Alex Rider: Stormbreaker is a video game based on the 2006 film Stormbreaker

Stormbreaker (film)

Stormbreaker is a 2006 British spy film based on Anthony Horowitz's novel of the same name, the first novel in the Alex Rider series. It stars newcomer Alex Pettyfer as the teenage spy alongside actors Mickey Rourke and Bill Nighy...

, which in turn was an adaptation of the original novel

Stormbreaker (novel)

Stormbreaker is the first novel in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. It was released in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2000 and in the United States on 21 May 2001...

. It was released on 7 July 2006 in the UK, and 25 September 2006 in the USA. It is only available for the Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS

The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...

 and the Game Boy Advance

Game Boy Advance

The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...

.

Gameplay

Gameplay

Gameplay

Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...

 (for both Ian and Alex)combat, stealth missions and the ability to drive vehicles and use gadgets to advance in the game. Main mission briefings come from MI6 officials, Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones. Also included is an array of minigame

Minigame

A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...

s by weapon inventor Smithers. There is also an MI6 training camp mode for players to test out their skills.

Storyline

The game begins with the player controlling Ian Rider, Alex's uncle, who must escape Darius Sayle's mansion and dodge enemy motorists in order to safely return to MI6

Secret Intelligence Service

The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...

. Alex soon discovers that his uncle was not a banker but a spy. The MI6 briefs Alex that Herod Sayle is going to give a Stormbreaker computer to every school in Britain. Alex must go undercover to figure out what Ian Rider meant by a "virus".
The players are given a Nintendo DS by Smithers that contains different games for different causes.

Reception

The game was criticised by many gaming sites and magazines. It was commented on by UK games magazine ONM who gave it a score of 27% and said that the game was lacking in decent gameplay and had disappointing 3D graphics, the only exception being the pool mini game, which was not enough to save the game from its shamefully low score. It was also stated that Alex Rider

Alex Rider

Alex Rider is a series of spy novels by British author Anthony Horowitz about a 14-15 year old spy named Alex Rider. The series is aimed primarily at young adults. Nine novels have been published to date, as well as three graphic novels, three short stories and a supplementary book...

 fans, of which there are many, deserve better games. IGN

IGN

IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...

gave it a 'poor' rating of 4.0/10, stating "this game just isn't good".