Witty one liners, charming characters, shocking plot twists, and surprisingly clever FPS mechanics, made this game stand out back in the day - that, and the delightful cartoony graphics and 60s soundtrack.
I remember first playing the demo of this and getting hooked the moment the opening theme tune played out - something about it instantly reminded me of Bond movies, Peter Sellers, and all those retro cartoons I grew up with.
Then once I got playing, I found myself giggling away at all the little quips and witty repartee between henchmen and main characters alike. There weren't many FPS games out which had a sense of humour, let alone a kickass female protagonist with a sharp wit!
The main thing i appreciated about the game aside from the humour, was the difficulty curve and all the myriad gadgets you could employ to get through each level - it felt a bit like Bond meets Metal Gear with all the sneaking and gadget use!
Ahh, i could go on and on, suffice to say NOLF deserves to be brought back into our lives, and be introduced to a new generation of gamers who haven't been fortunate enough to enjoy its inimitable charms!
PS - Cate Archer should've been elevated to the top of the pantheon of popular main characters during those years - It always baffles me that Lara Croft continued to hold that crown, when Cate was so much more charming! :)