Retro shooters inspired by Doom, Quake and Duke Nukem 3D have been common in recent years. Agent 64: Spies Never Die takes a different route, recreating the auto-aim-driven style of the Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye and Perfect Dark.
Out now on PC, Agent 64 makes its influences clear immediately. The opening campaign area includes a television and console resembling an N64, displaying a deliberately fuzzy image that could be the game itself—or one of its inspirations.
A different kind of retro FPS
This is not a modern shooter built around aiming down sights, bunny-hopping or constant high-speed precision. Like the classic N64 games it recalls, Agent 64 uses auto-aim and has no jump or crouch button. Movement is fast and smooth, letting players slide through rooms while firing bursts at guards until the familiar impact sounds signal a takedown.
The combat is straightforward, with no upgrades or unlock system adding extra layers to the action. Even so, solo developer Replicant D6 has captured the distinctive flow of Rare’s console shooters. Entering a room, sweeping across a group of enemies and clearing it with an auto-aimed SMG can feel remarkably effortless and stylish.
For readers exploring the wider world of classic arcade-style shooters, RETROCADE’s arcade light guns offer another way to approach retro shooting games.
Difficulty adds reasons to replay missions
The appeal of GoldenEye and Perfect Dark was never limited to their weapons. Their missions and difficulty settings changed how levels were approached, introducing additional objectives and encouraging repeated play.
Agent 64 follows that structure effectively. The lowest difficulty provides a useful introduction to each mission, while higher settings open up new areas and tasks. These can include destroying supplies, hacking a computer with a gadget or tracking a helicopter before it takes off.
There are also hidden collectibles that can be shot to unlock extras and additional levels. Replaying missions to complete their objectives more quickly, find concealed items and tackle tougher requirements gives each stage considerably more longevity.
©Replicant D6
Multiplayer and co-op are included
Multiplayer is a major part of Agent 64, just as it was central to the enduring reputation of its N64 influences. Matches can be played in several modes against bots, online opponents or a combination of both, with settings available to customise the experience.
The campaign also supports co-op online and in split-screen, allowing two players to work through missions together on one computer display. Multiplayer matches support up to four players on the same screen.
That local multiplayer focus makes the game a natural fit for a shared setup. RETROCADE’s arcade machines and bartop arcades provide other options for bringing multiplayer-friendly retro gaming into a home games room.
Controller-friendly, with PC options
The game was primarily tested on a Steam Machine and performed flawlessly. A controller suits its analogue movement, sticks and triggers particularly well, although mouse-and-keyboard controls are fully supported and work effectively.
Players seeking a more convincing old-school presentation can disable some of the enhanced graphics options and enable a CRT filter. Even with those effects switched off, Agent 64 retains a distinctly retro visual style. It resembles the N64 shooters many players remember, while a direct comparison also reveals how nostalgia can soften memories of older graphics.
A focused throwback for N64 shooter fans
Agent 64: Spies Never Die is aimed squarely at players who enjoyed the N64’s auto-aim FPS design. It may have less to offer anyone without an attachment to that particular style, but it delivers a carefully constructed throwback for those who want a new shooter that deliberately avoids feeling too modern.
It also runs on virtually any PC released during the last decade and is inexpensive, making it an accessible way to revisit that era’s mission design, controls and multiplayer structure. For more retro-gaming coverage, visit the RETROCADE arcade blog.
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