Those expecting a mirroring of the Quantum of Solace script will be in for a surprise as the game also includes levels from the superior Casino Royale. These are delivered in the form of flashbacks that appear after you have made your way to Bolivia. Rather than being just quick sequences they play out as complete levels including Miami and the chasing of the bomber through a building site in Madagascar and beyond. This is a good move from the developer as both stories are closely linked. Allowing Treyarch to pick the best moments from each film, without having to fill up the overall experience with side stories or introducing time consuming, pointless dynamics.
Sadly this potentially rich treasure trove of levels has been squandered, with any potential almost reduced to a worthless value. It all starts off promisingly enough with the credits and film integration maintaining your interest. Some readers may also be pleased to hear that the Jack White theme song does not accompany this release, although for Gamestyle it represented a highlight of the disappointing Quantum of Solace. The presentation is generally good, helped by the inclusion of the main actors from the film, providing their likenesses and voices to great effect.
The gaming experience is where things start to fall apart as there is no variety. The game play consists of following a linear route and using cover whenever possible whilst facing members of the Organisation. Amusingly opponent deaths are executed in typical Hollywood fashion. It seems none of these gunmen know how to die onscreen without throwing their firearm into the air and tossing themselves over the nearest obstacle. Initially some unarmed encounters are resolved via quick time events and its all too easy to hack into camera systems or open programmed doors. The building chase in Madagascar could have been a fantastic opportunity for a mix of QTE and player skill. Instead its reduced to a few balance sections and poorly directed scenes. These themes continue throughout the rest of Quantum of Solace, where the license is the only reason to continue playing.
Too often PS3 titles suffer from a lack of online support, but during our matches via the PlayStation Network we never struggled for opponents. Perhaps this will change with the advent of the next Call of Duty, or the game has enjoyed a recent upsurge given the generous discount being applied by some retailers? Either way, its quick and simple to get online and take on others either as Bond or as a member of the Organisation. An enjoyable option is Bond Versus, where you can either play out as Bond trying to defuse three bombs on a map or eliminate the six gunmen trying to hunt you down. Bond Evasion is a twist where you must reach a certain extraction point, or again kill all enemies. Both brought back memories of Splinter Cell online, with the remaining modes being standard offerings in team and single player death match. Online Quantum of Solace won't win any awards or amaze with its fluid combat or inventive level design, but its a fun diversion.
To warrant some replay value and perhaps to challenge those that managed to overcome everything Goldeneye could muster, Treyarch have made good use of the PlayStation trophy system. Also scattered around the levels are mobile phones that will contain extra information and (quite often) have you checking your own phone in error. Most of these are easily located throughout what is a linear experience; you can also visit the MI6 debriefing rooms after each level has been completed. Neither is particularly worthwhile or relevant, and upping the difficulty level fails to provide an experience that only Halo Combat Evolved or Goldeneye can produce.
Quantum of Solace is by no means a poor first person experience, its just rather bland and decidedly average. Whether this is due to the limitations of the license or the failure of the developer to harness the potential of the Bond universe, we may never know. However the end result is an experience that fails to endure once completed, either in your memory or the drive of your console.
