What's to do, then?
The action begins at a snowy submarine den in the Baltic, where you're dropped off by some pals in a dinghy. You've already been detailed the mission objectives but it won't be long before you're looking at the same dinghy dropping you off again.

Eh?
Mission: Impossible isn't impossible, but it's darned difficult. The emphasis is on stealth, and it takes a while for you to realise that some of the guards should be skirted around, as opposed to shot dead. It's actually as much of a role-playing game as anything else. Each of the 20 missions demands that you play a slightly different role, and even a contrasting persona.

How do you do that?
By using the Facemaker, a gadget that produces a mask that enables you to steal one of your victim's facial features. Lead chap Ethan Hawke has a massive inventory of weapons and communications gadgets - some 30 in all. A brief list: blowpipe, gas capsules, an electric stunner, plastic explosives, scanners, wire cutters (boring!), cameras, scramblers (not motorbikes), night glasses and sensor mines.

But is it any good?
Mission: Impossible isn't Metal Gear Solid, nor does it have the sheer shoot 'em up exuberance of GoldenEye 007, but the missions are varied and interesting and it looks fantastic. It's being released so long after the film that any hype surrounding the thing will have long evaporated. This may suit Mission: Impossible, simply because no-one will be expecting another MGS. However, it's likely to have its moments and should certainly be worthy of further investigation.