James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire

"A nice FPS and Bond title, but not truely up to expectations."

Introduction
Electronic Arts made a daring move in order to create a hit for the Playstation 2. They decided to create a Bond game with no movie to base it on. They still used the Bond license, but were allowed to create a plot and characters without being bonded to a movie. Now, EA has ported James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire to the Nintendo GameCube, and it probably sells more than it would a year from now. Why? Agent Under Fire is the only first person shooter (FPS) out on the console right now. This fact means that anybody looking for an early shooting fix will instantly turn to this title. However, the game offers much more than just the license and the genre: it includes a single-player with three different diffculties, which you earn medals on, unlocking cheats and multiplayer options. Some of these cheats combine to make the ultimate single-player weapon, though the others enhance the game's best feature: multiplayer. With some of the best replay value on the Nintendo GameCube right now, Agent Under Fire offers GameCube gamers something they haven't had until now.
Graphics
As a port from a technically inferior system (based on fact, not opinion), Agent Under Fire looks nearly identical to its Playstation 2 counterpart. The game shows some very nice reflections and shading, and runs at a excellent rate of 60 Frames per Second (FPS) even with many, many enemies and objects on screen at a time. The loading times are cut in half from the Playstation 2 version, though the in-level loading sequences remain there. You'll notice some blockiness in face detail, but other than that, the faces, bodies, and objects all look polished-but not polished enough. This game will do much to remind you its a port, since it hardly pushes the GCN's graphical limits. But what Nintendo fan cries about graphics? Anyone will be far too busy shooting people to pause the game and yell, ''Poor Polygon count on the guard's hand!''. It's for this reason that AUF's graphics satisfy any hardcore gamer's need.

Gameplay
Agent Under Fire is a first person shooter, but don't think that all the levels will have you using gadgets and completing objectives: you'll find some on-rail FPS levels and also 2 levels where you'll drive a BMW equipped with boosters, rockets, and missiles, along with a ''refrigerated beverage holder''. These exciting levels break up the FPS levels and also help out the plot, explaining movement from one place to another. How do you get from an oilrig platform to a secret underground clone lab? An underground rail-shooting level where you'll fire from a tunnel car explains that with a fistful of action. In further detail, here's the breakdown:

The first type of level is most obvious: the first-person shooting levels. These reqire you to use guns and Q gadgets to accomplish objectives. Along the way, you'll notice you will get Bond moves for special tasks, like shooting the pilot of a helicopter, causing it to crash or simply grappling to a high point using your Q Claw. These levels are quite easy; for example, when you come across a lock, the game will switch to a cutscene showing you the lock with somebody from MI6 telling you how to get past this. This somewhat erases the strategy part of the game and slightly turns it into a mindless shooting fest.

The second type of level you'll encounter is a on-rails shooting level. You'll pop out of a sunroof of a car, manhole in a tank, or underground tunnel car. These allow you to focus on shooting enemies and objects, since you don't have to worry about moving. Running out of ammo is never a question; the tracks are littered with spare guns and ammo to replenish your supply. However, these levels are often much easier than the FPS levels; you'll hardly get hit if you are somewhat fast on the trigger, and believe me, anybody who can hit a button once every five seconds is fast on the trigger in this game. The only real challenge in any of these levels is the very last part of the last on-rail level.

The last type of level are driving levels. You'll take control of a BMW(unless you unlock the Lotus Espirit) which contains machine guns, rockets, and missiles to blow up foes and enemy cars while driving down the road. These levels can easily knock off your health with the helicopters firing rockets at you and the gun-happy car drivers.

And last, but certainly not the least, is the multiplayer. A new addition is bots, a feature the previous version lacked. However, don't think you can load up 4 players and 8 bots like in Perfect Dark; you can only have up to 4 contenders in multiplayer, including bots. So that's 1 person, 3 bots, 2 people, 2 bots, etc. This is part of the reason AUF's framerate never drops below 60 FPS. Also in multiplayer, EA has included the feature to use the Q Jet and the Q Claw. In levels such as Blue Sector, you can use the Q-Claw on every wall to grapple along. This allows you to reach sniping points and ambush people as they run through doors. With everything unlocked from platinum medals going to multiplayer, you can make your game save contain a large amount of multiplayer options.

Sound
The music in the driving/rail shooting levels is simply fantastic. They really pump you up for the present moment, when you're firing missiles while driving 60 MPH. After a long, quiet moment of stealth, fast-pitched music with play when an enemy finds you, hits the alarm, and you are surrounded by multiple gun-wielding foes. The sounds of guns and gadgets sound very bona fide, and are up to GameCube standards.

Replay Value
The medals to unlock in single-player will keep you playing some missions over and over again. However, once you discover how to attain big scores(Play on 00 Agent, get all Bond moves) you can easily unlock the cheats. Even after that, grab a couple of friends and have a frag fest in multiplayer, with the innovative features such as a grapple and fuel jet. The multiplayer is second only to Super Smash Brothers: Melee.

Conclusion
The addition to bots in multiplayer makes it a much more worthwhile purchase for anyone with less then 3 good friends. However, it is the only FPS on the GameCube to date, so you may want to buy it to satisfy your needs. Nevertheless, Agent Under Fire is a good game, but simply not the best the system can offer.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/08/02, Updated 05/08/02