| |
Nicknames
|
Benton |
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
Gender
|
Male |
Age
|
47 |
Birthplace
|
Chicago, IL |
Nationality
|
American |
Height
|
6'0" |
Weight
|
210lbs. |
| Personal Status | |
Status
|
Dead |
Date of Death
|
August 25th, 1999 |
Killed by
|
|
Death
|
Any weapon |
| Organization(s) | |
Affiliation(s)
|
The Agency 1978-1999 |
Career
|
Deputy Director, Agency 1999 |
| Misc. Information | |
Appears in
|
Syphon Filter |
Weapons
|
G-16 |
Voice actor(s)
|
Frederick L. Gillette (Syphon Filter) |
Edward Benton is a character in Syphon Filter and appears in flashbacks in Syphon Filter 3. He was the Deputy-Director for The Agency under Director Thomas Markinson. He first met Gabriel Logan during an Agency operation in Kabul, Afghanistan, along with Ellis. It was due to Logan's abilities during this encounter, that he was prompted to recruit him into The Agency. Incidentally, this encounter also (unknowingly to Logan at the time) gave him insight into the true purpose of the Agency.
He is essentially the second faced antagonist of the original Syphon Filter, acting under Erich Rhoemer's orders as a mole in The Agency, for the Black Baton. It was due to his actions that the botched operation in Costa Rica occurred along with Jenkins and his entire team being eliminated in Washington Park.
Appearance
Benton is a tall, African American male in his late 40's with short black hair and a stern expression. While at Headquarters, Benton is seen in an Agency suit, with a black jacket, tie and dress pants with black dress shoes. He is also depicted in the intro as wearing shades, however during the cutscene in which he's shown in the office with Markinson, Gabe and Lian he is mostly shadowed so it's unknown if he's wearing them then.
At the Pharcom Exhibit, he's shown to be wearing a dress tuxedo with a blue handkerchief in his left pocket and a blue vest wrapped around a white button up shirt that ends in a black bow tie.
His appearance is not seen during Syphon Filter 3.
Early Career
The following information is taken from Page 23 of the Syphon Filter game manual.
Edward Benton
Deputy Director of the Agency
Sex: Male
Age: 47
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Nationality: American
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 210 pounds
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black and Grey
Background
Deputy Director, Agency, 1999-Current
Syphon Filter
Benton first appears in the first mission of Syphon Filter where he and Markinson are briefing Lian Xing and Logan on their mission that is to be carried out on Washington D.C, Georgia Street.
After Logan has carried out the mission, dicovered a fake virus bomb and wounded Mara Aramov, he heads down the street communicating with Lian. As soon as he passes Washington Park, Benton contacts Logan informing him that a fellow agent, Jenkins, and his team have been elimintated by the Black Baton. He orders Logan to go in and disarm the viral bombs in their stead. This leads Logan into suspecting that there is a mole in The Agency.
After Logan has carried out this mission and defeats Anton Girdeux in a battle. Logan requests he investigate the man named Jonathan Phagan, Head and CEO of Pharcom a bio-chemicals industry as well as the manufacturer of the Syphon Filter Virus. He is granted secret permission to investigate and attends a gala that Pharcom holds. Logan then follows Phagan into a museum exhibit that has been rented under Pharcom. Inside he spots Phagan talking with Mara and Benton, with Benton demanding the Syphon Filter virus and Phagan begins stalling. Tired with his excuses, Benton orders Mara to interrogate Phagan while he waits in the exhibit.
Logan talks over with Lian and both decide on taking Benton out. Logan blows his cover and kills Benton, taking his weapon and access card key to enable access further into the museum complex.
Logan makes it through the complex, saves Phagan and incapacitates Mara to take her into custody for questioning. As soon as they return to Agency headquarters Logan and Lian report to Markinson that there was a mole who was leaking information, at the top. Markinson then mentions Benton, leaving Logan questioning Markinson on how he knew.
Syphon Filter 2
Although not appearing Physically or mentioned in-game. A reference is made to Benton in the Multiplayer map "Pharcom Expo".
Syphon Filter 3
Although not appearing Physically, Benton is heard ordering Logan on Mission 2 of Syphon Filter 3 in the Costa Rican forest plantation.
Strategy
Benton can be hard or easy. It depends on how you fight him. To me, he's easy. Yes, I know he's a fast old man. Yes, I know he has a G-18, and a damn steady arm to hold it. But I'm going to show you how to kill him before he can even lift his gun.
Just another reason he's easy: he doesn't have the element of surprise that others have, where you're creeping around and there he is. He's immediately after a cutscene and checkpoint. Basically, you're facing a wall. He's directly in front of you, but behind the wall. Most people rush out, get hit a few times, grab some cover, and take a headshot...losing about half their life in the process.
However, I have a strategy that takes him out without getting hit. No, seriously. I'm not on crack. It can be done. Get out your HK-5 and approach the right side of the wall. Don't get as close to the edge as for Kravitch. Be cautious.
Creep until your right shoulder is about an inch or so from the end (one of your inches, it's like a foot to Gabe). Go into manual aim and hold 'strafe-right'. Hopefully, you'll have a view of Benton's left side, but no headshot. Gee, what a shame. You'll have to just run out and get that headshot, right? Wrong. Aim the HK-5 at his leg around the knee-cap area and let loose. A few seconds of leg shots, and Gabe will call Lian to inform her that Benton is finished. Easy wasn't it?
Some things to remember:
-Use the strategy above. There's definitely no easier way to do it.
-Benton has a flak jacket, so headshots only.
-It's just you and Benton, mono-a-mono. No guards, or anything. If you feel the need to have a nice, dragged-out boss battle, by all means, go ahead. You have all the time in the world... no bodyguards for Benton.
-If you do choose to go for the long fight for some reason, run and roll to the glass structure against the wall on the right. Then use the peek-a-boo technique on Benton, using whatever cover is possible (walls, glass boxes, etc.)
Gallery
Trivia
- In Syphon Filter 2 a reference to him in a Multiplayer map is made. In the "Pharcom Expo" map in the before battle level brief, it mentions how "Cleaners have tried for weeks to clean Benton's blood off the floor".
- Benton is the second black character to appear in the Syphon Filter series. The first being Erich Rhoemer and third being Lawrence Mujari.
- Unlike the other antagonists in the game, he is the only named enemy who does not talk during combat.