"Agent 64: Spies Never Die" is old-fashioned – and surprisingly fresh
"Agent 64" consciously plays by the rules of old N64 shooters. This makes for surprisingly fresh missions, but also brings back some quirks that have long since gathered dust.
After a few minutes with «Agent 64: Spies Never Die», I know which way the wind is blowing. In front of me stand angular guards with expressionless faces. In my hand, I hold a pistol whose model consists of a manageable number of polygons. On my screen is a list of mission objectives. Somewhere behind the next doors lie secret documents, computers, or other things that are apparently of the utmost importance for my mission.
Anyone who played «GoldenEye 007» on the Nintendo 64 should feel right at home.
«Agent 64: Spies Never Die» adopts far more than just the graphic style of its great role model. Developer Replicant D6 consistently follows the shooter design of the late nineties.
This leads me to ask myself the same question over and over during my test: How well do ideas from 1997 still work today?
My mission fits on a list
Before every mission, I receive an assignment. I am to infiltrate a location, find objects, or complete specific goals. After that, «Agent 64» drops me into the level and lets me figure out how to proceed on my own.
This simple structure quickly develops a pleasant rhythm. Instead of waypoints, I follow my surroundings. I open doors, search rooms, take out guards, and memorize paths. After just a few attempts, I know shortcuts and know where dangers lurk.
This makes repetitions appealing, and I can improve my best times for the levels. On higher difficulty levels, additional tasks are added that lead me to other areas. Doors or sections that were previously locked then become part of my mission.
It gets more difficult when a task gives me too few clues. Then I walk through rooms I have already cleared, looking for a door or an object I might have overlooked. Precisely because «Agent 64» dispenses with waypoints, the levels must clearly communicate their layout.
Look first, then shoot – at least most of the time
The combat is also clearly oriented toward the «GoldenEye 007» model. Enemies stand in rooms, patrol, or react to my presence. Often, I can start a fight in a controlled manner. A few seconds later, bullets are flying through the room, and several guards are running toward me.
Source: Replicant D6
The weapons feel deliberately simpler than in a modern military shooter. Precise animations, complex ballistics, or tactical cover mechanics play a smaller role. «Agent 64» relies on direct shootouts.
That fits the pace of the missions.
I run through a hallway, take out two enemies, grab their ammo, and open the next door. Behind it, the next guards are already waiting. Fights rarely last long and hardly slow down my progress through the levels.
The deliberately old-fashioned enemy AI also helps with this. Some guards only notice me from a short distance or react with a delay. Occasionally, they roll to the side instead of attacking directly. Likewise, the animations sometimes appear wooden. This creates curious moments and makes some skirmishes easier than they should be.
The year 1997 looks surprisingly pretty
Visually, «Agent 64» consistently follows through with its time travel. Characters consist of few polygons, faces of simple textures, and weapons appear deliberately crudely modeled. Added to this are manageable rooms with clear shapes and sparse details.
Nevertheless, the game looks better than my N64 memories in my head. «Agent 64» adopts the style of the games of that time but delivers a clean and fluid image. It feels more like my idealized, beautiful memory of 1997 than like a game that was actually released back then. I especially like this mix. «Agent 64» looks old without feeling technically old.
I find the soundtrack particularly strong. The music hits this slightly exaggerated spy tone perfectly and contributes a lot to the atmosphere of the missions. More than once, I catch myself with a piece of music stuck in my head after playing.
Replicant D6 also plays with my memories of that time in the details. In one level, for example, I discover a connected game console. Added to this are small allusions to «GoldenEye» hidden between the angular furniture and characters. Such Easter eggs fit the already loving recreation of the N64 era.
The longer I play, the more interesting I find another question: Where does the homage end and where does simply old game design begin?
«Agent 64» is constantly moving on this boundary.
Splitscreen is part of the time travel
A spiritual successor to «GoldenEye» includes something else: multiplayer.
«Agent 64» offers co-op as well as competitive multiplayer matches in addition to its solo campaign. Locally, I can complete missions in pairs via splitscreen. Online, up to eight people compete against each other in modes like Deathmatch, Briefcase, or Zone.
The mere existence of the splitscreen fits the concept wonderfully.
Local multiplayer has become rare in big shooters these days. «Agent 64» thus brings back a piece of that time when four people sat in front of the same television and subsequently argued about who secretly looked at the other's screen. Wonderful memories.
Source: Replicant D6
The campaign can be played together. With two players, it feels significantly more relaxed and, due to the simple enemy AI and spontaneous situations, repeatedly provides humorous moments.
The single-player mode remains the center of the game, however. Replicant D6 described it as the focus during development.
I think that is the right decision. That is where the retro concept plays out its greatest strengths.
«Agent 64: Spies Never Die» was provided to me by Replicant D6. The game has been available for PC since August 11.
In a nutshell
A worthwhile journey through time
"Agent 64: Spies Never Die" surprisingly well captures the appeal of classic N64 shooters. The compact missions, the additional objectives on higher difficulty levels, and the great spy soundtrack make the journey back to 1997 particularly successful for me. The consistent retro look credibly evokes the era without getting bogged down technically.
However, the journey into the 90s isn't entirely smooth. The enemy AI sometimes seems clumsy, the animations occasionally wooden, and some mission objectives give me too little guidance. These peculiarities remind me more of the weaknesses than the charm of the originals.
The time travel works for me even beyond the obvious "GoldenEye" parallels. "Agent 64" adopts old ideas that have retained their appeal to this day and turns them into a shooter that I gladly recommend.
Pro
- consistent retro look with a strong nostalgia factor
- compact missions with high replay value
- additional mission objectives depending on difficulty
- great spy soundtrack
- Co-op and splitscreen
Contra
- weak enemy AI
- sometimes wooden animations
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