The Operative: No One Lives Forever

The Operative: No One Lives Forever (often shortened to NOLF) is FPS developed by Monolith Productions and published by Fox Interactive, originally released for PC in 2000. Ports for PlayStation 2 and Mac OS X followed in 2002.

Set in the 1960s, the game is heavily story-driven and earned widespread praise for its stylish retro aesthetic inspired by the spy movies and TV shows of the era, as well as for its witty tone. Players take on the role of Cate Archer, an operative working for a secret agency tasked with protecting global security. Alongside traditional weaponry, Cate has access to an assortment of gadgets cleverly disguised as fashionable accessories.

Upon launch, many critics regarded No One Lives Forever as one of the strongest FPS titles since Half-Life (1998). The game won multiple Game of the Year awards, leading to the release of a special Game of the Year Edition in 2001 that added an extra mission set on a remote South Pacific island. The game later received a sequel, No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way, in 2002, as well as a spin-off, Contract J.A.C.K., in 2003 — both also developed by Monolith.