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SpyHunter

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For the 1983 game, see Spy Hunter. For the 2012 game, see Spy Hunter (2012 video game). For other uses, see Spy Hunter (disambiguation).
SpyHunter
Developer(s)Paradigm Entertainment
Point of View, Inc. (GC & Xbox)
Midway Games (GBA & OS X)
Sidhe Interactive (PC)
Fathammer (Zodiac)
Publisher(s)Midway Games
Aspyr (PC & OS X)
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
  • EU: June 28, 2002
Xbox
  • NA: March 14, 2002
  • EU: June 28, 2002
Game Boy Advance
  • NA: May 14, 2002
  • EU: November 18, 2002
Microsoft Windows & OS X
  • NA: May 30, 2003
Zodiac
Genre(s)Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

SpyHunter is an enhanced remake and sequel of the 1983 arcade game for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Tapwave Zodiac. In the original Spy Hunter, a popular arcade game, the player drives a souped-up spy car with Bond fittings. While the original was viewed from high above, Midway revamped it with next generation graphics and a behind the car view.

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.) Or The Enforcer With Rocket Launcher And Gatling Guns Back of The Trunk Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 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, a 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). However, 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 diffused 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.

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 1.4 million units in the United States by July 2006.[46]

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.[41][42][43][44][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.[47][48] GameSpot's Ryan Davis praised the same version as "a solid reinterpretation of a video game classic that adds its own unique elements to the franchise without forsaking what made Spy Hunter what it was."[19] However, he later panned the PC port as "a very modest arcade driving game that's simply not worth playing [...] Graphics and the gameplay have been compromised too much in the transition. The end result is a game with shoddy controls that looks more dated than the source material."[18] Avery Score of the same website gave the Zodiac version 8.8 out of 10, saying that it "falls short of perfection, but is one of the best games in recent memory and a blast to play alone or with friends."[49] GameZone also gave the Zodiac version nine out of ten, saying that it was "not just a must-buy for those who have a Zodiac, it's also a reason to buy a Zodiac."[50]

References

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  2. ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "SpyHunter (GBA) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Buchanan, Jason. "SpyHunter (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Edge staff (November 2001). "SpyHunter (PS2)". Edge (103).
  5. ^ EGM staff (November 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 210.
  6. ^ EGM staff (June 2002). "Spy Hunter (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (155): 120.
  7. ^ Helgeson, Matt (June 2002). "Spy Hunter (GBA)". Game Informer (110): 87. Archived from the original on February 27, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. ^ Kato, Matthew (May 2002). "Spy Hunter (GC)". Game Informer (109): 85. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ McNamara, Andy (November 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Game Informer (103): 106. Archived from the original on November 13, 2004. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Spy Hunter (Xbox)". Game Informer (109): 87. May 2002.
  11. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Provo, Frank (May 31, 2002). "Spy Hunter GBA Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  17. ^ Davis, Ryan (March 15, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review (GC)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (September 3, 2003). "Spy Hunter Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (September 27, 2001). "Spy Hunter Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  20. ^ Davis, Ryan (March 11, 2002). "Spy Hunter Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  21. ^ Steinberg, Steve (June 13, 2002). "SpyHunter (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on April 3, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  22. ^ Sabine, Mike (April 13, 2002). "Spy Hunter (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  23. ^ Rice, Kevin (December 18, 2003). "GameSpy: SpyHunter (PC)". GameSpy. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  24. ^ Hiscock, Josh (October 5, 2001). "Spy Hunter". PlanetPS2. Archived from the original on October 31, 2001. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  25. ^ Eddy, Andy (March 19, 2002). "SpyHunter (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  26. ^ McElfish, Carlos (June 7, 2002). "SpyHunter - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  27. ^ Lafferty, Michael (March 24, 2002). "SpyHunter - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  28. ^ Raymond, Justin (September 17, 2003). "SpyHunter - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  29. ^ The Badger (October 14, 2001). "SpyHunter - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  30. ^ Tha Wiz (March 26, 2002). "SpyHunter - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  31. ^ Harris, Craig (June 4, 2002). "SpyHunter (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  32. ^ Casamassina, Matt (March 13, 2002). "SpyHunter (GCN)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  33. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (October 1, 2001). "Spy Hunter (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  34. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (March 12, 2002). "SpyHunter (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
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  38. ^ "SpyHunter". Official Xbox Magazine: 78. May 2002.
  39. ^ McNamara, Tom (December 25, 2003). "Spy Hunter". PC Gamer: 113. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  40. ^ "Spy Hunter (PS2)". Maxim. 2001.
  41. ^ a b "Spy Hunter for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  42. ^ a b "Spy Hunter for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  43. ^ a b "Spy Hunter for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  44. ^ a b "Spy Hunter for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  45. ^ a b "Spy Hunter for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  46. ^ Campbell, Colin; Keiser, Joe (July 29, 2006). "The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century". Next Generation. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; October 28, 2007 suggested (help)
  47. ^ "プレイステーション2 - スパイハンター". Famitsu. 915: 91. June 30, 2006.
  48. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (April 19, 2002). "Gaming in Japan: Week in Review". IGN. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  49. ^ Score, Avery (2004). "Spy Hunter Review (Zodiac)". GameSpot. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  50. ^ Bedigian, Louis (June 7, 2004). "SpyHunter - MB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
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