AbstractDespite the title, James Bond is nowhere to be found in this crime thriller. The action does take place in the 1960s, however, and the hero has plenty of retro cool. Meet Cate Archer, the secret operative who's been saddled with the task of undermining the H.A.R.M. organization. Face off against zany enemies like a boxing Scotsman and a really bad opera singer, utilizing more than 30 weapons. Your gadgetry includes the likes of trick cigarette lighters, exploding lipstick, a robot poodle, and other creative devices.
ESRB rating
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Comic Mischief, Mild Language, Violence |
Full descriptionNo One Lives Forever is a first-person spy adventure that takes place in a world that we'd all recognize, even if it never really existed. Settings and storylines are reminiscent of Sean Connery's early James Bond films, with a healthy dose of Get Smart and Austin Powers thrown in for good measure. In designing the game world for No One Lives Forever, great effort was devoted to finding the perfect balance of 1960s post-modern kitsch and full-on, gut wrenching action.
As operative Cate Archer the player will need to make her way through many diverse 3D environments, populated by wary guards and unique enemy bosses. As a top operative of the super-secret international anti-terrorist group UNITY, Cate has lots of weapons and gadgets at her disposal. She can gain access to 30 different weapons in all, many of which have four or five different settings or modes of fire. Cate's spy gadgets include a cigarette lighter that doubles as a welding torch, several shades of exploding lipstick, and even a robotic poodle.
Hopefully this will be enough, as Cate will need all the help she can get as she investigates the latest catastrophe to hit UNITY. It seems that nearly half of the active UNITY operatives have been eliminated in just one short week and rival underground organization H.A.R.M. is bound to be involved somehow. This could mean a face-to-face confrontation with infamous H.A.R.M. operatives like Armstrong, the boxing Scotsman, or Inga, the neurotic tone-deaf opera diva. This could mean trouble for Cate Archer.
No One Lives Forever is the first game written to run on the LithTech 2.5 3D engine. The game features realistic AI, with enemies that listen for footsteps, notice footprints, and call for back up in a heartbeat. Even "normal" citizens on the street behave rationally and react specifically to certain situations. The in-game music changes according to the action and cinematic scenes blend smoothly from gameplay, in an attempt to provide the player with an engrossing, unified experience.
Assume the role of Cate Archer, a beautiful but deadly Operative working for UNITY - a super secret organization fighting to free the world from the clutches of H.A.R.M. From tense subterfuge to in-your-face combat, No One Lives Forever ups the ante for plot-driven, 1960's-influenced spy action with killer weapons, vivid international locales and deadly arch villains. Equipped with an arsenal of powerful weapons and spy gadgets, you must rely on your quick wit and stealth to protect humanity from twisted madmen bent upon world domination.
Editorial reviewSource:
AmazonCate Archer, the mod secret agent with the groovy clothes, deadly aim, and mysterious past, debuts on the PlayStation2 in
No One Lives Forever, a port of the popular PC game. With a nod to
Austin Powers camp,
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s mock earnestness, and the 007 movies' sophisticated flair,
No One Lives Forever is a clever spy spoof with a sly sense of humor and compelling action-adventure gameplay. And despite its often sloppy camera and frustrating save system, it's an enjoyable first-person shooter.
Ms. Archer--"exceedingly competent, fiercely intelligent, and stunningly attractive"--is an operative for UNITY, a counterterrorist organization made up of stuffy British guys who wittily mock your qualifications during briefings. Given that the game takes place in the late '60s, you, as Agent Archer, have to endure your share of snarky, sexist putdowns from your UNITY colleagues, particularly in the early going, as you're an untested operative working difficult missions usually reserved for veteran professionals.
The levels are much slower-paced than in usual first-person shooters (though equally enjoyable), as you depend on your silencer and soft-treading (but stylish) shoes in outwitting your foes. The stealthier you are, the more likely you'll progress to the next level (although nothing beats a good bull rush on occasion). Fortunately, all this creeping past security cameras gives you ample time to eavesdrop on the entertaining conversations of guards and bystanders--one of the highlights of the game. The cutscenes aren't quite as good--some are extremely dry and long, and the graphics are somewhat uninspired--but the music is ideal, striking the perfect balance between spy-movie intense and airily clichéd. And like all good spies, Archer has plenty of gadgetry at her disposal, such as a lock-pick barrette, lipstick explosives, and, later, a robotic poodle.
The game's biggest shortfalls are its poorly designed save system, average graphic detail (this is a next-gen console, after all), and jumpy camera. Players can only save the game between levels, meaning you'll likely have to replay certain levels several times to reach the next save point. If the levels were more dynamic (i.e., the dialogue was different each time through), this wouldn't be a big deal, but the game's script and voice acting are only fun the first couple of times. By the 10th run-through, they're beyond stale. The graphics are solid, but compared to some of the other games currently on the market for PS2, they're nothing special. In addition, the camera suffers from some instability--if you back into a wall while avoiding gunfire, the camera often spins you around to face the wall, making you an easy target for sharpshooting guards.
However, it's still a clever title with a great plot. If compelling gameplay is your thing, No One Lives Forever is a solid addition to the first-person-shooter library, especially for fans looking for an alternative to intense action games. If you'd rather have a game that takes advantage of the processing power of PS2, however, keep looking. --Rivers Janssen
Pros:
- Never takes itself too seriously
- Stealthy gameplay puts the "secret" in secret agent
- Music fits the atmosphere perfectly
- Clever level design
Cons: - Graphics are only average
- Frustrating save system
- Jumpy camera isn't always reliable
Unique mix of Austin Powers comedy and James Bond action
Over 30 unique weapons and gadgets at your disposal
Assume the role of beautiful and crafty Cate Archer -- move over Lara Croft!
- Portions of content provided by Rovi Data Solutions, Inc. and IGN Entertainment, Inc.