The Agency Preview

You'll need to work together to save the German embassy

When the mission to save the German embassy nears its conclusion, Das Committee operatives wearing bombs on their backs charge at the pillars. To sort them out you can either aim specifically for the bombs themselves and kill the goons before they reach the pillars (you'll be awarded a Trophy if you can shoot a bomb strapped to the back of a bad guy and chain kill three other guys), or attempt to deactivate any that are charged if you have the right skill and gadgets. If you save all four pillars from destruction you'll get a gold rating. You only need to save one pillar, however, to get a bronze rating, which is doable solo.

In situations like this playing to your role's strengths will be all important. There will be six roles in the game at launch, which broadly fall into three overarching categories - combat, support and stealth. A stealth role, say the Spy, can turn invisible, pick locks and hack bombs so they don't detonate. The Doc buffs, heals, and can resurrect fallen allies with an adrenaline shot, saving the need for players to run back to the action from the last save point or safe house infirmary. If there's no Doc on the team fear not - there's an operative who's specialises in resuscitating downed agents.

In the bigger missions, A and B class, there will be Agency Moments players will compete to star in. Essentially cinematic cut scenes, they big up the player who saved the day. The German embassy mission's Agency Moment is a simple dive as explosions go off in the background. We're sure A missions will provide more spectacular showcase endings.

If The Agency sounds like a PvE heavy game, that's probably because it is. In the game world you'll never have to fight another player or be shot at by another player if you don't want to. But that doesn't mean that you won't be able to try some of your mad James Bond skills out on other players. The game's two factions, Paragon and U.N.I.T.E, are friendly rivals, which means that they'll work together on missions but won't be averse to some PvP action in special maps. Say for example, you fancied some capture the flag action as soon as you log in. You'll be able to join a lobby system and, like any online console shooter, jump in as soon as matchmaking has worked its magic.

The Agency is the PS3's most promising MMO

At the time of writing it's looking unlikely that The Agency will provide cross-platform play. While it can be done technically, Sony's research suggests players don't like it, no matter how loudly they call for it on Internet forums. So don't get your hopes up that you'll be able to settle that ancient mouse and keyboard versus joypad shooter argument when the game comes out.

Publisher Sony hasn't worked out how it'll charge players for the privilege of playing the game, either. It's going to take notes from Free Realms, another Sony PS3 and PC MMO due out next year, and make a decision closer to release. It's aware, however, that console owners aren't going to take too kindly to paying a monthly subscription, so will probably settle on a free to play model with micro-transactions for cooler outfits and side missions.

The Agency looks like a solid MMO shooter, with one or two stand out features that could help the game stand out from the horde of rival MMOs that are in the works. The Operative card game system certainly has our interest piqued, and the overall look and tone is pleasing to our critical eyes. Our only concern is with the combat, which could prove too basic for hardcore PS3-owning shooter fans. We'll know more when we get some hands-on with what's fast becoming the PS3's most promising MMO.

The Agency is due out for PS3 and PC in 2009