Spy Hunter 2 (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.8 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Ryan Davis
• Reviewed on: 11/25/2003
• Released on: 11/20/2003
• Originally published on GameSpot: Spy Hunter 2 (PlayStation 2) Review

When Midway revived the Spy Hunter franchise in 2001, the results were surprisingly good. Though nothing spectacular, the game was faithful to the arcade classic and made the transition to 3D a smooth one. For the sequel, Midway has enlisted the help of Rockstar San Diego, the development house formerly known as Angel Studios, whose previous efforts included the Midnight Club and Smuggler's Run franchises. It seemed like a perfect match, but Rockstar San Diego didn't have its A game for this one. Spy Hunter 2 is short, unbalanced, and somewhat unattractive.

Picking up where the last game left off, Spy Hunter 2 sees your character getting a proper name (Alec Sects), a saucy female sidekick, and a beefed-up new car. You continue to pursue NOSTRA, an evil organization of Bondian proportions, though its plans for world domination are vaguer this time around. Really, the game pays little respect to the story, which seems shoehorned into the game via pre-mission briefs that come up during loading screens.

But that's no big deal. The original Spy Hunter was perfectly fine without an overlying narrative, partially because the objectives were pretty cut and dried--shoot the bad guys, and try not to get shot yourself. This remains largely your goal in Spy Hunter 2, though the game also includes some of the trappings of modern games. There are some missions where you simply need to get from one end to the other with your hide intact, and these are usually the most engaging. There are also defense missions, such as where you're defending a large tanker in a harbor; escort missions, where you have to ensure the survival of a non-player vehicle; and boss fights, where you go head-to-head with a much larger, better-armed vehicle. Some of the boss fights can be fun, but, as in most games, the escort and defense missions are just tedious and frustrating, and ultimately the game relies on them too often.

Your superspy supercar, the G-8155 Interceptor, is a pretty versatile vehicle. Aside from its standard roadster configuration, the Interceptor can transform into several different forms, including a 4x4 mode when going off-road and a boat mode for when you hit the water. Also, if the Interceptor takes a certain amount of damage, it will shed most of its weight and continue on in a motorcycle or Jet Ski form. The Interceptor handles well enough, though a more pronounced powerslide would likely make for a more visceral experience, and collisions with other cars seem to favor your enemies more often than not.

You start the game armed with basic machine guns and some mines, but as you complete missions, you'll be rewarded with an assortment of new weapons, including smoke screens, guided missiles, energy shields, and railguns. These power-ups never seem to really give you a big advantage over your enemies, as the better your weapons are, the fiercer and more plentiful your enemies become.

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Spy Hunter 2 (PlayStation 2): $12.40 - $14.99

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	$14.99	Yes

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