The gameplay in Spycraft is varied and very enjoyable, though in what is becoming more common in modern computer games, somewhat easy. Most elements are puzzle based, and revolve around using a series of tools. There are many at your disposal, for example there's the BADMAN for directing strikes through a building, the KAT (Kennedy Assassination Tools) for plotting the trajectory of bullets in a simulated environment. MIX-AND-MATCH to find a match in the mug shot database, or the MAP TOOL, which locates a person by mapping the sounds hear in the background of a phone call.

The tools themselves aren't necessarily the puzzle, but by the combination of their use, information picked up by other field agents, and information yourself pick out from browsing the data on your PDA, is how the games is progressed. For example, when in Russia, an informant "Birdsong" flees. The only information you have to go on is from a phone call he made. Using a tool that discerns sound from the recording of the conversation, you pin point his location. By selecting small sound bites, a type of aircraft is identified, a tram, church bell, and even a territorial sparrow. Taking this newly acquired information into the MAP-TOOL allows you to locate his whereabouts.
Besides puzzles, situations do arise where you have to "shoot your way through". Using the mouse to move, if you enter an area populated by a hostile, the movement cursor turns into a cross hair where you aim and eliminate the threat.

Finally, in a surprising move that is bound to set a new gaming standard, Activision has enlisted the use of the "Information Super-hype way." Providing you have an Internet connection, selecting the "Add online" function from the Spycraft start-up menu initially brings up a help window explaining how to download a file from the Activision Home Page. Once downloaded, the program makes a change to you Netscape browser. Whilst in the game, selecting Weblink will bring up your browser and take you to a special web site dedicated to the online gaming aspect of Spycraft.
Those that go online will be able to Hotlink to authentic WEb sites such as the CIA, FBI and Secret Service. Chat lives with other players at any time of the day, post and view messages or participate in live online conferences with intelligence veterans - William Colby (former CIA Director) and Oleg Kalugin (former KGB Major General).

Spycraft: The Great Game has all the feel of a Tom Clancy novel, professionally produced sound and varied entertaining gameplay, you really can't go wrong.

Jere Lawrence