Gameplay

The Sum of All Fears is only very loosely based on the film of the same name. In this GBA game, you're in command of four-man squads of FBI agents as they are sent out on various missions. The missions themselves include hostage rescue, sabotage and counterterrorism. The game offers 15 levels to work your way through.

The Sum of All Fears offers single and multiplayer modes, along with a lone-wolf and campaign mode. To unlock the lone-wolf mode, you have to fight your way through the single player campaign. Once unlocked, the lone-wolf mode allows you to play as just one operative, instead of the basic four-man team in an attempt to replay the campaign. Multiplayer options allow you to play a deathmatch-style game over the link cables, or you can play a co-op campaign with your friends.

When each level starts, you pick which FBI agents you want on your team, then equip them from a small selection of weaponry and tools. The agents themselves vary only slightly, and are rated in four skills; stealth, reflexes, health and aim. Along with the basic skill set, each agent has a special class, such as recon or demolition, which gives them special skills over one another. After you've picked your agents and equipped them, it's time to play.

Once you enter the game, all that pre-round planning gives way to a simple run and shoot title. There's not much to do besides open doors and open fire. The bad guys tend to stand in one place and shoot at your men, who also like to stand still as they return fire. Not much by way of tactical combat is offered by either side. Just aim, shoot and wait for someone to die. Don't worry, you'll plough through the levels with minimal injury even if you dive into combat headfirst. If one of your teammates actually does die, you can quickly switch to another agent to keep spraying fire at the mindless enemies.

Graphics

The Sum of All Fears will send you running straight to the local game shop to purchase a magnifier for your GBA. All characters are microscopic, with almost no discernable differences besides their color.

Rooms and other level elements remind me of old 8-bit NES titles with their perfectly square shapes, drab colors and lack of character. There's no eye candy to be found anywhere. I could live with the lack of graphical power if the gameplay were better, but sadly, both are poor.

Sound

There's very little in-game music since that would defeat the feeling of stealth The Sum of All Fears hopes to impart upon you while you're playing. This is fine, since it lets you concentrate on the sounds of your enemies as they enter rooms and open fire on your team.  Speaking of weapons fire, most of it sounds like the snare drum effect on an old Casio keyboard. Whenever your team members or enemeis are hit, they emit obnoxious little grunts and groans that are better left unheard. While the GBA doesn't have the hottest sound processor around, Ubi could have tried to push it a little bit , but instead we're stuck with the dull sounds of footsteps in hallways and snare drum gunfire.

Replayability

With 15 levels to play through, and the option to switch to lone-wolf mode for solo-agent play, you can get some decent replay out of this game. Also, if you've got a friend with a GBA and a link cable, you can mix it up with a little deathmatch or co-op mode. However, due to the basic gameplay in The Sum of All Fears, you probably won't feel like playing it much more after you've completed the original missions, so this obviously limits the replay value.

To wrap it all up, The Sum of All Fears just doesn't live up to the squad-based action we've come to expect from Ubi Soft and a Tom Clancy title. The simplistic gameplay and lack of graphical appeal just don't make this game worth having around. Save your money and buy one of the Tom Clancy console or PC titles.