Reviewed
06.06.2000
Publisher
NEC
HE (Japan)
UFO
(USA)
Developer
Hunex
Format
GD
Origin
Import/Domestic
Available
Sep.
25, 1999 (Japan)
Jun.
1, 2000 (USA)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Hard
Dimensions
3D
View
Multi
3rd Person
Genre
Sim/RPG
Players
1
Options
Arcade
Stick
Backup
7
Rumble
VGA
Box
Requires
n/a
Importable
50% |
INTRO:
> The Dreamcast's success in America has increased the probability
that publishers will localize niche titles that usually remain in Japan.
Thanks to UFO Interactive, great games like Seventh
Cross and I-Spy (aka Espion-age-nts) will be enjoyed by American gamers
too. In the story of I-Spy, corporations have overthrown the government
in an effort to rule the world. They use spy organizations to gather
information in order to maintain power. You play the "Boss" of Blitzstrahl
(German for lightning-bolt), the leading group of industrial spies.
Your job is simple -- take on jobs to earn money and gain experience.
Completing these tasks is where the planning, strategy, and implementation
come in.
> Espion-age-nts does not make a good title to import. As with Seventh
Cross, it's much too complicated to play in another language. You'll
need all the help you can get so make sure to read the instruction booklet.
GRAPHICS:
> On the whole, I'd give the graphics an average rating at best.
I hope you can appreciate games for gameplay because I-Spy sure isn't going
to appeal to your eye-candy senses (it doesn't for me). The 3D models
are simple, levels are sparse, and textures are repetitive. Special
effects are basically nonexistent too. The good news is that I-Spy's
window and menu system are quite functional and practical. Also,
your variable 3rd person view of the action is usually pretty good.
CONTROL:
> The entire game is controlled via menu choices. For instance, before
beginning a mission, you can tell team members what to do in case they
are attacked. During a mission, you can tell them where to go, what
to look at, what skills to use in order to advance the mission goals, and
much more. You never actually take direct control, rather you give
directives and they carry them out to the best of their ability.
Of course, if you tell a character to hack into a computer without the
proper skills for the job, then he/she will not be able to complete the
order. It's your job to decide which members to bring along in each
mission in order to accomplish the main objectives and survive any attacks.
The quicker you successfully complete a mission, the more money and experience
you will earn.
SOUND:
> I-Spy's music is fairly generic from start to finish. It suffices
to say it's no where near what I expect from Dreamcast or Hunex.
Oh well, at least it's not annoying.
> The sound effects in I-Spy are nothing special either. I'm sure
not everyone will agree, but the voice is quite good throughout the game.
Other effects like doors opening, alarms howling, cheesy footsteps, and
keyboard typing round out what you'll hear.
FUN:
> I-Spy offers 10 increasingly difficult and lengthy levels to complete.
The order in which you take the on these levels is up to you, which adds
to the game's replayability. You can take up to four agents into
a mission while giving orders to one at a time. Even though there
is a bit of repetitive gameplay, the planning, strategy, problem solving,
and implementation aspects make up for it. I wonder if this game
would be cool over the internet? Maybe for the hopeful sequel?
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