Techtite's Macintosh Game Reviews!

"Most often, the first sequel in a series is more or less of a "mission disk" with the exact same game engine and slightly different game maps. That isn't the case here..."

---from the review

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Sidebar :

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The "2" sequel curse... Off the top of my head, here are some initial sequels that were total downers, which enhance the surprise of this sequel's success. Such mission disks in game "sequel" packaging include: Doom 2, X-Com 2: Terror from the Deep, Alone in the Dark 2 (eesh!), Darkseed 2 (no; I tried to forget that!), and the sequel so bad it left fans stuck outside a spaceship for all time: Manhunter: San Francisco. Ah, the memories...! 

Lara vs. Cate: let's get ready to rummmble! Let's be honest: the word is out. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness was a bomb. Okay, it wasn't a bomb as in "I'm suing the game manufacturer for the time of my life they wasted," though a bomb as in, Lara Croft is clearly not a strong enough heroine to hold the mantle these days, as Favorite Action Game Female. Can Cate Archer fit the bill? In this newest version of the Lithtech game engine: you bet! True, Lara's latest game allowed her to (ahem) bounce in all the right places, though let's be clear: this is the far better sequel.

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Feel free to contribute. As always, review submissions are accepted!

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No One Lives Forever may not have had a major publicity campaign, yet had all it needed, via word-of-mouth. With very little advertising to speak of, it rose to be Game Of The Year and/or Action Game of the Year in countless magazines and web sites. It's was one of those rare games which became popular because it deserved to be, not just because of idle hype. The trouble is, as much of a foregone conclusion it was for there to be a sequel, it's an equally foregone conclusion that expectations are running quite high for this sequel. Can No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way deliver on these expectations? In a word; yes.

Here's a short Cliff's Notes version of the story so far, for those who left their spy-goggles home last time around. Cate Archer is a former cat burglar, in the colorful, cold-war-ridden, spy-savvy world of the 1960's. Due to her skills in entering places without anyone's knowledge, she has been recruited by U.N.I.T.Y., a secret British spy organization, to help thwart H.A.R.M., terrorists bent on world conquest. I will not spoil the nature of her last case in case this game inspires you to play it (which it very well might). Suffice to say Cate saved the day ...though as the after-credits-epilogue showed, one HARM villain got away. So begins the sequel.

If you ask me, the best sequels include 1) a return of your favorite characters, 2) a continuation of the ongoing story, and 3) a fair share of originality. Favorite characters do indeed return, including Cate, Bruno (now acting chief of UNITY), and Dr. Schenker (now working for UNITY full-time). Even "Santa" returns --your old mentor of spy gadgetry-- who informs you of extra mission details within missions, via a robotic, green-eyed myna bird. Yes, even old villains and mercenaries return, though I won't spoil the surprise there.

As for a continuation of the story --as well as originality-- Cate finally learns who the true Director of HARM is, and thwarts his latest plan. She also gets to visit the home of a double-agent from the original game, to learn the how and why behind that part of the prior story. People worried that these reprisals include merely revised game maps from the former game, don't worry; there is no "repeat" level usage here. Even UNITY headquarters has had an overhaul. New missions include trips to India, Antarctica, and an underwater secret lab, among others. My favorite level would have to be Antarctica; when you explore dilapidated ruins only to come across the reason for their destruction face-to-face. This was not only a good level; it was my favorite of any game all year.

This isn't to say that the humor isn't still there. Enemies include "the mime king," who you even get to unmask, for an amusing added joke. Billboards in secret H.A.R.M. labs include messages like, "Fiscal Year Objectives...Overtake at least three more small countries...Plan a Better Company Christmas party...KILL CATE ARCHER!!!" Meanwhile, the enemy now deals with mistakes from its inept staff, by making them into "man crates"; a cubed version of their former selves. The darkly humorous way these man-crates attempt to put themselves to good use while still working for H.A.R.M. is a riot. Best of all is Cate's newest spy-gadgetry, including a can of hair spray that hides a blowtorch, a "mascara" stun gun, and a faux Angry Kitty that explodes with a "meow" when enemies get in range!

Now for the game iself. Using the completely revamped Lithtech game engine, graphics are a wonder to behold, with impressive water effects, textures, realistic characters/ environments, and yes, a decidedly easy-on-the-eyes main character. One nice addition to game interface is the ability to add skill points to Cate, enhancing the skills you use the most. While the prior game offered merely a few jokes for finding all those secret documents lying about, finding these clues leads to exploration points, used for purchasing enhancements to Cate's repertoire. Adjust her aiming, her stealth, or whatever skill you use the most; it's up to you. This enhances the strategy element of the game, since you can only enhance so much, depending on what skills you use the most. If you like stealth, you can become a master; if you prefer guns blazing, your aim can be made dead-on. It's all up to you. I particularly liked how turning off lights in a room can let you hide there if being chased by guards; it's little realistic details like this that divide the cool games from so-so games.

Of course, the best enhancement would have to be multiplayer...YAY! Up to four "agents" can play either via the internet or LAN, in levels built to resemble UNITY missions behind-the-scenes of key moments from the single-player game. I would've liked to be an agent that is less "generic" then the agent models you can select, though adding multiplayer options like this is clearly a step in the right direction. I would hate --no, loathe-- anyone who made such an ingenious single-player concept into a mere multiplayer standoff (think Quake Arena, and Unreal Tournament), though that doesn't seem to be the case here. It's an admirable addition, handled admirably.

Gripes? Only petty ones, though I'll mention them anyway. For one, what sort of copyright problems are responsible, for having the original No One Lives Forever game theme unheard except for "radios" (in the game) and the final credits...? Second: while it's nice to get back to the action quicker, the cutscenes in between missions are often too short. As long as the original game's cutscenes were, they enhanced the story (and the game) as a result, and this game's shorter cutscenes lead, admittedly, to a thinner story. Third: Cate deserves a love interest a la James Bond or even Austin Powers movies, yet is left in yet another finale, quibbling with a fellow UNITY agent. Last of all; the character models in multiplayer are too generic; the ability to play as characters in-game (Cate Archer, Bruno, and perhaps even Volkov and the Mime King in a "spymatch" of sorts) would've been even better. However, as I said these are petty gripes, and don't reduce this game's rating one bit.

The truth is, this is perhaps the best end-of-year game purchase an action-adventurer could make. Indiana Jones' next action game, as well as Lara Croft's, have both been slated for early 2003, not the holiday season. Indeed, the two bigshots earlier in 2002  --Jedi Knight Outcast and Freedom Force, in particular-- were a tough act to follow this year, yet NOLF2 delivers, with enough originality to make NOLF3 inevitable. I think we all can look forward to it. I look equally forward to additional games using the new Lithtech "Jupiter" game engine. Few game designers wouldn't want their own games to look just like this one.

---Techtite