No One Lives Forever

Last week I had a chance to download the “technology demo” of No One Lives Forever, the new we-couldn’t-get-the-Bond license spy thriller from Monolith and Fox Interactive.  Set in a number of exciting locations around the world, No One Lives Forever has its strong points, including a great theme and good mission objectives (one takes you on-board a spy plane).  But we could do without the Sean-Connery knock-off character -- complete with a mock turtle-neck -- and the cheesy synthesized music that cancels all emotion in the dramatic scenes

Still, there’s a lot to like in what’s been shown of No One Lives Forever.  Unfortunately, the game's greatest weakness at this point is the lack of interactive gameplay.  Sure, there are a few neat contraptions such as a code breaker and lock pick, but the environment is very static.  You can’t break the glass in mirrors and the TV screens don’t explode.  Heck, when I actually was able to destroy a plant pot, I fell backwards in my chair, shocked that part of the environment is interactive.    Some would argue that destroying little items in the environment doesn’t add much to the gameplay, but you can’t tell me that a Coke machine and pay phones shouldn’t work in a game.  Memo to the developers:  If these items aren’t going to work, why are they even in the game?

So far I like the variety in No One Lives Forever’s levels, and based on what I've heard about the full version, we can expect a number of exotic locations such as the Arctic and Carribean.  The only problem?  The levels don't look very good.  Considering this game "premieres the advanced LithTech 2.5 3D operating system" (or so says the ad), I have to admit to being very disappointed with the graphics.  Sure, some of this may be due to the slow framerate (yes I know, it’s a tech demo), but a lot of it has to do with so many 90-degree walls and a complete lack of environmental lighting.  This certainly is not the Quake 3 engine. In fact, at times it feels like I'm playing TekWar, Capstone's forgettable game built on the Duke 3D engine.

The goods news is that with a few months of spit and polish, No One Lives Forever could end up being a rock-solid game.  The concept is there – it’s only the execution that Monolith needs to flesh out in the coming months.