James Bond 007 in Agent Under Fire

UPC: 014633141863

Platform: PlayStation 2

Publisher: EA Games

Developer: EA Redwood Shores

Category: Shooter

Style(s): First-Person Shooter

Synopsis: The western world's favorite super spy is back but the villains have got him in their sights in James Bond 007 in Agent Under Fire, a new adventure developed for the PlayStation 2 by EA GAMES. In a storyline created specifically for this game, Bond comes face to face with familiar scoundrels, new enemies, and dangerously beautiful women as he attempts to foil a diabolical plan to take over the world with an army of evil clones. Agent 007 will need to put his extensive training and unique talents to good use in his first outing on the PS2 console, moving through an adventure that finds him sneaking, driving, and blasting his way across more than ten different locations of international intrigue. Luckily (and in classic fashion), James has a variety of amazing gadgets to help him out of the especially tight situations, courtesy of the Q-lab. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Registration Card

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The manual explains each weapon and item in detail, but leaves the level descriptions and mission objectives to the game. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Wonderfully detailed backgrounds make you want to keep playing just to see the next locale. A nice touch is that bullets are clearly marked with streaks, making it easier to avoid (and spot) enemy gunfire. The only weakness is some of the character models look too angular. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

"PlayStation" and " James Bond" are undeniable successes apart from one another, but previous attempts to combine the two were shaky, not stirring. The world's most famous secret agent makes his PlayStation 2 debut in a game finally deserving of the license. While it does not supplant 1997's GoldenEye as the best 007 game, Agent Under Fire does enough things right to earn a spot in any spy fan's library. In a risky design decision, Agent Under Fire incorporates first-person shooter gameplay with driving levels and rail-shooting sequences traditionally found in titles like Lethal Enforcers or Time Crisis. Mixing multiple genres usually spells disaster in a game, as the overall quality is often diluted in favor of offering more "bang for the buck." Fortunately, that's not the case here. The different segments are equally impressive, helping to reinforce the belief you are starring in an action-packed Bond movie. The first-person shooter stages, which represent the majority of gameplay, follow a similar structure to GoldenEye. Levels are broken down into a series of objectives, all of which must be completed to advance. At the end of a mission, a summary screen tallies points earned in areas such as weapon accuracy, enemies defeated, time taken, and so forth. Medals are earned for reaching high scores, which in turn unlock cheats and bonus weapons. Unlike GoldenEye, however, the objectives here are extremely linear in nature. You generally can't complete task number two before finishing task number one, for example, since you won't be able to reach the other areas until finding or disabling a particular item. This takes away from the freedom you have while on a level, but it does make the game feel more movie-like in terms of pacing. While you'd expect the driving sequences to be mere throw-ins, the levels are just as refined as the first-person shooter stages. On one level, you'll race through the narrow, cobbled streets of Budapest as enemy vehicles relentlessly pursue you. Vans have thugs firing either rocket launchers or machine guns from the back, while limos and sedans have enemies popping through each vehicle's sunroof to gun you down. Not only do you have to worry about enemies on the road, but also the sky: helicopters outfitted with missiles track you from above. Fortunately there are a number of items at your disposal to help deal with the threats, including oil slicks, heat-seeking missiles, rockets, and speed boosts. You really feel part of a Bond movie during these sequences, thanks to the beautiful, billowing explosions, fast action, and famous theme music blaring throughout. A Bond game wouldn't be complete without a variety of gadgets, and players will be able to vertically thrust into the air with the Q-Jet, latch onto specially marked ceilings with the Q-Claw, and slice open locks with the Q-Laser. The only thing missing is a Q-Tip. The gadgets aren't for show, either, as each device will need to be used at various times within each stage. Unfortunately, these instances are often telegraphed far in advance through a combination of cut-scenes (which zoom-in on the object) and pulsating lights -- everything short of a hanging a sign with "Use this gadget here, stupid." Enemy AI is very good, which is to be expected from a first-person shooter released in 2001. Guards will patrol areas and run to sound the alarm if they hear something. Others will duck behind crates after firing at you, minimizing their chances of being hit. Some even yell at their friends to cover them while they zigzag their way toward you. Stealth is a must on certain levels, as making loud noises will trigger swarms of enemies to attack. There's even the ability to perform Bond "heroics," actions only the suave agent could pull off, such as blowing up a group of enemies sitting behind a fuel canister or blasting across a broken bridge with the BMW. A fixed number of Bond stunts can be performed on a level, cuing part of the theme music each time it's accomplished -- just like the movies. Each heroic adds to your overall point score at the end of the stage. The one area where Agent Under Fire falters a bit is in single-player longevity. While stages can be played over again to obtain higher scores, there's no difference in the mission objectives on the higher difficulty levels. While enemies may be more challenging to defeat, since you know their location and what needs to be done, it's not as difficult. This is in direct contrast with GoldenEye, which increased the number of objectives for each difficulty setting, making it feel like you were playing the game again for the first time. While it seems each Bond game will inevitably be compared to Rare's classic shooter, Agent Under Fire manages to distinguish itself enough to be a welcome addition to any fan's library. It is a huge improvement over the previous three PlayStation titles, and it has the best graphics and music of any Bond game to date. Factor in the great multiplayer mode, and you have an excellent start for the franchise on the PlayStation 2. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The replay value is strong thanks to the multiplayer mode, where up to four players can compete on a split-screen. While players can also repeat each stage to unlock hidden secrets, the objectives remain the same. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The voice acting is top-notch, with the lone exception of a certain boss character who repeatedly taunts you. Sound effects are just as impressive, from the steady rattling of a chain gun to the subtle pops of a silenced pistol. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Most will be very pleased with this release, but there is still room for improvement in the first-person shooter segments. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.