Game Over - 25
September 02
Like I said earlier, this is just an appetizer for the true review, which
will be up in a week. But let me put it this way: I haven’t even gone over
a twentieth of this game, or just how amazing it will be. Those of you
who have downloaded the demo have a definite idea of what I’m talking about.
The four levels provided offer just a little taste of Monolith’s latest
offering, and the way it’s progressing, NOLF 2 has Game of the Year status
written all over it.
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EliTed - 25 September
02
In the first mission, you start in Inotakimura, Japan, and out side this
town is a nicely done waterfall with realistic looking trees, dirt trails,
large rocks, light posts, and all of this at dusk. It gives you a strong
feeling of what it would be like to stroll around in one of Japan’s park.
Characters of the games are always evolving and getting closer to being
humanlike where each character has the ability to show many facial expressions,
finger movements and even eye movements.
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Digital Back
Spin - 24 September 02
Take everything you loved about the first game and make it twice as good,then
take all the stuff that was broken and fix. When you've done that, rework
the whole play mechanic and tweak the enemy AI from it's previous dim-witted
state to one of complete competence and you get a general idea of the changes
the developers have made to our favorite mini-skirt wearin' super spy,
Cate Archer.
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Computer & Video
Games - 24 September 02
At this point you might be wondering why this reporter, a fervent RTS
and RPG fan and apparent FPS critic is about to get all worked up and excited
about what is after all an FPS. Well, it's simple. NOLF 2 is funny. It's
also clever, innovative and has lots of stupid gadgets to play with - but
mainly it's damn funny, and humour in a game is a rare commodity. OK, the
original NOLF tried its hand at comedy and effectively died on stage, but
things have changed since then. The scriptwriters at Monolith must have
had their sense of humour krypton-tuned because this time it works. Keeping
faith with the original team for the sequel has paid dividends. For a start,
the team knows from feedback which gags worked and which ones didn't. So,
at the beginning of the NOLF 2 project they armed themselves with the crucial
information, barricaded themselves in the boardroom and then proceeded
to throw strange ideas at each other. As a general rule of thumb, the more
ridiculous the idea, the more likely it was to get into the final script.
Consequently, NOLF 2 is more tongue-in-cheek and surreal than ever. "There's
no repetition of humour in the second game," claims Serena Churchill,
Monolith's PR manager. "It'll be a similar tone, but even better.
We're going to the next level."
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Dallas News -
18 September 02
That was one of the many added touches to NOLF 2. Players will be able
to improve Cate’s abilities -- such as stealth, searching victims, using
gadgets and more -- by meeting side goals as well as the main mission objectives.
This is a big deal when you’re up against a gang of angry ninjas all seeking
to avenge their fallen comrades.
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Gamers Depot -
13 September 02
In the first mission, you start in Inotakimura, Japan, and out side this
town is a nicely done waterfall with realistic looking trees, dirt trails,
large rocks, light posts, and all of this at dusk. It gives you a strong
feeling of what it would be like to stroll around in one of Japan’s park.
Characters of the games are always evolving and getting closer to being
humanlike where each character has the ability to show many facial expressions,
finger movements and even eye movements.
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the full story
Games Domain -
13 September 02
A whole new set of cool little gadgets will also make a return, some
being unique to different environments. We got to try out Cate's Mascara
Stun Gun, a little rectangular kit that can zap enemies into temporary
unconsciousness. The Hairspray Welder and Nail Clipper Lock Pick are neat,
and we mustn't forget the delightful Angry Kitty Proximity Device, a creepy
robotic cat up close but cute enough from a distance that it attracts curious
guards, only to explode or unleash sleeping gas when the time is right.
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Gamespot - 13 September
02
To offset the smart enemy AI, NOLF 2 will empower you with abilities that
were previously unavailable in the original No One Lives Forever. For example,
Cate will now be able to lift dead or unconcious bodies and place them
away from open areas, so that they won't be spotted by others. In a clear
ode to Looking Glass' Thief series, Cate won't be able to attack or move
very fast while she's got a corpse draped across her shoulder, which adds
a certain element of tension in the game.
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HomeLANFed -
12 September 02
After a rather shocking ending to the Japan adventure (which we won’t
give away here), we get to see the opening credits for NOLF 2 which are
handled in a 1960’s groovy manner. (The theme song for the game did not
play in the credits sequence we viewed). After that we get to see Cate
take on her next assignment which takes up the final two chapters in our
build, which involves flying to Siberia to find out info about a mysterious
Project Omega.
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the full story
Wargamer - 12 September
02
And, of course, there are new and interesting gadgets - lots of them -
and they differ from mission to mission. Fortunately, they don't seem to
be quaint little additions that don't offer anything to the gameplay plate.
Most are interesting and useful, not to mention fun.
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the full story
Video Game News -
12 September 02
The missions themselves are much more difficult than last time. The enemy
A.I. is very intelligent. I don't know if they are trying to win an award,
but the difficulty needs to be adjusted for weaker FPS players because
even the experienced will find the opponents a challenge.
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the full story
XGR -
12 September 02
There were several times throughout each level that I thought to myself
-"This is a lot of fun - nicely continued from the first." Which
is quite a compliment considering it was on many, many people's Game Of
The Year lists. NOLF 2 will be sure to follow suit and give the "big
ones" a run for their money for two main reasons - it has the graphics
to compete and it has a storyline that is better than most TV out there,
let alone games. I cannot wait to see how Cate Archer's saga unfolds in
this must-have sequel.
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full story
PC Arena - 9
September 02
Now, I bet you’re wondering, “All this is fine and good, but does it come
together to make a great game that I’ll want to buy?” If this fun, epic,
and stable preview build is anything to go by, we can easily attest to
the fans of the original that they will be drooling by the buckets over
this one, and you'll WILL be drooling! Even if you’re not a fan of the
original NOLF, there's enough that has been improved and added to give
NOLF2 a really good look. Overall, judging by what we've been playing,
it looks like we’ll have another AAA hit on our hands this fall that has
enough challenge to appeal to almost anyone with a taste for adventure
and a keen sense of humor. Keep an eye out for this one folks, cuz it’s
going to rock!
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the full story
Game Zone - 9 September
02
From the looks of things, the enemy AI in this game has been modified
to the point that they are much more challenging than the first outing.
Enemy guards are easily alerted by your presence if you fire a round in
their vicinity or if they come across the body of one of their own. They
will carefully stalk you rather than blindly run off to look for you. Gamers
will find that there are a number of different ways to engage the enemy
. . . including using stealth by picking up and moving dead guards you
killed to a safe location or sneaking up to them and killing them with
a silent weapon.
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IGN - 8 September 02
The first thing I noticed was that this game is a first-person shooter.
It's a far cry from the point and click RPG that the original NOLF was
(it works if you really think about it while trying not to think about
it at all). The second thing I noticed was that this first-person shooter
also involves a lot of stealth and comedy. But don't get confused, this
little gem should not be mistaken for that nerdy neighbor kid of yours
that you play hide and seek with and who's funny in his own special way.
This game is the good kind of comedy and stealth -- the kind that can be
skipped, assuming you have mad skills.
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Game Chronicles -
6 September 02
Sierra [and Fox] is once again going to redefine the FPS genre by giving
us the same great style of gameplay as the original NOLF and then enhancing
it with new gameplay mechanics, RPG abilities, and updated sound and graphics
to take advantage of all the latest hardware. Don’t miss out on what could
very well be the 2002 Game of the Year.
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the full story
ESC Mag - 5 September
02
No One Lives Forever 2 can continue this legacy, and from what I’ve seen
it can, then we know there is another developer out there who isn’t afraid
to break the cookie cutter routine of the “normal developer.” As it stands
now No One Lives Forever 2 is a game you need to seriously consider picking
up when it is released. It looks like it is going to be awesome.
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Frictionless
Insight - 5 September 02
Overheard conversations continue to be very funny, yet appropriate. As
Cate snuck into the compound in Japan, she overheard one ninja instructing
another to poison her man each day before he left, administering the antidote
only upon his return, to ensure faithfulness. That, and the Soviet soldiers
could smell Cate's decadence ... or so they said.
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Actiontrip -
5 September 02
Another new feature is that Cate can now hide in dark corners, and an
icon with a progress bar will tell you how much time it takes until Cate
can melt into the shadows, hidden from view. From there, you are invisible
to enemies unless you move quickly...which includes firing weapons...but
if you can find a spot to hide, it makes losing trailing enemies a distant
memory. (This saved my hide more times than I can count.) (The AI is
in this game is amazing. Far more life-like and environmentally aware
than in any other game I've ever played - Ed).
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Games Domain -
5 September 02
There's a range of added touches that make pleasant viewing. NPCs don't
just stand around waiting for you to turn up and whack them. They smoke,
talk to each other, go on their errands, and then you turn up and whack
them. It adds an extra level to the game, and makes exploring it (the
little that we have), that extra bit worthwhile. From the gadgets to
the enemies, to the visuals themselves and aspects of the gameplay, N.O.L.F.2
is setting itself apart from the competition. We can't wait to see more.
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the full story
Shack News -
5 September 02
Vivendi recently sent out a NOLF2 Fact Sheet for those who aren't up
to par with what the game will bring.
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the full story
Ferrago - 31
August 02
The artificial intelligence was another high-point, as I watched a
Soviet Guard flip a table and use it for cover when Kate disturbed him
- this may not be impressive individually but bare in mind that this
Guard won’t always react in this way, he may instead dive though the
door or run for cover behind a filing cabinet. The enemy behaviour is
designed to be unpredictable. Some will fight, other will run for help,
and some can be crept passed without the need for action. It all adds
to the realism of this impressive title.
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Gamespy - 30 August
02
Fans will be happy to hear that this warped sense of humor is alive
and quite well in NOLF2 -- right in the first level, you can hear some
of the female ninjas having decidedly un-spy like conversations regarding
dating issues and problems with their parents. It's not every game that
counts banana peels and bear traps among its weapons, and searching bodies
often turns up items such as melted candy, dice, chewing gum, a yo-yo,
and ... lint. In an age where most games take themselves ultra-seriously,
it's nice to see a game that remembers to have fun.
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the full story
Gamespot - 28 August
02
With Unreal Tournament 2003 on the horizon, it seems pretty clear why
Monolith has chosen to include cooperative play in No One Lives Forever
2 instead of the standard multiplayer modes that nearly all the games in
this genre now include. Not only does this further separate an already
unique game from its competitors, but it's also the first time that this
type of cooperative play is used to complement the single-player plot instead
of simply replacing it.
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the full story
GameSpy - 24 August
02
Approximately 14 of the single-player levels (we're told there are over
40 in the single-payer game) have been stripped clean and retooled with
new mission objectives so that a team of U.N.I.T.Y. operatives can support
Cate throughout her missions. As we were told, these co-op missions will
integrate seamlessly into NOLF 2's storyline, and will basically provide
bonus backstory for anyone who plays through them after finishing the
single-player game. The mode supports up to four players, and we spent
considerable time playing through two of the co-op episodes.
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PC Gamer -
8 August 02
Monolith imbued NOLF with more than just a chic Sixties setting
and a strong female lead character. Critical to its success was its
evolutionary AI: enemies dodged, looked for cover, and interacted
to some extent with the environment, all of which helped cement the
compelling experience.
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the full story
UGO - 25 July
02
Everybody's favorite spy is back for another tour of duty. No,
not that suave guy who's soiled every game he's touched. We're talking
about Cate Archer, the only true videogame spy out there. Unless
you count those Mad magazines guys, but we digress. For No One Lives
Forever 2, Cate's once again in danger and will travel to all sorts
of exotic locations, including Siberia, Japan, India and the most
exotic of all, rural Ohio. The Lithtech engine has come a long way,
able to create some wonderful water effects and provide a good amount
of detail to each of the revealed environments.
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the full story
IMG -
21 June 02
Though not ancient, NOLF is arriving to Mac screens about a year and
a half after the PC release. Perhaps because of this fact, the graphics
seem a bit dated, with a lot of sharp edges in the rendering and a
lack of detail when compared to today's titles. The coloring, however,
is very well done, with items and clothing sporting garish colors entirely
reminiscent of 60s styles, and the overall design of both stages and
characters sports a cartoonish look that fits the mood of the game
quite well. A special nod goes to the lighting effects, which look
great even in early beta. ~~~
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the full story
Action Vault -
11 June 02
Most of the NPCs' actions in the game are not scripted, which means
they don't have set patterns of movement. Players will see them doing
things like going to the bathroom, sometimes not washing their hands
afterwards, while going about their daily business. They will also
react according to what the player does in the environment. Using
the bathroom example again, assume the player wants to get an NPC
outside of the building it's in. One way is to disable or break the
toilet. Then, when the NPC comes in to use it, he will see that it's
broken and go outside.
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the full story
Gamitopia -
10 June 02
In No One Lives Forever, the missions gave players the option to
play either by stealth or with guns-a-blazing. While NOLF 2 offers
these elements as well, more emphasis has been put on the stealth
aspect of things. Hiding and using stealth can often make the objectives
easier to accomplish. If players do get into a firefight, the game
will allow you to pick up and move bodies out of the way to prevent
your enemies from knowing something is afoot. The game will also
allow players to check dead bodies, as well desk drawers and file
cabinets, for information that could reveal helpful ways of getting
through the missions.
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Frictionless
Insight - 6 June 02
NOLF2 is even adding the concept of character development for Ms.
Archer. As she progresses through missions, she will earn experience
that can be used to improve her skills. Altogether, it looks as if
NOLF fans will be getting everything they enjoyed in the original
game, and a bit more. Cut scenes will be shorter, the game will be
longer on groovy villains and spy paraphernalia, and the experience
will be much more visually impressive. All this sounds good, but
what FI most looks forward to is the prospect of cooperative multiplayer
missions. Up to four players will be able to work together to foil
the punishments H.A.R.M. would mete out. What could be better than
Cate Archer saving the world? Four of U.N.I.T.Y.’s finest, saving
the world together.
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Games Domain -
6 June 02
Producer Samantha Ryan actually revealed there would be six times
more animation over the original. "Before characters are aware
of you, you'll see them smoking, drinking, getting writer's block
at typewriters, frustrated when their coins get stuck in vending
machines... And the Jupiter engine also lets us put over 30 times
more detail into the levels," she added.
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the full story
Game Helper -
31 May 02
Out of the multitudes of sequels making their way to store shelves
sometime this year, few seem to capture its intended audience with
much more than a humdrum rapport. Even the former Queen of games,
Lara Croft was met with an unexcited reproach. Certainly the last
year has seen some of the best games this side of Half-Life, and
certainly a few have gained such fame as to warrant a sequel. Enter
Cate Archer.
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the full story
FiringSquad -
29 May 02
NOLF 2 also features an experience point system (Deus Ex, anyone?)
that allows you to improve your accuracy, stealth ability, and gadget
proficiency among others. Cooperative multiplayer will be included
also, allowing up to four players to work together to take on the
computer.
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the full story
HomeLANFed -
26 May 02
As good as the first two demo levels were, the third and final level
was outstanding. It took place in an Ohio trailer park and not only
does Kate have to deal with some nasty female ninjas but a huge tornado
that naturally is headed right for her. We saw the grass move with
the wind and the ninjas get caught temporarily in the wind. You can
even see fence posts coming out from the ground and circling the
park (Those posts can push you around a bit but not harm you). The
tornado also buffed the trailers and if you are lucky you can even
get one of your enemies run down by a rolling trailer.
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the full story
IGN - 25 May 02
Fans of titles such as Deus Ex will be excited to know that NOLF
2 will incorporate a slash of RPG sugar into its already sweet FPS
mix. In the sequel, as players progress, they will be rewarded with
skill points that can be used to improve various abilities, such
as marksmanship, stealth and headshot. The first NOLF already allows
you to play the game in a number of different fashions (i.e. shoot-em-up,
sneak around, etc.), and the new skill feature should enhance the
game's playability even more.
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the full story
Game Spot - 24
May 02
Another interesting feature in NOLF 2 is the enhanced stealth gameplay.
As in the Thief games, Cate can hide in the shadows, and a prominent "H" will
appear on the screen when she is properly hidden away. Hubbard also
said that his team learned a lesson from the original NOLF and that
stealth missions won't be nearly as frustrating as they were in the
first game. He added that stealth missions in NOLF 2 will be similar
to those in the Metal Gear Solid games--if you're spotted, you still
have the ability to run away or fight if you've been submitted.
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the full story
Shacknews -
23 May 02
One very impressive level we saw took place in Ohio during a tornado.
As the twister raged in the background, Cate was attacked by Ninjas,
and there was some stunning environmental effects as the storm came
closer and closer. One interesting thing: Cate can use any weapon
dropped by her enemies, so during the fight she was able to pick
up a Katana blade (which can be used to deflect bullets) and throwing
stars, using her enemies weapons against them. Very cool stuff.
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the full story
Computer
and Video Games - 23 May 02
So how is a girl to stay out of H.A.R.M.'s way? Well, she could
always hide. NOLF2 will offer more opportunities for stealth than
the original, including the ability to lean around corners. This
should make it easier to avoid enemies, who can also be safely observed
from hiding places. Even once you're detected, pursuers can be outwitted
and thrown off the trail.
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