Tag Archives: James Bond

Goldeneye 007 (Nintendo 64)

Goldeneye 007

Developer(s) – Rare

Publisher(s) – Nintendo

Director(s) – Martin Hollis

Producer(s) – Martin Hollis

ELSPA – 15+

Developed by Rare to coincide with the Bond film of the same name starring Pierce Brosnan, and created by a core team of nine people, Goldeneye 007 was received as being one the best games on the system. Helping to establish a lot of the standards associated with 3D first-person shooters. Along with the likes of Quake and Duke Nukem 3D. Although I personally prefer Rare’s spiritual successor Perfect Dark for a number of reasons, there’s no denying that the original Goldeneye is and forever will be a Nintendo 64 classic. Certainly one of the best games on the system. And probably one of the best first-person shooters of all time. 

Graphics – 8.5/10

The game is set across the same locations the film is set in. Albeit with a few unique ones added in for good measure, as well as the multiplayer arenas. The graphics for Goldeneye, namely facial textures, have become a meme over the Internet in comparison to today’s graphics. But the fact of the matter is that these visuals were revolutionary at the time. With intricately designed levels that keep faithful to the original film. As well as branch out to give players an entirely unique experience at the same time. 

Gameplay – 9/10

In a traditional 3D first-person shooter, the player is reliant on a range of firearms in order to shoot through hordes of enemies to progress. But it is also objection-based with players having to carry out specific tasks to complete each scenario. This was relatively unique for a game of its kind back then. Doom had features similar to this, but not the same scale. The multiplayer mode has also become insanely popular with gamers over the years. With the facility to choose from a range of different Bonds and Bond villains from other Bond films as well as Goldeneye. Indeed the character of Oddjob had become synonymous with gaming in general. It’s a licensed game that not only uses the license but celebrates it in wonderfully extravagant ways. 

Controls – 7/10

The biggest problem I had with the game was the controls. Players must rely on the c buttons in order to move the character as opposed to the analog stick. This caused confusion for me at the time. And can potentially cause confusion for players looking to try it out for the first time. FPS games have evolved greatly since the release of this game. It’s an even bigger problem for me, especially when comparing it to Perfect Dark. That game posthumously solved this problem by having the analog stick be the means to move around. But that being said, it doesn’t make the game unplayable by any stretch of the imagination. 

Lifespan – 7/10

To complete Goldeneye 007 to 100% will take around 20 hours, which for a linear FPS is excellent, especially when comparing it to other games of the genre that would go on to last considerably less time like Halo 4. But beyond that, the multilayer model has provided unlimited playtime to many, many fans of the game over almost 25 years so players looking for a long time will want for nothing where this title is concerned. 

Storyline – 8/10

The game simply retells the events of the film, whereby James Bond is tasked with stopping a Russian crime syndicate from recovering and using the secret Goldeneye weapons program. In terms of storytelling in video games, the plot of the film is as well relayed as what could’ve been expected at the time, with much of the film’s dialogue being used and all of the main character’s purposes and personalities intact. In the unique campaign levels, there are certain moments that also add to the overall story in addition, so things are kept relatively fresh in this respect to help it.

Originality – 9/10

Speaking of uniqueness, at the time this game was like a breath of fresh air for gamers playing on the Nintendo 64, who at this point would’ve been more used to 3D platforming adventures and quirky racing games. Goldeneye, along with many other future releases on the system like Turok, Jet Force Gemini, or Mortal Kombat 4, would provide players with a multitude of different Gameplay experiences on the system that deviated away from the kind of game that Nintendo would develop internally. The game itself would also go on to become one of the most influential games in the genre in addition, with many developers citing it as a major influence on future games. 

Happii

Overall, Goldeneye 007 is definitely one of the best first-person shooting games of all time; it’s enjoyable to play, and still stands out from many other FPS titles, and as fans patiently wait for the remaster that this game deserves, revisiting this classic still holds up. To this day regardless. 

Score

48.5/60

8/10 (Very Good)

007: Agent Under Fire (Xbox, PlayStation 2 & GameCube)

007 Agent Under Fire

Developer(s) – EA Redwood Shores

Publisher(s) – Electronic Arts

ELSPA – 15

Developed to succeed Rare’s legendary shooter, Goldeneye 007, Agent Under Fire, released in 2001, garnished mixed to positive reviews. Although I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as Goldeneye 007, and despite the fact that critics have gone on to label it a “standard-issue” game, I personally found a fair bit of enjoyment to be had whilst playing, and as a result, I spent a lot of time on it when it was released.

Graphics – 7.5/10

In lieu of the franchise’s tradition, the game is set in a multitude of different locations around the world and ranges from locations such as submarines, secret bases office buildings, and city streets. Conceptually, the game is as wonderfully varied as any film or game in the franchise. Graphically, it also did a fairly decent job of showcasing what sixth-generation consoles were capable of in a graphical sense in the early stages of their respective shelf lives.

Gameplay – 7.5/10             

The gameplay also went beyond an average linear first-person shooter. With many different gadgets to use along the way, such as a decryptor to unlock doors, a laser to find hidden entry points into buildings and to break locks, and a jet pack to reach higher ground, it all provided the game with a pleasant amount of variety. Since it all also provided different ways to approach each level, it also came with a decent amount of replay value as well. There are also sequences that involve vehicular combat, which only added to the game’s level of diversity, as well as the intensity to be experienced while playing.

Controls – 10/10

007: Agent Under Fire was released when the FPS genre was about to be taken to greater heights than before. So as to be expected, there are no problems with the controls. Especially as the game was developed using the id Tech 3 engine created by id Software; pioneers of the genre. I also found the vehicular sections to be as simple to control as many of the best racing games that were around at the time, such as Gran Turismo 3, which makes the game seem even more impressive, as it was built on an engine designed specifically for shooting games.

Lifespan – 6/10

The game can only be made to last around 10 to 15 hours. Whilst not great, it’s longer than other FPS games released and was about the industry standard for the time anyway. What replay value it offers can add on a couple more hours. But I think they could have easily made this game last longer than they did by either making stages longer with more side challenges or simply having more of them instead.

Storyline – 6/10

The storyline is also typically reminiscent of a James Bond film but with considerably worse dialogue. In it, Bond is investigating Identicon; a botanical research firm suspected of being a front for a weapons-smuggling ring. A mole named Zoe Nightshade is discovered and captured, and Bond must save her, as well as stop their plans. There is also a nice twist to it all presented towards the middle of the story. But the voice acting can range from barely passable to lackluster, making it somewhat difficult to take seriously at times. The voice actor playing Bond also sounded to me like Steve Coogan. And since I’m Alan Partridge was riding high at that time, it made it especially difficult to take seriously.

Originality – 7/10

Although it wasn’t as innovative as Goldeneye 007, it has a charm that differentiates it from most other first-person shooters. The side quests in each level give players something to do beyond focusing on shooting every enemy in sight, and vehicular combat does well to diversify the gameplay. And also provide gamers with a different experience from what they were used to at that time.

Happii

Overall, 007: Agent Under Fire is a decent licensed game made before the sub-genre was taken into greater prominence with Batman: Arkham Asylum and Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Though it is easy to draw negative comparisons with Goldeneye 007, it’s an enjoyable experience and still holds up.

Score

44/60

7/10 (Fair)