Spy Hunter 2 Updated Impressions

We recently had the chance to try out a new version of Spy Hunter 2, Midway's upcoming follow-up to 2002's 3D update of its classic arcade franchise. The latest entry in the new franchise is taking a few new twists this time out. A new story, which revolves around the devilish Nostra organization, and a mysterious female agent will offer plenty of intrigue to discover. A redesigned G-8155 interceptor will offer new vehicle modes to test your driving skills. At the helm of the new adventure is developer Angel Studios--now known as Rockstar San Diego--widely recognized for its work on the Smuggler's Run and Midnight Club II franchises. We had the chance to try out an updated preview version of the game, and it seems to be coming together pretty well.

The first thing you'll notice is that the game has gotten a nice graphical overhaul. The Interceptor's new design, featuring sleek gun and missile emplacements that are both stylish and deadly, is highlighted by its shiny new exterior. The environments are detailed and feature a more "lived in" look than the first game. You'll find a variety of destructible elements in every area, as well as environmental effects, like snow, that are used to add some ambience to the locations.

The gameplay in Spy Hunter 2 is still being polished, although the version we played handled fine. The game uses the same basic control scheme as its predecessor, although now there's a button dedicated for switching to the new off-road racing mode. The new off-road mode, as well as the new Interceptor snowmobile form, add some welcome variety to the missions. In addition, sequences that put you behind the guns of your weapons keep the action fresh.

As far as the missions go, don't expect a massive difference in the game's structure. You're still going to go through the game on a set path. However when you're on the missions, expect a bit more pain. The game can be challenging, so, thanks to the improved graphics engine, expect quite a bit more resistance from Nostra's forces--in the form of more enemies and much more gunfire. Angel has also thrown in some highly unpleasant bosses into the mix just to ensure that you don't get too comfortable. The game's pacing also feels a bit more speedy, which may be due to the increased enemy presence. At any rate, the missions, which feature the standard mix of escort, demolition, and infiltration variations seen in the first game (along with some added evil twists), play well.

Based on the updated preview version we tried, Spy Hunter 2 is shaping up rather nicely. It covers all of its bases, in terms of what you'd want out of a sequel, and tosses in a solid helping of extras, like a multiplayer mode with three game types to play with a friend. Fans of the first game will want to check it out, as will anyone who's looking for some arcade-style action. Spy Hunter 2 is currently slated to ship this fall for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox and will tentatively ship early next year for the GameCube.