The genre has moved on and some of those responsible for the original Goldeneye never reached the heights again with the Timesplitters series. We’ve been here before with Goldeneye Rogue Agent, which was a disappointing use of the license. Handling developer duties this time around is UK studio Eurcom, who have always done a steady if rudamentary job. Their CV includes licenses such as Duke Nukem, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. These do not install confidence however at times Eurcom has surprised with Dead Space: Extraction the most notable example. They’ve had substantial experience with the James Bond license previously as well, having delivered Quantum of Solace (PS2), James Bond 007: Nightfire and The World is Not Enough. Plus we’re sure they’ve played just as much as the original Goldeneye as the rest of us.
This is by no means a faithful restoration, as Eurcom have taken creative license with the storyline to amend levels. The main reason for this seems to be to allow a Daniel Craig inspired interpretation of events and modern developments such as destructable scenery. One of the joys of the original cartridge was the ability with a special addition to explore unfinished levels and areas. Could this Directors Cut allow us to see more of the Goldeneye universe?
The game will feature a range of classic characters from the Bond franchise and the demanding multiplayer and split screen options. On paper there will be forty characters with eight being dubbed as classic Bond personalities such as 006, Jaws, Oddjob and Scaramanga. With just five maps and three standard modes it does seem rather limited by today’s standards. Helping to make up this shortfall is the prescence of sixteen special modifiers that allow players to create different game combinations. GoldenEye 007 will also feature an online multiplayer for up to eight players designed for seasoned FPS online gamers with unique modes and a robust XP system for unlockables and achievements. It remains to be seen whether the brilliant timed challenges will make a return and wreck havoc once again.
This reinvention will lack the element of surprise, as no one expected a video game license to deliver a classic experience. This was an era of poor licenses and quick cash-ins from developers and publishers alike. The first person genre is arguably the most competitive nowadays. Perhaps acknowledging this fact, Activision has made Goldeneye 007 a Nintendo Wii exclusive. Eurcom are covering all the bases with the control methods including the Wii remote, classic controller and nunchuk.
Activision has promised that Goldeneye 007 ‘will reflect modern technology advancements, while channelling nostalgia for fans of the franchise’. Whether or not it is enough to prompt Gamestyle to forget out its Goldeneye cartridge and N64 system upstairs only time will tell.
