD fix,Multiplayer Weapons Mod and more

REAL(tm)istic Single Player Addon v5

Alternate mod to WilliamMacau's Killer Weapon MOD

Weapons Mod v5

Adds more Weapons in the game

Kin Edition 1.2 + Weapons Mod 5.0

Alternate mod to Weapons Mod v5

Real Gore

Improves the gore in the game

Use this along with Bloody Chunks for better experience

FIXED PerfectFX

Enhances FX effects in game, such as smoke, blood effects, bullet trails, smoke, etc.

System requirements

Windows

macOS (OS X)

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	98, ME	2000, XP
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium III 450 MHz or AMD Athlon	Intel Pentium III 800 MHz
System memory (RAM)	128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	1.6 GB
Video card (GPU)	OpenGL compatible 16 MB of VRAM
Other	8X CD-ROM