"A Great Game From A Nearly Forgotten Franchise"

We've all seen developers take an arcade classic and reinvent it in 3D. From Missile Command to Pac-Man and everything in between, for the most part these suck. The reason they suck is because one can't convert the gameplay in a 2D game to an entirely new perspective and expect it to play the same. Likewise if one changes the gameplay too much then it is the same game in name only. Spy Hunter is the rare exception, it is a franchise that has traveled to the 3D realm and ended up even better than its 2D roots in my humble opinion.

Spy Hunter on the 3DS plays just like its 3D counterparts on the PS2, complete with an excellent rendition of the Peter Gunn theme. If you never played those games, it's okay, you're not the only one. Make no mistake though Spy Hunter still plays like you would expect it to if you're a veteran of the arcade original or NES port. I bought my copy on its release day and I'm pretty sure I am the only person in the entire city I live in that did, more on that later, and I want to assure anyone considering this game that it is worth the money.

The premise is simple; you play an unnamed secret agent in control of the single sweetest spy vehicle to ever exist, the G-6155 Interceptor. The game has a story but it isn't the focus, the gameplay is, of course I won't spoil it though. You drive very fast and try to avoid getting forced off the road or just plain old exploded by enemy cars, trucks, helicopters, and other vehicles. Fancy driving isn't enough to keep you alive; your car has a pool of thirteen total weapons to select from. From which you can place one of your choice in each of the weapon slots on your car, for a maximum of four weapons in your load out. You can also equip one special device to the interceptor such as a cloaking device or energy shield.

So you're driving down the road minding your own business when, all of a sudden, you are boxed in by four black cars with spikes on their rims trying to bring you to a halt. What do you do? Well you could use the double barreled shotguns hidden behind the side skirts of the Interceptor and blow your way out. Or you could use the flash blinder to get some breathing room, use your turbo to gain speed then unleash the flame thrower attached to you rear bumper. Good job but now there is a helicopter firing lock-on missiles at you, no problem bring out the 50 caliber machine gun in the roof of your car and take him down. Of course you could always fight fire with fire and use your own lock-on missiles. These are just a few of the weapons you can use and you will not be disappointed by any them.

If you still aren't sold on this game then what would you say if I told you the Interceptor can transform into a boat. Let me repeat that: the Interceptor can transform into a speedboat. I know what you're thinking, “but internet review. What kind of impossible button combination do I have to memorize to use this most likely useless feature?” None, you simply drive into the lake or ocean of your choice and, instant transformation. Don't worry about the enemy agents, they have armed speedboats too. The Interceptor also has an off road form for when you feel like taking your expensive sports car through the mud and dirt, so you never feel trapped on the pavement.

Speaking of controls though, let's talk more in depth about those. The circle pad acts as the steering wheel and the left and right triggers, the brake and gas respectively. Simply double tap the gas to activate the turbo. The Interceptor thankfully handles like a dream due to the circle pad being smooth and responsive and makes me really want to see more driving games on the 3DS. The four face buttons control your four weapons and the layout generally corresponds to which part of the car the weapon is on. The B button for your rear facing weapon, X for the front facing weapon, A for the side weapons, and Y for the roof weapon. But I did have some frustrations with the controls.

Let me put it simply: I hate when developers mix touch screen controls with the actual buttons on the DS, pick one or the other. Whenever you start a mission you must tap the touch screen to launch the Interceptor, Why, I don't know. I want to just press A or any other button, but no I have to tap the screen. Remember that special device I mentioned that you could have one of in your load out; well you have to use the touch screen to use it. Do they know how awkward it is to keep your hands on the DS and hold the stylus at the same time? “Well internet review you can just use your finger.” Oh really? Well then my screen gets covered in smudges and is at risk of being scratched and I, like many other gamers I'm sure, like to take care of my game systems.

That isn't the only time you must use the touch screen by the way. In an attempt to add variety to the game there are several moments when you must pick targets on the ground for your UAV to destroy, by using the touch screen of course. These segments aren't bad by any means but they just don't need to be there. The driving is the meat of the game and when your suddenly supposed to grab your stylus for an, honestly pointless, UAV segment, it is annoying. Fortunately this doesn't happen so often that it ruins the game and each mission has different objective from the last so you'll stay on your toes.

The game is split into short missions with a heavy emphasis on replay value. Each mission has certain objectives you can complete for a higher score like destroying a certain enemy vehicle that only briefly appears or scanning enemy intel dropped by destroyed enemies. Also completing the mission in a short time gives a bonus to score. You will use your points from completed missions to upgrade the Interceptors' weapons and each weapon can be upgraded three times to receive different bonuses for each. The game also has twenty-five in game achievements to unlock. Spy Hunter is an arcade game through and through where the focus of the game is to beat your old score and achieve a faster time. If that style appeals to you then you will get plenty of play time from this game, if you don't care for arcade style games then you will be done with the game quickly.

And now to what I said I would touch on later, earlier in the review. Spy Hunter has a few unlocks, namely paint jobs for the Interceptor including the design from the original arcade game. You unlock these by using the StreetPass feature on the 3DS, by walking near someone who also owns Spy Hunter the handhelds communicate and unlock a paint job for each player's game. I bought this game on its release date and often take my 3DS with me when I go out in public and to this day I have yet to encounter a single owner of this game. So I can't comment on how sweet these rad paint schemes are but maybe you will get to see them.

In conclusion Spy Hunter on the 3DS is one of the best entries in the series of 3D Spy Hunter titles. I recommend the game to any fans of the series even if you haven't played any of the 3D titles out of worry that they would suck. If you have played the 3D Spy Hunter games and didn't like them then you won't like this one either since it is very similar. I want to see Spy Hunter continue, the series is just as fun in 3D as it was in 2D and I can't help but feel that no one bought this game. Hopefully I'm wrong and you will check it out too. Also, since graphics are a low priority for me when it comes to the enjoyment of a game I will just say that the game looks good with a nice variety of environments but just a few too many barren highways. The 3D effects are noticeable and even more so on a 3DS XL, with the explosions and debris being quite nice but not the best 3D I've seen on the system by any means, in all honesty I've had the 3D slider on my DS set off for several months now.

Spy Hunter on the 3DS earns an 8/10 only held back by unnecessary touch screen use and some bland environments.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10 | Originally Posted: 02/07/13

Game Release: Spy Hunter (US, 10/09/12)

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