SpyHunter

Last updated
SpyHunter
Spy Hunter (2001) Coverart.png
Developer(s) Paradigm Entertainment
Point of View, Inc. (GC & Xbox)
Midway Games (GBA)
Sidhe Interactive (PC)
TransGaming (OS X)
Vasara Games [lower-alpha 1] (Zodiac)
Publisher(s) Midway
Aspyr (PC & OS X)
Designer(s) Shawn Wright
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Tapwave Zodiac
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: September 24, 2001
  • EU: October 19, 2001
GameCube
  • NA: March 12, 2002 [1]
  • EU: June 28, 2002
Xbox
  • NA: March 12, 2002 [1]
  • EU: June 28, 2002
Game Boy Advance
  • NA: May 13, 2002 [2]
  • EU: November 18, 2002
Microsoft Windows & OS X
Zodiac
  • NA: November 4, 2003 [4]
  • EU: October 22, 2004 [5]
Genre(s) Vehicular combat
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

SpyHunter is a vehicular combat game. It is a remake and sequel of the 1983 arcade game of the same name first released for PlayStation 2 in 2001. It has since been ported to GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Tapwave Zodiac. In the game, the player drives the G-6155 Interceptor, an advanced, weaponized spy vehicle. Unlike the original's top-down view, the remake is played with a chase camera, similar to a racing game.

Contents

Overview

The game features variations of the Peter Gunn theme throughout the game, including menu screens and the main levels, as well as a variation with lyrics called "The Spy Hunter Theme" by Saliva. Each mission, of which there are fourteen (including 2 training levels), has one primary objective and a number of secondary objectives. There is a range of objectives, though the gameplay is similar on every level: the player must drive along shooting enemy vehicles, avoiding civilians and destroying set targets. Every mission must be completed within a time limit. Objectives are generally to destroy things like enemy weapons, equipment and communications towers, to avoid civilian casualties, to tag things with tracking devices and so on, although some objectives that are a little different include escaping from a warehouse using a trabant within a tight time limit, escorting and protecting allied vehicles and even chasing and destroying a stolen Interceptor vehicle.[ citation needed ]

The car features the same weapons as the original arcade game, although only the machine guns, and oil slick are available at first; the smoke screen and missiles are acquired later (in this game, there are two types of missiles: unguided rockets and guided missiles). New weapons include tracking devices (not really a weapon) and a flamethrower, rail gun, EMP launcher, IR scanner. Larger 20mm guns, then 40mm guns are unlocked as well. The weapons van also returns in this game, and features some of the same enemies (including "Switch Blade" Plymouth Prowler which has tire slashers, and the "Road Lord" Mack Superliner which can't be destroyed with machine guns). The Interceptor has three modes: car, boat and motorcycle (the third mode is new to this game), the latter mode appearing when the Interceptor's energy (in car or boat mode) is critically low. The game also features a two-player mode, where the player and a friend can race through any of the 14 missions after completing them in single player mode. Some are straight races, while others require the players to kill chickens or drive through icons along the way. The players can also destroy each other, after which they "respawn".[ citation needed ]

Plot

The plot deals with Alec Sects, an F-15 pilot who was trained by the FBI, as he tries to take down Nostra, an Israeli-based international company that produces food products, bio-chemicals, genetics, e-commerce and children's software. Daemon Curry, a man who believes himself to be the figure mentioned in several religions (for example: the second christ/antichrist and believes in the prophecies of Nostradamus), is the founder and leader. To deal with him, the IES create a team called Spyhunter. Curry has reason to believe that it is the same person who stopped him in 1983 ( Spy Hunter ). When he was trying to launch his plan, he sends all he has after him. Curry's plan is to use four EMP weapons mounted on satellites, dubbed the Four Horsemen, to stop all electricity in the world, then plans to rule. Originally Alec does light missions, mostly destruction of Nostra property (like a vehicle created from Nostra and stolen IES technology), but Nostra hijacks the "Weapons Van" and an Interceptor, and Alec is forced to destroy it. Eventually, the G-6155 Interceptor receives an upgrade (and a change of paint) to the G-6155 Interceptor II, complete with an EMP Launcher, Scanner, and a shorter Turbo lag time. Nostra's schemes become more dangerous, and Alec finds himself returning to most of the previous Nostra bases for more intense missions such as destroying weapons of mass destruction. Later, he finds the headquarters where the Four Horsemen are based in Petra. After a hard-fought battle, the Four Horsemen are defused and explode, while Alec escapes on the Interceptor II. Following a parachute dive from the cliff-side base and landing safely on the ground, he heads toward Russia, setting the stage for SpyHunter 2 . Curry's fate is never shown, but he is most likely killed in the explosion as he is not mentioned among the Nostra ringleaders in the sequel.

Development

Word that the game was in development emerged in late 1997. At the time, it was titled "Spy Hunter Returns", was planned for release in late 1998 or early 1999, and had the Nintendo 64 as its target platform, but Midway already had plans to feature different versions of the original Peter Gunn theme throughout the game. [6]

Reception

By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of SpyHunter had sold 900,000 copies and earned $29 million in the United States. Next Generation ranked it as the 64th highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined console sales of SpyHunter games released in the 2000s reached 1.6 million units in the United States by November 2003. [52]

The PlayStation 2 version received "favorable" reviews, while the rest of the console versions received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation , rating it four stars out of five. [45]

In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of one nine, one six, and two eights for a total of 31 out of 40. [53] [54] GameSpot's Ryan Davis praised the same version as a solid reinterpretation of a video game classic with its own elements, [29] but panned the PC port, noticing the problems with graphics and controls in the gameplay. [28] Avery Score of the same website gave the Zodiac version 8.8 out of 10, [55] while GameZone gave the Zodiac version nine out of ten. [56]

Notes

  1. ↑ Internal game development division of Fathammer.

Related Research Articles

<i>Tetris Worlds</i> 2001 video game

Tetris Worlds is a version of the video game Tetris. Originally released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance, it was later released for Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in 2002. In 2003, an Xbox Live version titled "Tetris Worlds Online" and a single-disc compilation version were released for the Xbox. The latter was bundled with Xbox systems.

<i>James Bond 007: Nightfire</i> 2002 first-person shooter video game

James Bond 007: Nightfire is a 2002 first-person shooter video game published by Electronic Arts for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows, with additional versions released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003, and the Mac OS X in 2004. The computer versions feature modifications to the storyline, different missions and the removal of driving sections used in home console versions.

<i>Madden NFL 2004</i> 2003 video game

Madden NFL 2004 is the 15th installment of the Madden NFL series of American football video games. Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is on the cover.

<i>Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4</i> 2002 video game

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is a 2002 skateboarding game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision under their Activision O2 label. The game was ported by different developers to various systems. It is the fourth installment in the Tony Hawk's series. The game was released in 2002 for the GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance. In 2003, it was published for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. In 2004, a Tapwave Zodiac version was released.

<i>Tom Clancys Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow</i> 2004 video game

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is a 2004 stealth game developed and published by Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Milan. The game is the sequel to Splinter Cell and the second game in the Splinter Cell series endorsed by writer Tom Clancy. It follows the covert activities of Sam Fisher, an agent working for a black-ops branch of the National Security Agency (NSA) called "Third Echelon". Michael Ironside returns to voice Sam Fisher, while Dennis Haysbert voices the character Irving Lambert, Fisher's boss, making this the only time he is not voiced by Don Jordan. Lalo Schifrin provides the theme music for the game.

<i>Madden NFL 2003</i> 2002 video game

Madden NFL 2003 is an American football simulation video game based on the NFL that was developed by EA Tiburon and Budcat Creations and published by EA Sports. The 14th installment of the Madden NFL series, the game features former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk on the cover. This edition of Madden was the first to have EA Trax, the Mini Camp mode, and to feature Al Michaels as play-by-play announcer, who took over for Pat Summerall. Although it featured the expansion Houston Texans and the relocation of the Seattle Seahawks to the NFC, it was actually the second to do so. The game was released on August 12, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The PlayStation version also includes the Sega Genesis version of John Madden Football 93.

<i>Madden NFL 2002</i> 2001 video game

Madden NFL 2002 is an American football video game. It features former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper on the cover. Pat Summerall and John Madden are the commentators. The Madden NFL 2002 commercial first aired during Super Bowl XXXVI, three days after Madden NFL 2002 started selling in Japan. Notably, it does not feature the Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who is included on later editions of the game as a roster update. It is also the first game to be developed by Budcat Creations.

<i>Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004</i> 2003 video game

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is a sports video game developed by EA Redwood Shores for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions, Headgate Studios for the Microsoft Windows version, and Backbone Emeryville for the Game Boy Advance and N-Gage versions, and published by EA Sports for GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and N-Gage.

<i>Batman: Vengeance</i> 2001 video game

Batman: Vengeance is a 2001 action-adventure video game based on the fictional superhero of the same name. It was released for PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. The game was developed and published by Ubi Soft in conjunction with Warner Bros. and DC Comics.

<i>SpyHunter 2</i> 2003 video game

SpyHunter 2 is a video game published by Midway in 2003 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. This game is the sequel to the 2001 remake of the 1983 game Spy Hunter. The player's first mission begins in Russia, right where the last level left off from leaving Petra, Jordan and the NOSTRA organization completely decimated initializing a sequel from the 2001 remake; he begins his cooperation with Agent Duvelle, traveling in various locations all around the planet including Russia, the United States, Asia, Switzerland and Antarctica. The weapons van is brought back again and equipped this time with an automatic turret / machine gun being that the player can utilize in extreme vehicular combat resolutions. The newly acquired Interceptor SpyHunter vehicle can enter off-road mode and transform itself into a jet-ski, a snow-mobile, a motor-tricycle, and a speedboat. The player can also choose from an arsenal of weapons inspired by James Bond 007 and Mission Impossible. Available weapons include Mines, Smoke Screen, Oil Slick, Machine Guns, Rockets, Missiles, Lasers and Cannons. The soundtrack features the song "Dark Carnival" recorded by Vanessa Carlton.

<i>Catwoman</i> (video game) 2004 video game

Catwoman is an action-adventure video game based on the 2004 film of the same name based on the fictional character. It features the likeness of the film's lead actress Halle Berry, while the character's voice is provided by actress Jennifer Hale. This would end up being developer Argonaut Software's final game.

<i>Kelly Slaters Pro Surfer</i> 2002 video game

Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer is an extreme sports video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision under the Activision O2 label. The game was endorsed by veteran surfer Kelly Slater and released for Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2002, and for Microsoft Windows in 2003. To coincide with the game, Slater appeared as an unlockable character in the 2001 skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, complete with surfboard.

<i>MTX Mototrax</i> 2004 video game

MTX Mototrax is a racing video game developed by Left Field Productions and published by Activision for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X later that year developed by Beenox and published by Aspyr. It was also released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable. Additional releases were planned for the GameCube console in 2004, which was later canceled, and Tapwave Zodiac, which was called off when Tapwave went out of business. A demo version of the game is available in the options menu in the PlayStation 2 version of Tony Hawk's Underground.

<i>NHL 2002</i> 2001 video game

NHL 2002 is a video game released by EA Sports in 2001. It is the predecessor to NHL 2003. The game's cover man is Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and owner Mario Lemieux, who had just made a comeback after being retired for three and a half years. It was the first installment of the NHL series to be released on Xbox.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance</i> 2001 video game

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a 2001 action role-playing video game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment subsidiary Black Rock Studios for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox consoles, with High Voltage Software handling the GameCube port, and Magic Pockets developing the Game Boy Advance version. CD Projekt was developing a version for Microsoft Windows, but was ultimately cancelled. In 2021, a 4K port of the game was released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

<i>SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run</i> 2006 action racing video game

SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run is an action racing video game developed by Terminal Reality and published by Midway Games released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. A version for Microsoft Windows was released in 2009, ported by Steel Monkeys. It is the first installment in the Spy Hunter series to allow the player to play as the character and not only the vehicle. Nowhere to Run was an orphaned tie-in to an unmade Spy Hunter movie adaptation. The film got stuck in development hell and the game was released as a stand-alone. The game stars Dwayne Johnson as government agent Alex Decker, who replaces Alec Sects, the "SpyHunter" who was to have been the main character of the movie.

<i>NFL Blitz 2002</i> 2001 video game

NFL Blitz 2002 is a video game published by Midway for Game Boy Advance in 2001, and for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2002.

<i>FIFA Football 2003</i> 2002 video game

FIFA Football 2003, known as FIFA Soccer 2003 in North America, and simply FIFA 2003 is a football simulation video game produced by Electronic Arts and released by EA Sports. It was released in 2002.

References

  1. 1 2 "Spy Hunter on its way to stores". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  2. ↑ Harris, Craig (2002-05-13). "SpyHunter Zooms to Stores". IGN. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  3. ↑ "Aspyr ships SpyHunter for Mac and PC". Macworld. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  4. ↑ Harris, Craig (2003-11-04). "Tapwave Zodiac Launches". IGN. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  5. ↑ "TAPWAVE LAUNCHES THE AWARD-WINNING ZODIAC MULTIMEDIA HANDHELD INTO EUROPEAN MARKET". GamesIndustry.biz. 2004-10-08. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Quartermann". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 102. Ziff Davis. January 1998. p. 34.
  7. 1 2 "Spy Hunter for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Spy Hunter for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Spy Hunter for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Spy Hunter for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Spy Hunter for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  12. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "SpyHunter (GBA) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ Buchanan, Jason. "SpyHunter (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  14. ↑ Edge staff (November 2001). "SpyHunter (PS2)". Edge . No. 103.
  15. ↑ EGM staff (November 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . p. 210.
  16. ↑ EGM staff (June 2002). "Spy Hunter (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 155. p. 120.
  17. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (June 2002). "Spy Hunter (GBA)". Game Informer . No. 110. p. 87. Archived from the original on February 27, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  18. ↑ Kato, Matthew (May 2002). "Spy Hunter (GC)". Game Informer. No. 109. p. 85. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  19. ↑ McNamara, Andy (November 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 103. p. 106. Archived from the original on November 13, 2004. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Spy Hunter (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 109. May 2002. p. 87.
  21. ↑ Dan Elektro (May 14, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com". GamePro . Archived from the original on March 27, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  22. ↑ Fennec Fox (April 23, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  23. ↑ Uncle Dust (September 24, 2001). "Spy Hunter Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  24. ↑ Fennec Fox (April 9, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on March 29, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  25. ↑ Silverman, Ben (October 13, 2001). "Spy Hunter Review (PS2) [score is mislabeled as "C+"]". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  26. ↑ Provo, Frank (May 31, 2002). "Spy Hunter GBA Review". GameSpot . Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  27. ↑ Davis, Ryan (March 15, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review (GC)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Davis, Ryan (September 3, 2003). "Spy Hunter Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  29. 1 2 Davis, Ryan (September 27, 2001). "Spy Hunter Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  30. ↑ Davis, Ryan (March 11, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  31. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (June 13, 2002). "SpyHunter (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on April 3, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  32. ↑ Sabine, Mike (April 13, 2002). "Spy Hunter (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  33. ↑ Rice, Kevin (December 18, 2003). "GameSpy: SpyHunter (PC)". GameSpy. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  34. ↑ Hiscock, Josh (October 5, 2001). "Spy Hunter". PlanetPS2. Archived from the original on October 31, 2001. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  35. ↑ Eddy, Andy (March 19, 2002). "SpyHunter (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  36. ↑ McElfish, Carlos (June 7, 2002). "SpyHunter - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  37. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (March 24, 2002). "SpyHunter - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  38. ↑ Raymond, Justin (September 17, 2003). "SpyHunter - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  39. ↑ The Badger (October 14, 2001). "SpyHunter - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  40. ↑ Tha Wiz (March 26, 2002). "SpyHunter - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  41. ↑ Harris, Craig (June 4, 2002). "SpyHunter (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  42. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (March 13, 2002). "SpyHunter (GCN)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  43. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (October 1, 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  44. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (March 12, 2002). "SpyHunter (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  45. 1 2 Lundrigan, Jeff (November 2001). "Finals". Next Generation . Vol. 4, no. 11. Imagine Media. p. 108.
  46. ↑ "SpyHunter (GBA)". Nintendo Power . Vol. 160. September 2002. p. 168.
  47. ↑ "SpyHunter (GC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 156. May 2002. p. 130.
  48. ↑ "Spy Hunter". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . November 2001. p. 163.
  49. ↑ "SpyHunter". Official Xbox Magazine . May 2002. p. 78.
  50. ↑ McNamara, Tom (December 25, 2003). "Spy Hunter". PC Gamer : 113. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Maxim . 2001.
  52. ↑ Lewis, Ed (2003-11-25). "SpyHunter 2 On its Way". IGN. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  53. ↑ "プレイステーション2 - スパイハンター". Famitsu . Vol. 915. June 30, 2006. p. 91.
  54. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (April 19, 2002). "Gaming in Japan: Week in Review". IGN. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  55. ↑ Score, Avery (2004). "Spy Hunter Review (Zodiac)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  56. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (June 7, 2004). "SpyHunter - MB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.