Our resident Agent, Joel Szerlip, was kindly debriefed by Jim Galis, Executive Producer with Paradigm Entertainment on their highly anticipated stealth/action game, Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma.

First can you please give us a brief description of what Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma? What is the story of the game?

Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma is a stealth action game, which takes the Mission: Impossible license and game play in new directions on consoles. High-energy sequences, movie-inspired environments, new gadgets and weapons and Ethan Hunt's cool moves are integrated in the game to make this a must have title.

The story revolves around the elimination of SURMA, a shadowy international conglomerate that serves as a front for the ambitions of Simon Algo. Algo is a brilliant and ruthless ex-intelligence agent who has assumed control of Yugaria, and plans to extend his influence over the entire Balkan region. The Yugarian mastermind is using a highly advanced virus known as the Ice Worm to bypass even the most advanced security systems in order to steal military secrets and weapons research from the west. Ethan Hunt and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team become involved when one of their well-planned operations is sabotaged and they discover that the IMF's own ultra secure database has been hacked. Faced with an opponent who has access to their deepest secrets Ethan and his team must track down and defeat Algo as well as recover the Ice Worm technology.

Where exactly does Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma take place?

The player will experience a wide range of environments, from a Research Facility in the southwestern US, to a Balkan capital city, to a prison off the North African coast and finally to an airborne level of the headquarters for the game's main villain.

What characters will be involved in this Mission Impossible game?

Ethan Hunt will have his trusted accomplices to help solve the mission objectives:
Luther Stickell, an IMF veteran with extraordinary hacking abilities. Luther is played in the game by Ving Rhames, using his likeness and voice over to help guide the player.
Billy Baird, whose skills as a pilot help Ethan escape from dangerous situations.
Jasmine Curry, the rookie member of the IMF, but beautiful and technically competent.
Sofia Ivanescu, the daughter of Yugaria's most famous scientist has her own talents in the technical sciences, as she is the architect of the Ice Worm Virus.

What type of gadgets do you get to use throughout the game?

Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma includes many new gadgets and weapons. Some of these are the ability to micro-cord to the ceiling, and hang horizontally to solve puzzles. Ethan has a sophisticated set of contact lenses, giving the ability for night vision when needed. The Wasp Gadget, which is a miniature robot combining surveillance and weapon capability, packed into a remotely controlled flying device that is virtually undetectable. Theses and others, as well as advanced hand carried weapons give Ethan the ability to accomplish objectives in many creative ways.

Are there any special features in Mission Impossible: Operation Surma?

We feel that Mission: Impossible Operation Surma will push the stealth action genre to new limits, by incorporating "Mission Moments" and high action game play. One example is the final level of the game, which has Ethan skydiving to accomplish his mission!

What key portion of Mission Impossible: Operation Surma do you think will separate the game from the rest of Third Person Action titles?

Mission: Impossible Operation Surma's most distinctive feature is the variety of game play. Stealth action is a big part of it, but when you add gadgets, weapons, hand combat and high action sequences, the player will find that game play extends far beyond normal third person action titles.

What audience are you hoping to attract with this game and how will you be able to accomplish that.

We are hoping to attract the third person action player, who wants to experience heart-pounding dangerous situations and feel like a world class super-spy when they accomplish the missions.

Could you sum up for the readers why they should buy Mission Impossible: Operation Surma?

Anyone eager to experience new directions in third person stealth action combat will be totally satisfied with this title.

When can we expect Mission Impossible: Operation Surma, and for what platforms?

Mission: Impossible Operation Surma will hit the shelves this Holiday season, and will be available on PS2 and Xbox. NGC is scheduled later first quarter '04.

And to tide you over until the game's release, Atari has been kind enough to supply 10 exclusive screenshots each for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. Enjoy!