A Radiant Revision- GoldenEye 007 Review

Whereas cinematic remakes are often awarded bulky budgets and undergo thoughtful renovation, revival of interactive entertainment is typically given the shaft. With the ability to emulate or adapt programming code onto newer hardware, players are usually given little more than a graphical makeover. While newly-detailed texture maps and zippier framerate may allow older games to compete against the visuals of contemporary titles, elder diversions are often held back by antiquated play mechanics. Anyone who has played the recent revivals of Perfect Dark Zero, Serious Sam HD, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled will likely be aware of this phenomenon.

Unable to recycle code from the original 1997 game (which was developed by Rare, a firm now wholly owned by rival Microsoft Game Studios), the recent update of GoldenEye 007 skirts the typical troubles of most remakes. While the game purportedly extracts inspiration from the 1995 film- make no mistake, this realization of GoldenEye is a masterful amalgamation of the beloved Nintendo 64 game along with a collection industry advancements from the last fifteen years. Despite being restrained by the technical limitations of Nintendo’s console, players seeking a solid solitary or competitive multiplayer experience will find no better first-person shooter on the Wii.

Veterans of the original game will undoubtedly savor GoldenEye‘s keen homage. As the game commences, players are dropped off adjacent to the recognizable guard tower, chasm, and tunnel of the original game’s Byelomorye Dam stage. Yet, a number of significant alterations are immediately noticeable. Brosnan’s Bond was been replaced with Daniel Craig- who not only lends his voice and likeness to the game, but brings a sense of barbarity to the role, mirroring his interpretation of the English spy in the last two films. Accompanying the player through the level is Agent 006, who is deftly allowed to build rapport with Bond, embedding the act of betrayal with greater magnitude.

Closer inspection of the initial stage shows a number of shrewd augmentations. Gamers may descend into the previously inaccessible gorge at the beginning of the stage, discovering a decaying sewer pipe and an optimal sniping position. Whereas the tunnel held a few wayward guards, now the passageway provides an on-rails shooting sequence, adding a boost of full-auto adrenaline to the usual pedestrian-based proceedings. Later the level shows a bit of architectural and graphical redundancy as players move through a few similar-looking areas; although it’s hardly a deal breaker, repetition does become noticeable throughout the game’s fourteen levels. Most nimble is the game’s encouragement of a stealthy expedition (especially on the title’s higher difficultly settings) which can circumvent player’s from stirring up a hornet’s nest of antagonist activity. Smartly, a covert approach is never required, allowing gamers to dictate their own methodology, and allowing levels to stay fresh through multiple play-throughs.

With developer Eurocom admirably attempts to maintain a smooth framerate, the game’s fluidity can also succumb to occasional deterioration. With a proficient depth of field effect when players reload, to clouds of well-rendered smoke and haze, and hearty explosions, it’s clear that GoldenEye is pushing Nintendo’s hardware to its limits. Fortunately, the refresh rate never bows to unplayable thresholds, only appearing inferior when compared to now-gen FPSs. Socially, the title is consistently pleasing- from the ambient sound of falling rain, the crack of gunfire to the extended dialog between  enemies, GoldenEye‘s audio is surprisingly robust.

While I preferred using the dual analog stick of the Classic Controller Pro, players my opt to use either a Gamecube controller, Nunchuck and Wiimote combo, or even a Zapper housing. When using the Wii default controllers, players could adjust a variety of settings to their preference, although the game’s auto-aim and ability to lean around corners seemed intuitive enough. Surprisingly, the game’s multiplayer mode omits support for the WiiSpeak peripheral, possibly because players can jump right into a match without the need for friend codes.

Although GoldenEye‘s online competitions don’t attempt to  recreate the legendary maps of the Nintendo 64 iteration of the game, they do offer a wealth of options. Players may initiate one of nine game types, ranging from straightforward deathmatches, team based objectives, as well as the beloved Golden Gun variant. Following the trajectory of contemporary contests, GoldenEye offers a hearty experience system, which endows gamers with new weapons, gear, and perks as they ascend the ranks. Players which persevere to level fifty even obtain access to the legendary proximity mines, which are just as gratifying to use as they were in the original game. Local split screen matches are available for up to four players, allow only a quartet of variations are presented to players.