By CNN Interactive Senior Editor Dave Ragals

July 29, 1998
Web posted at 12:11 PM ET

Try your hand at numerous difficult missions based on the movie

(CNN) -- If the idea of basing a Nintendo 64 game on a popular spy-action movie sounds like a proven formula for success, you're right. "GoldenEye 007" has been worth its weight in gold to the franchise and has probably sold more N64 units than any other title.

Oddly, it is a formula that, despite its unequivocal success, has not been followed by in the N64's short history.

Now Infogrames, which also created the recent "Wetrix," is out with "Mission: Impossible," based on the TV show-turned-movie. Like "GoldenEye 007," it's a mission-based spy game that follows the same premise and plot as its movie counterpart. But the similarities pretty much stop there. "Mission: Impossible" is not "GoldenEye '98," nor does it try to be.

First of all, it's not a first-person shooter. It plays primarily from a third-person perspective (except when you're in sniper mode) with numerous camera angles. And the missions are based far less on shooting the enemy than on completing a set of rather diverse objectives. Rather than blowing away your enemies, you often succeed by sneaking around without drawing their attention.

This is a rather nice break from the average game. Even "GoldenEye 007," which features a set of objectives in each mission, is essentially a shoot-em-up. In "Mission: Impossible," you could probably complete some of the missions without killing anyone. Your objectives can range anywhere from getting out of a room alive to changing your identity to planting a virus in the enemy's computer. This makes each of the levels essentially unique, more so than in most games.

In addition to the usual text dialogue, "Mission: Impossible" uses a limited amount of real voices

The problem is none of the objectives is all that complex, so none of the missions is that engaging. Fortunately, there are enough objectives in each mission to make them enjoyable overall, but they seem to lack one main complex goal that could add a lot of depth to the game.

Where this game does excel is the use of various characters in the missions. While you play the role of lead Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan Hunt, the other IMF members are critical to your success, and you must interact with them throughout the game. In addition to adding an interactive element, it also makes the game more like a movie.

Each of the missions is plenty challenging, and most require you to think your way through. You use a variety of weapons and gadgets as you make your way from one mission to the next. They're all tied together, so the plot moves along like a script.

One of the frustrations with this game is the controls. Your character doesn't move as smoothly as he should, and you can't aim your weapon as precisely as you would like. But after playing a few levels, you get used to it, and it becomes less of an aggravation.

One nice surprise is the use of a limited amount of actual voice dialogue, somewhat of a rarity on a cartridge game. Accompanied by a rather strong musical score, it makes for a game that sounds great.

Overall, "Mission: Impossible" left me with the same feeling the movie did: I wanted to like it, and I found it enjoyable. But I was hoping for more. Still, if you like spy games, you'll probably enjoy it. And it will certainly provide you with hours of challenging entertainment.