The Gameboy Advance (GBA) version of Spy Hunter finds the International Espionage Service (IES) yet again using its tricked-out G-6155 Interceptor car.

It puts a halt to the evil machinations of Daemon Curry, president of Nostra International.

It retains the gameplay dynamics of the original but has a few innovations to appeal to a new generation of gamers.

You can still change into a boat for the water-based sections and an armoured motorcycle when your car has taken too much damage.

Old foes like bulletproof vans and switch blades reappear to add to an onslaught of enemy gunfire that can, at times, be overwhelming.

But you can damage your super car simply by bumping into the side of a road or another object, so it pays to take care.

Many of the levels have objectives like destroying designated objects, activating satellite communications and navigating checkpoints.

Some are primary objectives which must be completed to progress, while the secondary goals are optional.

The game's controls are simplicity itself.

The A button accelerates, the B button breaks, the right trigger shoots one of ten different types of weapons, the left trigger switches between weapons and the two triggers together activate defensive weapons like smoke-screens and oil slicks.

The game has three main modes and an arcade mode, which becomes available when you have completed all the primary objectives in normal agent mode.

The 3-D graphics are respectable enough but not helped by the GBA's lack of a backlight.

At times, the game is so dark objects blend into the background.

In brief, the game fails its mission objectives.

The levels are pretty boring, the collision detection is poor and the graphics are difficult to see, let alone admire.

It has its moments and will waste a few hours of your time but it is by no means an essential purchase.

Price: £29.99.

Contact: www.midway.com
Feel good factor: 5 out of 10.