It's hard to deny the appeal of first-person action/adventure/espionage game Project IGI's concept. What gamer hasn't wanted to play a virtual James Bond, using high-tech weapons and gadgets to save the world from nuclear destruction? Project IGI lets you do that and more throughout 14 immense missions that are set in all types of terrain and weather. Should you snipe that guard on the tower opposite you, or use the power cable between you and him to zip-line down, stab him, and save your precious sniper rifle ammunition? Is it better to take the base head-on or skulk around the perimeter first and thin down your opposition? This is the kind of open-ended superspy gameplay Project IGI offers.

There's no denying the game is beautiful. Project IGI is based on a flight simulator engine, so the outdoor environments let you see for miles. It's a stunning feeling to run to the edge of a cliff and see an enormous enemy military installation sprawled out in the valley below. Buildings, weapons, and vehicles are all rendered realistically, and there isn't a game in recent memory that contains such convincing base layouts. All of the places you are expected to infiltrate are dotted with watchtowers, warehouses, barracks, and security checkpoints. Best of all, the expansive outdoor environments seamlessly transition into indoor and underground installations that are just as detailed.

Unfortunately, idiotic enemies that rely on their instantaneous reactions, unerring aim, and large numbers to bring you down spoil the atmosphere. They operate on strict paths that are easy to determine, and simply stand in one spot and shoot until either they die or you do. Fights can be frustrating, made worse by the lack of an in-game save system. It's too bad, because with a few changes Project IGI would have risen from mildly entertaining to absolutely brilliant. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Stunning outdoor and indoor environments
• Slick mission designs offer plenty of variety
• Innovative switch to third-person view when climbing ladders and interacting with game objects

Cons:

• Expect to die a lot, usually because of cheap shots
• Enemies are incredibly dumb, and don't react properly to most situations