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 In
keeping with the cinematic tone of the game itself, the cutscenes
that advance the game’s narrative between missions are also
very cinematic. They even tend to be a little on the longish side,
a quality that may annoy some action mavens but which is great for
exposition and character development. And character development
yet again sets this game apart from others. Not only is Cate Archer
a groovy-looking chick, she’s also got a personality and a
set of issues that she’s dealing with--vice, say, Laura Croft.
Even the villains in the game are real characters; surprisingly
enough, you’ll probably find yourself liking one of them, and
applauding his not-so-dreadful end. Hell, even guards have personality
in the game. As in Thief, you’ll often overhear guards before
you see them, and often they’ll engage in hilarious (really,
I’m not kidding, one of the great things about this game is
how funny it is) conversations about their jobs, families, or the
Beatles.
 The
game’s personality is also enriched by its graphics, which
are excellent. The Lithtech engine is here put to its best use since
Shogo. The settings are rendered in brilliant color; No One Lives
Forever is no dark and dingy dungeon crawl. The game’s graphics
reflect the mod attitude of the swingin’ early 60’s spy
thriller, and the game’s attention to detail is superb. From
the architecture and French-language signs in Morocco to the flyers
advertising Beatles shows in Hamburg (a bit anachronistic, but so
what?), the game’s settings lend the atmosphere and character
necessary for a cinematic suspension of disbelief. The game’s
characters are also well-modeled and detailed. Guards are never
merely generic, they always look like they belong in Morocco or
the Alps or Berlin.
Sound is also first-rate. As in other stealth games, you'll often
hear things before you see them, and sounds can provide valuable
clues. The music is really cool and provides instantly recognizable
60's spy film ambiance.
While No One Lives Forever’s focus is clearly its single player
game, you can also play multiplayer. While you can choose from over
40 skins and many levels, the only game options are deathmatch and
team deathmatch, and overall multiplayer implementation is merely
competent.
No One Lives Forever has excellent and detailed graphics, an amusing
narrative, a wicked sense of humor, and tons of personality. More
importantly, it has the most well-balanced and enjoyable gameplay
we’ve ever seen in a shooter. Some have suggested that No One
Lives Forever is the best first-person shooter since Half-Life.
We’d suggest it’s better.
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