Summary
Fans are lining up to see Ethan Hunt in his eighth cinematic adventure withMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which will culminate almost three decades of stories. Since theMission: Impossiblemovies first began, the series has helped redefine the spy espionage genre, with other movies, TV shows, and video games taking inspiration from the Tom Cruise spectacles.
Whether someone is excited about the release of the newMission: Impossibleor has just walked out of the theater and wants to experience what it’s like to be a super spy,many games provide that same feeling of excitement and intrigue.Spies can also fit into various genres, from first-person shooters to stealth thrillers that test a player’s patience.
Games directly based onMission: Impossiblearerare and seldom of quality, but there was a surprise gem for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox calledMission: Impossible - Operation Surma. It was developed by Paradigm Entertainment, who also made theSpy Hunterreboot, and featuresEthan Hunt trying to stop a computer virus from unleashing chaos on the world.
While far from excellent,Operation Surmadoes deliver on the big-action set pieces and stealth gameplay that utilizes tactics and gadgetry that fans expect from the franchise. It even features over-the-shoulder third-person shooter controls, something that was maligned on release buthas since become the norm. Additionally, while Tom Cruise does not reprise the role of Ethan, Ving Rhames returns as Luther to aid the player on their adventure.
Deus Ex: Human Revolutionis already fun to play because Adam Jensenis already a superpowered cyborg, but he is essentially a cyberpunk super spy. He infiltrates different locations, utilizing a variety of combat and stealth proficiencies to fight terrorist organizations, solve puzzles, and unravel greater conspiracies.
As Adam Jensen delves further into a world where corporations dominate the cybernetic augmentations that people rely on, the situation becomes increasingly grim. The environment starts to resemble that ofMission: Impossible;outside Adam’s primary team, trusting anyone, including those he works for, becomes a significant challenge.
Gamers who enjoyXCOMorFinal Fantasy Tacticscan get their secret agent fix withInvisible, Inc., which mixesturn-based strategy and tacticswith classic spy themes and visuals akin toJames BondorThe Man From UNCLEbut with a modern flair. Like other strategy games of its kind,Invisible, Inc.always punishesthe player with its difficulty, forcing them to think at least five steps ahead before making a move.
Invisible, Inc.homages every spy movie trope in some way, from the obviously evil villains to the over-the-top world domination plotsseen inJames BondorMission: Impossiblemovies. Players can hack into systems, characters have gadgets for infiltration and action, and everything is meant to look and sound stylish and sleek.
James Bondgames are known for being first-person shooters, butJames Bond 007: Everything Or Nothingbroke away from that mold with a third-person shooter that focused more on cover fire. With Pierce Brosnan providing the face and voice of Bond,Everything Or Nothingis more or less the closest thing to a fifthBondmovie starring Brosnan, even featuring famous actor Willem Dafoe as the new villain.
Fans ofSplinter Cellwill be quick to point out the similarities to that franchise, which is understandable, asSplinter Cellwas an explosive hit just two years before. Ironically,Splinter Cellwas originallygoing to be aJames Bondvideo game. The mix of action and stealth was later used for theFrom Russia With Loveand007: Blood Stonegames.
Rather than directly controlling the spy,Republique Remasteredboldly chooses to have the player be the tech-savvy operative behind a computer, akin to Simon Pegg’s Benji in theMission: Impossiblemovies. The player has to guide the main hero,Hope, by looking through security cameras and telling her where to go, when to hide, or what to find.
Like many spy movies,Republique Remastereddeliverssocial commentary on real-life issues.The main theme is the perils of government surveillance via the internet. Thishelps fill its unique gameplay approach with tension, and the voice talents of David Hayter, Jennifer Hale, Khary Payton, Josh Keaton, and Dwight Schultz give the game an extra dose of genuine cinematic storytelling.
There are manyJames Bond games out there, but for most gamers,GoldenEye 007is considered the definitive title in the series afterit debuted on the Nintendo 64. Not only was it a strong recreation of the movie that shares its name, but it revolutionized multiple first-person shooter mechanics that have since become gold standards in the industry.
Arguably, the most famous part ofGoldenEye 007is the split-screen multiplayer, in which up to four players can engage in deathmatches using characters from the movie and throughoutJames Bond’shistory. The story itself is still fun, plunging gamers into a world of terrorism, political thrills, and memorable set pieces straight out of the film.
TheSplinter Cellgames have always felt like UbiSoft’s takeon theMission: Impossiblefranchise, from Sam Fisher’s role as an operative who takes on shadow missions to the many gadgets he wields. The game spawned multiple sequels, includingSplinter Cell: Chaos Theory,Double Agent,Blacklist, and more.
Sam Fisher in the firstSplinter Cellresembles the earlyMission: Impossiblemovies, focusing on infiltration, using stealth takedowns, and employing his wits as much as his hands to take down villains. The gadgets are present but intentionally understated to avoid appearing too outlandish, and Sam Fisher mirrors Ethan Hunt in his quick and calculated actions. Furthermore, Michael Ironside portrays Sam in nearly every entry, adding a cinematic quality to the character.
Sam Fisher is left on his own without the endless technology and weapons he is known for, forcing him to rely on the bare minimum and his training to keep him alive and thwart a terrorist plot. The more grounded direction ofSplinter Cell: Convictionis reminiscent of theJason Bournemovies and is almost identical to the main concept ofMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, with Ethan and his team operating in the shadows.
Splinter Cell: Convictionstill has the stealth that the franchise is known for, but Sam Fisher is at his most gritty and relentless, with more emphasis on melee and shooter combat. This not only tests the players who are overdependent on gadgets, but it was intended as a way for new players to enjoy the game without having to play past entries.
Rare, the company that also developedGoldenEye 007, created another spy thrilleroutside theJames BondfranchisecalledPerfect Dark.This game features many of the same first-person shooter mechanics as Rare’s other work, but has been refined. Unlike the more contemporary setting and semi-realistic plots ofGoldenEye,Perfect Darkadopts a more extravagant storyline set in an alternate 2023, where two alien species are engaged in a war.
Joanna Dark is a secret agent tasked with infiltrating two corporations, each covertly involved with one of the two alien races. Although the game evolves into more of a sci-fi action experience by the end, it still captures what gamers loved aboutGoldenEye 007.
Obsidian Entertainment is already famous for their RPGs likeFallout: New VegasandThe Outer Worlds, but one of their more experimental titles wasAlpha Protocol. In many ways,Alpha Protocolresembles a spy thriller take onMass Effect,and this similarity is a strength rather than a weakness.
As a result, players have more of a choice of how the characters operate, with story and dialogue choices that can turn the main protagonist into a James Bond-like agent or a more morally gray character like Jason Bourne. The game features an evolving story and character development thatcan be influenced by player choices. Additionally, it offers the excitement ofMission: Impossible,with plenty of action sequences to keep players engaged, including gunplay, various gadgets, and melee combat.
