Just got Spy Hunter, my review.
09-27-01 | 10:20 AM
#1
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DVD & Video Game Reviewer
Just got Spy Hunter, my review.
I just picked up Spy Hunter yesterday and thought I would share my opinions of the game with you incase you have thought about getting it.
GRAPHICS: 9/10
While the game is beautiful it isn't Gran Turismo 3. But even still, the graphics are great, fast moving and mind blowing at some parts. The animation is wonderful, and you can really feel the speed of your vehicle. The areas that you drive through are breathtaking, I especially love Venice, the water effects are wonderful.
CONTROL: 8.5/10
The control is a little akward at first, and with all the buttons of the PS2 controller it gets a little confusing what to press. In some of the fire fights it's really difficult to try to keep control of your vehicle, while cycling through your weapons and trying to fire at people infront of you and behind you. There are 3 different controller configurations with no customizing, but the 3 that they offer you work well enough to get used to them.
DIFFICULTY: 8/10
I haven't had a lot of time to get used to the game, but I do have to say that some parts are very difficult. Trying to take out an enemies spy vehicle with bullets and missles, all the while trying to knock out communications towers, trying to control your car on their oil slicks and trying not to shoot, blowup, or run over pedestrians. It gets rather complex sometimes, but that leads all into the near never ending action.
EXTRAS: 7/10
The extras (cheats) that I know of aren't that wonderful. I have unlocked 3 total cheats at the time of this review, 2 of which are Saliva music videos and 1 of which is one that I haven't tried yet. In order to get a cheat, you have to complete all the objectives on a mission within a certain time limit. This gives it the Perfect Dark/Goldeneye feel from the N64 games which is a good thing I think.
REPLAY: 8/10
There are plenty of missions, and 4-7 objectives in each mission, and in order to get a lot of things and open up stages you have to complete the objectives. So I think it makes for a bit of replay, plus I don't know how true the rumor I heard is, but I heard that you can play the original Spy Hunter by unlocking a cheat. I don't know if that is true, if it is it ups the replay a lot. There is also a multi-player feature where players compete against each other.
OVERALL 8.5/10
Overall I think this game is a great addition to anyones gaming library. If you like the spy genre, and like action games, this one is for you. Although the game has gotten a complete facelift compared to it's elderly counterpart from the old arcade/NES days, it retains all the characteristics that made the original one fun. Don't look for too much story, it's the run of the mill evil organization taking over the world and it's up to you to stop them. But the game is so fun that the story doesn't really seem to matter, it adds to the cheesiness a little what with the black cars and enemy tractor trailor trucks.
One of the coolest features in this game is the vehicle transformation. When you are in the car and it takes too much damage it will turn into a motorcycle with some different features. Your car can also turn into a boat when it goes in water, and when the boat takes too much damage it turns into a jetski. This is all done automatically and gives the game a very cool slick feeling. The price tag of 49.99 is worth it fully in my opinion.
Hope this review helps you out, if you were thinking about this game, there aren't too many reviews for this one on the web yet.
Todd
GRAPHICS: 9/10
While the game is beautiful it isn't Gran Turismo 3. But even still, the graphics are great, fast moving and mind blowing at some parts. The animation is wonderful, and you can really feel the speed of your vehicle. The areas that you drive through are breathtaking, I especially love Venice, the water effects are wonderful.
CONTROL: 8.5/10
The control is a little akward at first, and with all the buttons of the PS2 controller it gets a little confusing what to press. In some of the fire fights it's really difficult to try to keep control of your vehicle, while cycling through your weapons and trying to fire at people infront of you and behind you. There are 3 different controller configurations with no customizing, but the 3 that they offer you work well enough to get used to them.
DIFFICULTY: 8/10
I haven't had a lot of time to get used to the game, but I do have to say that some parts are very difficult. Trying to take out an enemies spy vehicle with bullets and missles, all the while trying to knock out communications towers, trying to control your car on their oil slicks and trying not to shoot, blowup, or run over pedestrians. It gets rather complex sometimes, but that leads all into the near never ending action.
EXTRAS: 7/10
The extras (cheats) that I know of aren't that wonderful. I have unlocked 3 total cheats at the time of this review, 2 of which are Saliva music videos and 1 of which is one that I haven't tried yet. In order to get a cheat, you have to complete all the objectives on a mission within a certain time limit. This gives it the Perfect Dark/Goldeneye feel from the N64 games which is a good thing I think.
REPLAY: 8/10
There are plenty of missions, and 4-7 objectives in each mission, and in order to get a lot of things and open up stages you have to complete the objectives. So I think it makes for a bit of replay, plus I don't know how true the rumor I heard is, but I heard that you can play the original Spy Hunter by unlocking a cheat. I don't know if that is true, if it is it ups the replay a lot. There is also a multi-player feature where players compete against each other.
OVERALL 8.5/10
Overall I think this game is a great addition to anyones gaming library. If you like the spy genre, and like action games, this one is for you. Although the game has gotten a complete facelift compared to it's elderly counterpart from the old arcade/NES days, it retains all the characteristics that made the original one fun. Don't look for too much story, it's the run of the mill evil organization taking over the world and it's up to you to stop them. But the game is so fun that the story doesn't really seem to matter, it adds to the cheesiness a little what with the black cars and enemy tractor trailor trucks.
One of the coolest features in this game is the vehicle transformation. When you are in the car and it takes too much damage it will turn into a motorcycle with some different features. Your car can also turn into a boat when it goes in water, and when the boat takes too much damage it turns into a jetski. This is all done automatically and gives the game a very cool slick feeling. The price tag of 49.99 is worth it fully in my opinion.
Hope this review helps you out, if you were thinking about this game, there aren't too many reviews for this one on the web yet.
Todd
09-27-01 | 12:48 PM
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From: Charlotte, NC
Originally posted by Groucho
I've heard that they're gonna port this to Gamecube, and if so I'll be picking it up. Looks like a great updating of an arcade classic!
I've heard that they're gonna port this to Gamecube, and if so I'll be picking it up. Looks like a great updating of an arcade classic!
)
09-27-01 | 12:52 PM
#5
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Hmm... I didn't hear about the Gamecube release. I'm sure it will be much better with the Gamecube than the PS2, the playstation controller just seems clunky for certain games, the GC controller looks just right though. Still, it's a great game, I just unlocked a 4th cheat; Nightvision, it's pretty cool looking.
Todd
I'm sure it will be much better with the Gamecube than the PS2, the playstation controller just seems clunky for certain games, the GC controller looks just right though. Still, it's a great game, I just unlocked a 4th cheat; Nightvision, it's pretty cool looking.Todd
09-27-01 | 02:19 PM
#6
DVD Talk Special Edition
Based on the previews I saw for it, I was sure this was going to be added to the list of revived classic games that absolutely suck. Good to hear they finally got one right.
09-27-01 | 02:56 PM
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Nice review. This particular title wasn't even on my gaming radar, but I picked it up on a whim yesterday and was pleasantly surprised.
Kinda OT, but watching the smooth manner in which the car transforms into a boat and motorcycle makes me wish that Paradigm Entertainment would develop a Transformers game...
Kinda OT, but watching the smooth manner in which the car transforms into a boat and motorcycle makes me wish that Paradigm Entertainment would develop a Transformers game...
09-27-01 | 03:55 PM
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From: Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty state!
Whoo! Just played a demo of the first two levels of Spy Hunter. Fun stuff. The game captures the feeling of speed pretty well, without you having to be a professional driver to drive well and enjoy the game [cough]GT3[cough]. Considering the high resale value of PS2 games on places like www.half.com, I think I'll be picking this one up. It's a little hard to tell if the cars in front of you are friend or foe even with my 32" TV, but I felt myself being able to pick them out better and better as I played.
