Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Review (no fat)

by Atari Platform: GBA Genre: Act-Adv	ESRB Rating: Teen Release: 2003-12-02	Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Features: Combat adventure to save the world from the baddies Offers EDTV 480p Support Dolby 5.1 Surround sound
	Egamer's Rating: 7 / 10. Reviewed on: 2005-12-06

Game Description

The plotline of Mission Impossible: Operation Surma has you cast as Ethan Hunt. You are responsible for battling an evil organization that has gained technology that can spell doom and gloom across the globe. You also to have some compatriots to assist you in your mission who themselves are fellow crime fighting friends. However, these chaps will appear here and there throughout the game only as talking heads that provide you with some guidance and some suggestions…you’ve got handle all the dirty work yourself.

The plot is decent, although not dashed with anything particularly original and, like all ‘save the world’ games, Ethan Hunt needs to get the bad guys before they get the world.

For the most part you are armed with one gun. In addition to your solitary weapon, you have the physical ability in some instances to take out your opposition.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Controls

The controls are more difficult to master and manage than you might imagine. Even as a skilled gamer you may end up spending a good deal of time dying and starting over again. This can end up being rather frustrating, indeed. The problem isn’t that you are not able to vanquish your opposition. The problem lies in figuring out which button to push when.

The replay value of the game is not that great. The caveat in this regard is found in the fact that you will, most likely, have to replay the initial sequences of the game over and over until you master the controls and accommodate the sluggish movements of your character (…whoever would want a second go at that?)

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Graphics

The visuals are far from inspirational. In fact, there are many problems associated with the visuals and graphics in Mission Impossible: Operation Surma. The most frustrating aspect is the sluggish way in which Ethan Hunt moves and performs his tasks.

Indeed, it is safe to suggest that you know you are in trouble when the lead character in a high-tech computerized game is sluggish and slow in its movements. Unfortunately, the net result of the poor visuals is found in your being penalized in health points because the inadequate way in which your character moves out of harm’s way despite your best efforts.

The backgrounds and different levels of play are equally unimpressive and, at best, mundane and common. In the worst sense, they are sad and sappy -- nearly as if the background visuals and scenic graphics were dashed off over lunch as an afterthought.

To add to Ethan’s sluggish attitude even in times of danger, some of the scenes also end up sputtering. The game simply seems plagued with visual defects. There is a strong case to rename the game Mission Impossible: Moving When You Need To.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Sound Quality

Perhaps a gamer who is easily satisfied (if there is such a creature) might contend that the sound effects save the game. This is true as the sound effects are appropriate to the action on the screen…being believable and generally realistic.

With that said, there is nothing original when it comes to any of the audio features of the game -- including the soundtrack. The general feel of the whole audio department is that of canned elements…pity the developers didn’t check the expiry date.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Summary

From controls that are not easy to manipulate to a slow moving main character, trying to work through a round of play one time very well may be enough. An experienced gamer will find Mission Impossible: Operation Surma frustrating. A non experienced gamer will play the game and then find it frustrating…anyway round the bottom line stays the same.

In short, if you see this game on the shelf at your local video game retailer or run across it on an Internet gaming websites, you might want to consider making a run for it... Ethan certainly can’t catch you at his pace.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma Cost

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma retails for $9.99US at the time of this review.