First impressions are always a must when playing games, especially if you’ve just spent 40 good pounds or so on a brand new game. The last thing you want is a common train of thought to flow through your head, “Oh God, what have I just spent my money on?” In the case of ‘SpyHunter’, first impressions are mixed and potentially confusing. This particular version being a revamp from an old 1980s Spectrum / Atari game, has gotta make you wonder how it’s progressed over the past 20 years. Blatantly, video games are in slight succession to what they used to be, so it is a tad disconcerting when the first thing you see on the game is a PS1-quality FMV intro sequence. But then what is that you hear? Yes, it’s the classic ‘Peter Gunn’ theme composed and conducted by Henry Mancini - one of the most famous spy themes ever, second to the ‘Mission: Impossible’ theme and of course, ‘James Bond’. So okay, you’re willing to give the intro a little break in terms of its introduction, and yes, the action sequences do look quite fun…

…But yet one can never overcome the second train of thought likely to come to your head, “What! Are you’re trying to be James Bond?!” And the answer is, “yes”. A few minutes into the game and this is already clear, and as you start your practice sessions on the game it is also clear that originality isn’t this game’s intention – it’s focused on the simple fact that despite the dozens of ‘James Bond’ films over the past three-four decades, we still love them. And therefore this game’s intention is to recreate that fun in the form of a game without having to spend millions on a film licence to try and create another spy legend such as Rare’s ‘Goldeneye 007’. Fortunately for Midway, despite their first impression, they actually pull it off.

The story of the game is nothing more than what you’d expect from your average Bond film, albeit perhaps a little cheesier. A secret underground corporation have decided that the apocalyptic prophecies of biblical times is now within their grasp, and their own responsibility to ensure that this happens. Their plan are to set up various different bases all across the world and to release four satellites into space, called ‘The Four Horsemen’ (for those of you studying RE in school, the brothers of the apocalypse) where they will shut down all of the planet’s power resources. Quite what this will achieve I was never able to work out, but if that’s your psycho’s plan, then who’s complaining right? Unfortunately for them, the IES Intelligence of the government has issued a single spy to take them all out and prevent this from happening. Although the major flaw with this part is that spies are only supposed to gather information rather than go after power-hungry organisations, but never mind, it all makes the game that little more interesting.

Gameplay:
Once you get onto the road with ‘SpyHunter’ you’ll find it’s pretty easy to grasp control of the game. It’s fast and furious, but comfortable to get to grips with the controls. The game is actually very playable despite the often-bemusing tasks asked of you. You’re constantly being chased by just about everyone armed with rockets and machine guns in their lorries, cars, and constantly trying to blow up satellites sending information, and placing trackers on cargo devises without destroying them whilst avoiding civilian casualties, but hey, all in a day’s work.

The game’s structure is relatively unadorned too. You have fourteen levels to play, including a practice level at the beginning of the game. In each level, you are required to fulfil certain primary and secondary objectives. The primary objectives are mandatory for accomplishing the level. The secondary objectives will give you extra mission points, which are necessary to get onto the next level. Should you complete a level but not complete enough secondary objectives to get onto the next one, you can still progress in the game by returning to previous missions and completing other areas of the level you perhaps left out earlier in order to give you more points. Which not only gives you more freedom and playability for the game, but also adds to the lastability as completing levels flawlessly will become a personal objective once the initial game is complete. There are many cool little extras that just prove that extra time and effort has gone into making the game full of pleasant surprises. Each of the world-wide based levels are beautifully designed to great detail and length in order to win your attention as well as a gripping load of hidden objectives making you want to play through them again and again.

Graphics:
The graphics themselves is hardly anything to brag about, they run nice and smoothly – perhaps if more time were spent into anti-aliasing and lighting, the graphics would have been awe. (This could however be due to the game’s original format being on the PS2, and therefore the game remains in similar form). However, your character’s vehicle has many sneaky extras to it, not only being able to fire machine guns, but also rockets, trackers, bombs – and it can even adapt to your current surroundings; so when you go on water, it automatically transfers to a watercraft, while if the vehicle totally knackers out, it’ll separate into a little mini craft with less power, but more speed.

Sound:
Some stunning sound effects really add to the atmosphere of the game, you constantly feel as if you’re being attacked from left right and behind – quick, coincidentally enough, you are. The music is definitely one of the main advantages; ‘spy-themes’, what more can I say?

Longevity:
It makes a great party game and should keep you occupied for, oh, a good couple of months or so.

Round Up:
‘SpyHunter’ is challenging and fun, while not succeeding in sheer skin and bones, underneath it all you’ll find the muscle is much more to compensate with. Worth a bash for the simple fact that we all wish we were spies really.