Game Boy Advance

Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma

Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma is a great mix of action and stealth, all mixed in with a mediocre aesthetic package. If you can get past the repetitive gameplay and the bizarrely difficult to decipher mission objectives, Operation Surma is a blast to play. The battery save feature was much appreciated (every game needs one) and, once I really got going with the game, my only real complaint was how short the game was. A little more polish or a longer playing cycle would have made this game shine.

For sneaky spy maneuvers, go to Splinter Cell for the same over-the-top fun and much better examples of gadgetry, espionage, storytelling, control, and graphics.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma tries to fill a noticeable gap in the GBA library but ends up providing a mild diversion rather than the full-blown, stealth, spy-thriller it could have been. At times I had fun, but most of the time I was turned off by the frustrating gameplay and slow pacing of the action. There is nothing more demoralizing than slowly sneaking up on a guard only to have him turn and kill you almost instantly, wasting all your previous efforts. MI fans will certainly find enough gameplay here to warrant a rental or discount purchase. I can’t really recommend a full-price purchase since the game is just so short. Unless you enjoy replaying the same game over and over with increasing difficulty, this is a one-shot title and probably one that most GBA owners should just skip.

Der Geheimagent Ethan Hunt muss es mit jeder Menge Terroristen aufnehmen, um den Frieden in der Welt zu erhalten. Dabei stehen ihm mehrere Gegenstände und Waffen zur Verfügung, die er im Laufe des Spiels aufsammelt. In durchschnittlich gestalteten Umgebungen bekommt er es mit nicht allzu schlauen Gegnern zu tun und wird dabei durch immer gleiche Räume geschickt. Die Missionsziele sind dabei nicht immer einleuchtend. Für einen gelegentlichen Spionage-Ausflug macht der Titel aber dennoch ein bisschen Spaß.

Mission: Impossible: Operation Surma isn't the worst game you'll ever play on the Game Boy Advance, but it's far from the best. Even those looking for a tactical stealth action game should be wary, since this one is both frustrating to play and not very engaging. Those hungering for a handheld stealth action game would be best advised to keep waiting and hoping that Konami finally makes Metal Gear Advance.

In short, Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma isn't worth it. If you've been craving a portable stealth game, you'd do better in replaying the GBA version of Splinter Cell or trying to find a copy of the GameBoy version.

This Mission: Impossible, should you choose to accept all its nuances, is still not highly recommended. The fact that this title has sub-par visuals, feasible sounds, only five missions, and an easily-forgettable story with a highly unsatisfactory ending, demands that Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma for the GBA should be passed over for the incredible lineup of other games available for the system. Wait for this one to appear in the discount rack. Transmission end.

Pratiquement du même acabit que Terminator 3 au niveau de l'intérêt, cet opus de Mission Impossible le dépasse très légèrement concernant l'aspect ludique. Mais ce n'est pas avec ces deux titres que les fans respectifs des deux genres représentés trouveront leur bonheur. Opération Surma, manque de passion. Sans coeur et vide d'âme, ce produit ne peut décemment pas se placer aux côtés d'un Splinter Cell pourtant décevant sur la portable de Nintendo. Les licences sont décidément des croix lourdes à porter.

Anyone with a Game Boy should be familiar with exactly what this is: a low-budget, quickly developed portable videogame produced simply to latch onto the release of a much bigger console production. These type of titles are a dime a dozen in the handheld market, and Atari's rendition of Mission Impossible: Operation Surma is a poor attempt to offer Metal Gear Solid-style gameplay on the GBA, what with its awful graphic style and incredibly repetitive music accommodating some rather uncreative, bland game design.

Clearly if you've managed to get to this final paragraph you'll realize that I was somewhat less than impressed with this latest Mission Impossible outing. Technically the game would be flawed on the GBC platform but the fact that this has been released on the GBA platform several years after the hardware was introduced is unforgivable. Despite all that though there are some good ideas contained within the tiny cart and once you overcome the quirky control system it is reasonably enjoyable, if a little on the short side. Finally what you no doubt want to know is 'is it worth buying?' Generally I'd have to say no unless you're a huge Mission Impossible fan but until we're treated to an Advance version of Metal Gear Solid games like Operation Surma really are your only option.

Mission: Impossible: Operation Surma isn't the worst game you'll play on the Game Boy Advance, but it's far from the best. Even those looking for a tactical stealth action game should be wary, since this one is both frustrating to play and not very engaging. GBA owners hungering for a handheld stealth action game would be advised to keep their hunger at bay and wait for Konami to finally make Metal Gear Advance.

Operation Surma's graphics are hardly the saving grace of this spy game gone wrong either. The poor level design, coupled with the hideous choice of colors, could bring down anyone's mood. Hunt's character is at least decently animated, but when it comes to the adventure's many cutscenes, you'd expect more than just a static image and a mishmash of lines from the script.

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma is a complete failure in terms of presenting an enjoyable gaming experience. It does qualify as a "video activity", but using the word "game" would be giving this horrible release too much credit. I cannot say much more about this game, with one exception: if money is involved in your acquirement of this game, I pity you.

It would be cool to have a Splinter Cell or Metal Gear type game on the GBA, but Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma isn't it. Decline the mission and disavow any knowledge of this game's existence.