Product Description

Everyone's favorite superspy is back but evil masterminds are after him in 007: Agent Under Fire, a new adventure for Xbox by EA Games. New enemies, dangerous women and high-tech weapons abound as he tries to stop a megavillain's diabolical plan to take over the world with an army of evil clones. Help the suave Agent 007 put all his training and unique talents to the test as he sneaks, races and blasts his way across more than 10 stunningly-rendered locations of international intrigue. Of course, Bond has a huge array of high-tech, wacky and outrageous gadgets at his disposal to keep those bad guys on the run. A solid plot and sophisticated spy-craft will satisfy the diehard Bond fans as well as newcomers to the genre. Platform: Xbox, ESRB Rating: Teen, Genre: Action/Adventure

Review

Who'd have thought that the exploits of a secret agent could be so underwhelming? 007: Agent Under Fire isn't exactly boring--in fact, the first time you play you're sure to be impressed by the suave looks and immaculate presentation. But it soon becomes clear that this is no sophisticated vintage Bond homage. It's merely a fleetingly entertaining blast that just happens to feature some British spy dude. That isn't to say that there aren't enjoyable elements here. There are a couple of Crazy Taxi-influenced levels that work well, as well as some mildly diverting "on-rails" shooter stages. At heart, though, like the N64 masterpiece GoldenEye, this is a first-person shooter, and one that suffers badly in comparison.

The game features some clever gadgets, as well as frequent set pieces in the form of "Bond moves" that will delight the casual fan. But more experienced players will find the lack of depth here distressing. The real problem is the "intelligence" of the enemies. These are the dumbest bad guys you'll ever encounter in a video game. Coupled with the unerring accuracy of your auto aim, you could complete much of the game blindfolded. Consequently, it's difficult to feel much satisfaction, even upon saving the world. The developers have at least made an effort by providing different styles of play and a decent multiplayer mode, but 007: Agent Under Fire is (at best) an adequate game in a genre full of great alternatives. Be careful with your next Bond license, Mr. EA--it may be your last. --Steve Colton

Note: This review refers to the PS2 version of this game. -- Amazon.co.uk