Spy Hunter (2001 video game)

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Spy Hunter
Image:Spy Hunter (2001) Coverart.png
Developer(s) Paradigm Entertainment, Point of View, Inc., Sidhe Interactive
Publisher(s) Midway Games
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, Game Boy Advance, Tapwave Zodiac, Mac OS X
Release date September 24, 2001 (PS2), 2002 (for Gamecube, Xbox), 2003 (Windows), 2004 (Zodiac)
Genre(s) Vehicular combat
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T (Teen)
ELSPA: 11+
Input methods wheel; shifter; pedal

Spy Hunter is an enhanced remake of the 1983 arcade game of the same name for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and Microsoft Windows. In 2004, a version of the game was released on the 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.

The game has the Blues Brothers 2000, Art of Noise, and Saliva versions of the Peter Gunn theme.

Each mission, of which there are fourteen (including a training level), 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 within a tight time limit, escorting and protecting allied vehicles and even chasing and destroying a stolen Interceptor vehicle.

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, the are two types of missiles: regular missiles and guided missiles). New weapons include tracking devices (not really a weapon) and a flamethrower. The weapons van also returns in this game, and features some of the same enemies (including "Switch Blade" which has tire slashers, and the "Road Lord" 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 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".

Due to good reviews and high sales, a sequel titled Spy Hunter 2 was released.[citation needed]

The Xbox version also features the original arcade game.

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