View source for Cate Archer

{{Short description|Fictional character from No One Lives Forever series}}
{{cleanup rewrite|date=January 2024}} 
{{Infobox character
|name=Cate Archer
|image=Cate Archer.png
|caption=''No One Lives Forever 2'' promo image
|series= No One Lives Forever
|firstgame= ''[[The Operative: No One Lives Forever]]'' (2000)
|voice= Kit Harris (''NOLF'')<br> [[Jen Taylor]] (''NOLF2'')
|motion_actor= [[Mitzi Martin]]
}}

'''Catherine Ann''' "'''Cate'''" '''Archer''', [[codename]]d '''The Fox''', is a [[player character]] and the protagonist in the ''No One Lives Forever'' video game series by [[Monolith Productions]]. Cate, a covert operative for British-based counter-terrorism organization UNITY, is the main character in ''[[The Operative: No One Lives Forever]]'' (2000) and ''[[No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way]]'' (2002), and is also featured in ''[[Contract J.A.C.K.]]'', an official prequel to the second game.

==Conception and design==
[[File:Mitzi Martin - Cate Archer.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Archer's appearance in ''[[The Operative: No One Lives Forever]]'' was visually styled after model and actress [[Mitzi Martin]].|alt=An image of model and actress Mitzi Martin, dressed as Cate Archer, alongside a rendered picture of Archer.]]

The in-game model of Cate Archer was styled after model and actress [[Mitzi Martin]].<ref name="pr_mitzimartin">{{cite press release |url=http://lith.com/corporate/05_11_2_2000.html |title=FOX Interactive casts elite model as the muse for its new 60s spy adventure |accessdate=November 21, 2010 |publisher=Fox Interactive |date=May 11, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018121922/http://lith.com/corporate/05_11_2_2000.html |archive-date=October 18, 2000}}</ref><ref name="nolf_faq">{{cite web |url=http://www.noonelivesforever.com/faq/#general |title=No One Lives Forever: Frequently Asked Questions – General FAQ |accessdate=September 16, 2011 |publisher=Fox Interactive |work=No One Lives Forever website |date=June 30, 2000 |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128012146/http://www.noonelivesforever.com/faq/#general}}</ref> This was a marketing decision made by the publisher, [[Fox Interactive]], which used its [[feature film]] [[Casting (performing arts)|casting]] department to look for an appropriate model internationally.<ref name="nolf_awards_pr">{{cite press release |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_March_12/ai_71553590/ |title=No One Lives Forever Sweeps Prestigious "Game of the Year" Awards; PC Game Steals the Spotlight With Its Style, Sophistication and Sexiness |accessdate=September 16, 2011 |publisher=Fox Interactive |date=March 12, 2001}}</ref><ref name="longo_nolf2cate">{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/greyisthecolor/1927166789/ |title=JeanShrimpton |accessdate=November 21, 2010 |publisher=[[Flickr]] |last=Longo |first=David |date=November 8, 2007}}</ref> Archer's voice was provided by American voice actress Kit Harris,<ref>{{IMDb name|0364964|Kit Harris}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2023|certain=y|reason=WP:USERGENERATED}} who also did the voice of the Inge Wagner character. Originally, Harris recorded the Scottish protagonist's voice in a stronger [[Scottish English|Scottish accent]]. This was changed after a Scottish producer of the game felt that the particular accent used was too lower class, and an inappropriate choice; Harris re-recorded her lines with a "[[British English|British bent]]" instead.<ref name="kitharris_interview">{{cite web|url=http://sficlan.net/Unityhq/forums/forums/index.php?showtopic=1321 |title=Kit Harris' Interview |accessdate=November 21, 2010 |publisher=Unity Headquarters |author=User "Eliteone" |date=June 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/629ZIntsc?url=http://sficlan.net/Unityhq/forums/forums/index.php?showtopic=1321 |archive-date=October 3, 2011 }}<!-- Interview archived at |archiveurl= |archivedate=October 3, 2011 --></ref>

In the game's sequel, Archer's face was changed to more closely resemble English model and actress [[Jean Shrimpton]]. Voice acting was done by American actress [[Jen Taylor]],<ref name="longo_nolf2cate" /> who also voiced Isako and the ninjas.

==Appearances==
Archer is the only playable character in the series' main games, ''[[The Operative: No One Lives Forever]]'' and ''[[No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way]]''. In the latter, there is a cooperative multiplayer level in which the player is a UNITY agent rescuing Archer while she is unconscious. She also makes a short appearance (as a [[non-player character]]) and is a playable multiplayer character in ''[[Contract J.A.C.K.]]''

Cate Archer was born in [[Scotland]] in late March 1942 to a privileged English-Scottish family. Her mother died soon after she was born and her father committed suicide in 1956. Prior to joining UNITY, Archer pursued a career as a professional thief to provide for herself and because she found it gratifying. She was discovered by agent Bruno Lawrie when Archer stole his watch that had an in-built tracking device. By the time she arrived at her flat, Lawrie was waiting there. Admiring her talent and bravery, he decided to give her a future as an operative for UNITY - an international agency charged with combating terrorism around the globe.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100130033640/http://noonelivesforever.com/operative/ Cate Archer - The Operative]</ref>

Before the [[The Operative: No One Lives Forever|First H.A.R.M Incident]], Archer mainly dealt with minor assignments. She was not completely satisfied with her career at UNITY, since she thought that there was no real value in her daily work. Also, she was the first female operative of UNITY, so nobody (except Bruno) believed in her. In September 1967, seven active UNITY field operatives were killed by Dmitrij Volkov, a mysterious assassin, who always left a red [[lily]] upon his victim. All traces pointed to a terrorist organization called H.A.R.M. This emergency situation forced the organization to call upon Archer to undertake her first major assignment. She and Bruno Lawrie went to Morocco, thereby beginning the chain of events which unfold in the first game. Their missions were foiled one after another, as if someone knew about their plans, yet she survived all the time. Mr. Smith didn't trust her, which was even furthered by his sexism. However, Mr. Jones gave her last chance. In the end of the first game Archer killed two primary antagonists: Baroness Dumas and Dmitrij Volkov (who would turn to be alive), and also exposed the traitors within UNITY. By the time the incident was resolved, she had gained the respect of her superiors and colleagues, and came to be regarded as one of UNITY's top field agents.

==Reception==
In 2007, Cate was included by [[Tom's Games]] on the list of the 50 greatest female characters in video game history ("As a delightfully retro 1960s British agent, Archer is the female equivalent of [[James Bond (character)|James Bond]]. She's irresistibly sexy, stubbornly headstrong and proficient with all sorts of Bond-like gadgets").<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080120112854/http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2007/02/20/the_50_greatest_female_characters_in_the_history_of_video_games/page7.html The 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History | Tom's Games]</ref> That same year, Cate was ranked sixth in [[ActionTrip]]'s list of top "video game chicks", and the site's writer stated: "Apart from being one of most attractive game heroines out there, she's the female equivalent of [[James Bond]] and not many chicks can stand up to that. She's sexy and there's simply nothing she can't handle."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actiontrip.com/features/atstop10videogamechicks_2.phtml |title=AT's Top 10 Video Game Chicks |publisher=[[ActionTrip]] |date=September 7, 2007 |accessdate=July 22, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521081445/http://www.actiontrip.com/features/atstop10videogamechicks_2.phtml |archive-date=May 21, 2013 }}</ref> In 2008, ''[[Play (US magazine)|Play]]'' listed her as one of their favorite female characters in their sixth "Girls of Gaming" issue, stating she's "as badass as [[Jason Bourne|Bourne]] and as suave as Bond," while noting their desire to see her return in another title.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Halverson |first=Dave |author2=Mike Griffin|author3=Heather Anne Campbell|author4=Matt Cabral|author5=Eric L. Patterson |date=December 2008 |title=Girls of Gaming |magazine=[[Play (US magazine)|Play]] |volume=6 |page=29 }}</ref> That same year, she was ranked as 25th on [[GameDaily]]'s list of "hottest game babes" list, cited as attractive despite her conservative attire compared to other female characters,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-hottest-game-babes/?page=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701052302/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-hottest-game-babes/?page=27 | archive-date=July 1, 2008|title=Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial|publisher=GameDaily|accessdate=December 26, 2008}}</ref> and third in [[UGO.com]]'s list of "girls of gaming", compared to [[Emma Peel]] and called a female counterpart to Bond in terms of appeal.<ref>[http://www.ugo.com/games/gaming-girls-cate-archer Top 11 Girls of Gaming] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727020757/http://www.ugo.com/games/gaming-girls-cate-archer |date=2012-07-27 }}. [[UGO.com]]. Retrieved on 2008-12-26</ref> She was one of the characters featured in UGO's 2008 list of top 11 spies in all media, stating she "perfectly captures the swinging spy style".<ref>[http://www.ugo.com/tv/guide-to-spies-cate-archer Top 11 Spies: Cate Archer - UGO.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115093310/http://www.ugo.com/tv/guide-to-spies-cate-archer |date=2010-11-15 }}</ref> In 2009, this "smart, tough heroine" was one of the 64 characters chosen for the [[GameSpot]]'s poll for the All Time Greatest Game Hero, but lost in the first round against [[Strider Hiryu]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221830/http://www.gamespot.com/greatest-video-game-hero/standings/index.html All Time Greatest Video Game Hero contest at GameSpot.com - Standings]</ref> In 2011, [[GamesRadar]] named her "Miss 2000" in their article on the sexiest new characters of the decade.<ref>{{cite web|title=The sexiest new characters of the decade |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sexiest-new-characters-of-the-decade/a-2009122311561016035 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |accessdate=July 6, 2013 |date=June 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616054359/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sexiest-new-characters-of-the-decade/a-2009122311561016035 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 }}</ref> [[Tom's Guide]] included this "smooth operator" on their 2013 list of the 20 "hottest video game babes" for making "international espionage classy and sexy all at once."<ref>John Corpuz, [http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/484-12-Video-Game-Girls-Babes-Hottest-Characters-Stunning.html 20 of The Hottest Video Game Babes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522193347/http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/484-12-Video-Game-Girls-Babes-Hottest-Characters-Stunning.html |date=2013-05-22 }}, Tom's Guide, April 26, 2013</ref> In a 2021 article Collider said Archer was "a wonder of a character, with a razor-sharp wit and a wardrobe to match."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://collider.com/why-we-need-a-new-no-one-lives-forever-game/ | title=How 'Deathloop' Proves We Need a New 'No One Lives Forever' Game | website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] | date=8 October 2021 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of female action heroes]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/gamings-greatest-unsung-heroine-695285585|title=Gaming's Greatest Unsung Heroine|author=Kirk Hamilton|date=January 13, 2014 |publisher=Kotaku|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-toast-to-no-one-lives-forever-on-its-20th-birthday|title=A toast to No One Lives Forever on its 20th birthday
|author=Lauren Morton|date=November 9, 2020 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |access-date=October 6, 2021 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/replaying-no-one-lives-forever-shows-us-that-sexism-in-gaming-never-dies/|title=Replaying 'No One Lives Forever' Shows Us That Sexism in Gaming Never Dies|first= Ed |last=Smith|date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=Vice.com|access-date=October 6, 2021}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/female-spies-are-really-interesting-tomb-raider-writer-rhianna-pratchett-wants-to-reboot-the-cult-classic-no-one-lives-forever/|title="Female spies are really interesting" – Tomb Raider writer Rhianna Pratchett wants to reboot the cult-classic No One Lives Forever|first= Rebecca |last=April May|date=May 8, 2019 |publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=October 6, 2021}}

{{Monolith games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Cate}}
[[Category:Fictional criminals in video games]]
[[Category:Female characters in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional British people in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional female thieves]]
[[Category:Fictional thieves]]
[[Category:First-person shooter characters]]
[[Category:Monolith Productions]]
[[Category:Fictional spies in video games]]
[[Category:Video game characters based on real people]]
[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 2000]]
[[Category:Nobility characters in video games]]