GoldenEye 007: Reloaded
Overview -
Bond, James Bond. The most famous spy in the history of the genre. A character who has been immortalized in over twenty films, many books, and an increasing amount of video games. In the past three gaming generations, countless Bond games have come and gone. Some of them were good (Everything and Nothing from last gen springs to mind), others not so much (the disappointing movie tie-in for Quantum of Solace did the series no favors). But without a doubt, the most acclaimed and revered Bond game to date was the one that started it all: Goldeneye. Originally released on the Nintendo 64, the game was most memorable for its split-screen multiplayer that inspired epic gaming sessions. Anyone who had a Nintendo 64 remembers just how fun it was to get three friends over for a long night of Goldeneye’s multiplayer. The game proved so popular that EA saw fit to commission a remake. The Wii version has been out for several months, and now we belatedly see a release on the other consoles. Does this version scale the same heights as the original, or does it fail to recapture the magic?
Video Review
Goldeneye was first developed for the Wii and only given a release on the other consoles after a window of exclusivity. For the 360 and PS3 the graphics have supposedly been updated, but honestly, Goldeneye Reloaded looks like a Wii game. Character models are blocky and stiff. Even Bond himself (for the few times you see him as the game is mainly first person) looks severe. Textures are not particularly detailed, and animations feel less than natural. The game plays very well, but it clearly was not built from the ground up for these more powerful consoles.
Audio Review
As mentioned, Daniel Craig takes over voice duties as Bond. Bond feels more terse here than he does in some of the other recent Bond titles, but when he does pipe up you know you’re getting the real deal. Judi Dench returns as M, head of MI6, giving Bond his mission briefings. Other than those two, the voice acting isn’t particularly distinguished but it gets the job done. The best element of the sound are in the wide variety of weapons you get to use. They all have their own sounds, and they are oh so satisfying when they connect and you hear your target crumple to the floor.
Final Thoughts
Goldeneye Reloaded pulls off a major feat: It manages to recall a great game of the past without simply rehashing it. However, it’s not without a few flaws. The graphics, originally designed for the Wii, feel decidedly last gen. If you already own the Wii version of the game, there’s no reason to upgrade. In fact, it’s hard to call this an upgrade because it drops the exciting Time Trial Mode, replacing it with the less interesting MI6 Ops. Still, these few issues aside, Goldeneye Reloaded is a smart, sharp first person shooter that should satisfy anyone’s desire for a license to kill.
