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SpyHunter

Developer: Paradigm Entertainment, Inc. / Point Of View

Publisher: Midway

Console: GameCube

Genre: Racing / Action

Number of Players: 2

Released: March 12, 2002

Memory Card Blocks: 2

Introduction

I must admit that I was looking forward to this game ever since it was released on the PS2. It was a great day when Midway announced Spy Hunter would be ported to the GameCube. After all, I spent a lot of time playing the original Spy Hunter back in the 80’s. Unfortunately the GameCube port didn’t turn out as well as the PS2 original.

Graphics: 7/10

The graphics sadly suffered the most out of this port. Lets start with the fire effects. They are so ugly, it looks like its straight out of an old PSX game from 1995! The ground also fares the same way. So pixilated it doesn’t even look real. When you change weapons, there is a cool animation on top or side of the car showing off the weapon. The car is the high point of the graphics. Very slick looking, and it reflects off everything in the game including clouds in the sky and buildings. There is even a cool effect when you drive over a road covered with leafs. The leafs float away from the car as you drive over them. Very cool.

The water looks incredible. Everything reflects off of it. Also when you get to drive in the water the water effects that are coming from behind are pixilated. I have noticed that overall the game appears to be a little too dark. Most reviews I have read complained of choppy frame rates. I have yet to witness any slowdown what so ever in the game. When you complete a level there are FMV cut scenes that come up. They are very compressed and grainy, but they still look good enough. It makes me wonder how the developer wasn’t able to fit this on 1.5 GB disc? A nice addition is a movie player where you can watch all the movies you have unlocked so far.

Sound: 8.5/10

I was happy to hear the classic Peter Gunn theme back in this game and it‘s great. There are even a couple of remixes of it and the band Saliva does a cover of the song. I don’t like Saliva at all, but for some reason I still like the song they covered. The sound effects in this game are top notch. The noise of the tires squealing and the sweet sweet crunch of the crashes. As you drive over different kinds of the ground you will hear the appropriate noise. It is quite fun to run over the chickens as they let out a little cluck noise as they die. A nice addition is the music player where you can listen to all the different music tracks included in the game.

Gameplay: 8.5/10

This is not an ordinary racing game. There are 14 fairly long levels in this game. Each level contains some objectives that you have to pass in order to get to the next level. The primary objective allows you to go to the next level only if you have enough points. The secondary objectives are a little harder to accomplish and helps you rack up the points to unlock more levels. Also if you manage to complete all the objectives and finish the level in a certain time you will unlock a bunch of cheats. This game is just plain fun.

You have a bunch of cool weapons. Defensive weapons include oil slicks, smoke screens, and a flamethrower. Offensive weapons include machine guns, rockets, heat seeking missiles and swarmer missiles. The weapons are unlocked as you beat each level. Your car (G-6155 Interceptor) can morph into a boat right before it goes into the water. If your car gets damaged enough it will morph into a motorcycle. The weapons vans make their triumphant return in this game. They are located about half way through the mission and will give you full health and fill up your ammo.

Controls: 8/10

The controls are for the most part pretty decent. A accelerates, double tapping A gives you a turbo boost, and B brakes. Y locks on to a target and X will launch GPS trackers or activate the scanner. You can change offensive weapons with the L-button and change defensive weapons by holding the L-button and Z-button. To fire an offensive weapon, you press the R-button and to fire a defensive weapon, you have to hold down the R-button and Z-button. Very annoying. The control stick controls the car. To go in reverse is pretty awkward, you have come to a complete stop and press down on the control stick and then press A. It would have been nice if the C-stick was used. Maybe it would have made changing defensive weapons easier.

Replay: 9/10

There is a great deal of replay value packed into this game. You will find yourself playing each level over and over again to get all the objectives. Some people might find this a little repetitive. Each level has numerous shortcuts. The are a lot of different unlockables in the game also. The 2-player modes are great fun. There is Head-to-Head where you and a friend race to the finish. The globe trotter mode, you have to collect the most satcoms. The most enjoyable mode is no doubt the Chicken Hunter. You get to run over as many helpless innocent chickens as possible! The only downside is that you have to complete the 1-player missions to unlock the 2-player modes.

Conclusion

It’s too bad that this port didn’t turn out to be improved of the PS2 version. Midway I guess doesn’t think that GameCube owners want to have all the extras and the original arcade game. I think Microsoft just paid them off anyway. This is a great remake of the classic arcade game. If you are a Spy Hunter fan I suggest you buy this game immediately. If you own a PS2 or X-Box don’t get the GameCube version though, as it can’t compare. It’s definitely worth a rental even if you don't like racing games because of the different objectives in each level. They set this game apart from most racing games.

Pros Cons

Cool vehicle morphing Sloppy port of a PS2 game

Reflections off water are amazing Cut-scenes are compressed and blurry

Classic Peter Gunn theme Lacking DVD features that other versions include

Awesome weapons The original arcade Spy Hunter is missing (X-Box exclusive)

Just plain fun

Final Score: 8/10, 80%, B-

Reviewed by: Eric Brown on May 30, 2002

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