It's a fact that Spy Fiction is being revamped for it's US release @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on May 01, 2004

News: Sammy Studios and Access Games plan to add many enhancements to Spy Fiction, read all about them inside.

Spy Fiction was released in Japan a little while back and Sammy Studios is banking on the game for a September North American release. But rather than do a simple translation and localization of the game, they're practically rebuilding it from the ground up.

First, Sammy started withаaаplot summaryаto catch everyone up with the intricate world of Spy Fiction:
"Spy Fiction" follows Billy Bishop and Sheila Crawford, phantom operatives in the S.E.A. intelligence agency on the trail of a terrorist organization harboring a doomsday biotech weapon. To neutralize the group they must locate their elusive commander by infiltrating his network of secret operations spanning the globe. The game's thrilling action and ever-twisting storyline keep players guessing, and two playable characters with distinct abilities and alternate objectives add great variety to the game play. In addition to identity theft, "Spy Fiction" introduces gadgets that open up the vertical plane to stealth, including a Spider-Grip wall climbing device and a rappelling harness. The game also offers action-oriented puzzles and mini-games, such as the high altitude, low opening (H.A.L.O.) parachute insertion that opens the game, to make interactive sequences out of cinematic moments.

They have also included a very detailed outline of all of the features and enhancements that Spy Fiction will see in it's North American release. From the source:
Additions and improvements exclusive to "Spy Fiction" for North America run the gamut from aesthetic upgrades to palpable game design changes. Sammy Studios worked with Access Games to implement a lighting engine that creates dynamically lit environments, and added set props and new light sources throughout the game. The result is added realism, and in some areas a boost in set-induced drama, to the game's variety of indoor and outdoor environments. Additional graphical improvements include enhanced textures, new user interface for inventory and communication devices, and improved animations that bring more life to the superb character design of anime illustrator Renji Murata (Last Exile, Blue Submarine No. 6).

Sammy Studios and Access Games have also brought great improvements to the game play for the U.S. version. Most significant is an improved A.I. that gives enemies a bigger field of vision and larger detection area, compensating for the vertical stealth devices in Bishop and Sheila's arsenal. Fortunately, both characters have been given the new, handy ability to pistol whip their "smarter" enemies, and "convince" neutralized enemies to drop weapons and items. In the gadgets category, the 3D camera used for identity capture is also available as a sticky camera, enabling Bishop and Sheila to place the device on surfaces. This allows them to capture images for I.D. theft with greater stealth or find better vantage points that cannot be physically reached. Additional upgrades to game play include level redesign, with new objectives, and a fully controllable camera to give players the freedom to find the best perspective in tight situations.

For more on Spy Fiction, you can check out our first impressions of the game that ran just last week.