Burton's Bytes: A mission that's possibly playable

THE year 2003 will go down as a vintage 12 months for sitting room adventurers. Metal Gear Solid 2 and Splinter Cell set the standard and continue to be the benchmark at which programmers must aim if they are to succeed.

This isn't the first time we've had a Mission Impossible game. The previous console generation had a muddled 3-D adventure that failed to set gamers alight. The most frustrating thing about that title was the hints of what might have been had the team behind it spent a bit more time getting things just so.

Operation Surma opens with top IMF agent Ethan Hunt (the clean-cut action hero played by Tom Cruise in the movies) taking a well deserved break scuba diving. Before you can say "This game will self destruct in ten seconds" Ethan has received a message calling him back to work.

This involves computer hacker Luther Stickell (voiced by Ving Rhames, the actor who plays the character in the films), transportation specialist Billy Baird, fast talking George Spelvin and a rookie agent called Jasmine Curry.

The IMF team are needed because a shadow evil conglomerate called the Surma Corporation has developed a virus that gives it access to any computer on the planet. Needless to say, the US Government is less than chuffed at the thought of being held to ransom by a faceless group with its hand on the nuclear trigger.

Armed with super-spy gadgetry taken from the Mission: Impossible movies, such as miniature remote-controlled devices, micro cameras, tranquilising darts and character disguises, Hunt must lead his elite team in preventing Surma Corp from taking over the world.

Along the way he will be forced into making tough decisions which mean life or death for certain members of the unit. Hunt must make his peace with questionable characters in order to get closer to Surma - but can he trust them?

The gameplay will be instantly recognisable to fans of this genre. You creep around shadowy installations, melting into the shadows when a guard approaches and engaging them in combat when their guard is down.

Hunt can deploy the full gamut of IMF technology, including a sonic imager that allows him to see through closed doors and an electro-magnetic countermeasures pistol capable of disabling security cameras and taking baddies who need to be followed at a respectable distance.

Should a gun battle break out, the game switches to an over-the-shoulder perspective that allows you a reasonable chance of taking aim before opening fire.

Hunt can call on a head up display to lead him to the next objective but actually getting there involves a lot of trial and error. The easily bored may grow tired of plodding round the same old levels looking for a way out.

Nor does your character resemble Tom Cruise. Apparently the Cruise-ster was unhappy with the idea of licensing his likeness for a video game so the programmers had to make Hunt look different. Nor does he supply the voice.

The game does look good, though, and there's little discernible difference between the PS2 and Xbox versions, leading one to believe the game has been developed for Sony's platform and exported to the 'Box. Sound effects are also first rate and that famous theme tune pounds away in the background lending added urgency to your mission.

It may be tough but the Atari guys have incorporated two levels of difficulty for gamers who prefer a slightly easier approach. As with the original game these are split between Possible and Impossible.

Is it any good then? Well yes it is in a straightforward kind of way. Anyone who has played Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid will get a kick out of Operation Surma.

It also goes a long way to redeeming the franchise after the initial disastrous adventure on PSOne and N64 but it just misses out on "must have" status by virtue of the fact that it doesn't do anything particularly innovative.

This review will self destruct in ten seconds...

WWE SMACKDOWN: HERE COMES THE PAIN. Publisher: THQ. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99.

WRESTLING games aren't supposed to be like this. They aren't supposed to offer (gasp!) depth and challenging gameplay. They aren't supposed to offer something different to last year's edition.

The 2003 WWE Smackdown (subtitled Shut Your Mouth) was a decent enough stab at the wrestling genre but Here Comes The Pain has been dusted down and polished up all the same.

Everything looks bigger and better. The graphics, in particular, are terrific thanks to some smart new lighting techniques that really help bring the characters to life.

There are three new matches to be had - the elimination chamber, first blood and the needlessly sexist "bra and panties" match up, where two female wrestlers go at it to see who can be first to reduce their opponent to just their underwear. Is it any surprise to discover that the age demographic for American wrestling is young males in their early teens?

There's a full update of wrestling stars plus a few guest names from WWE history such as The Legion of Doom and The Undertaker.

Grappling is easier to pull off than ever before and, if things get really rough, your character starts to bleed realistically all over the canvas.

Fans will enjoy the season long challenge that even takes a stab at a storyline (you also compete for cash).

Wrestling games are something of an acquired taste. Devotees of the "sport" itself tend to love 'em. If you fall into that category then I guarantee you'll find Here Comes The Pain grapple-tastic fun.

Gamers who reckon the WWE is about as realistic as Giant Haystacks, Mick MacManus and Big Daddy with a dash of sexism would be well advised to stay clear.