A tremendous earth-shattering explosion is heard from miles around.
Surrounded by towering mountains, the echo is so forceful it feels as
if the very fabric of time itself is collapsing. Reality seems to stand
still as a bullet train speeds by, all the while slowly being engulfed
in a crimson flame. Bodies are hurled across the barren tundra,
overshadowed by the ominous night sky. In the midst of the chaos, a
shadowy figure rises from the ruined aftermath of fiery scrap,
unscathed. Turning off the sensor on his wristwatch and sliding the PP7
into his pocket, the cool and confident agent walks along the tracks
where carnage had just ensued. The barely conscious soldier stares in
bewilderment, and ponders just who this man is. He is the character who
wields an enormous array of weaponry, and courageously participates in
missions that take him around the world and back again. His name is
Bond, James Bond.
Goldeneye 007 will definitely take you back. It is the title that took
everyone by surprise and defined a genre that had been swirling in a
vortex of mediocrity. Putting it into perspective, it was clearly that
something I was looking for to draw me into this genre. First person
shooters have always been a staple for those multi-player meetings,
where friends can blow each other apart for hours on end. However,
alongside a monumental party experience is an engaging one player
adventure that helps to complete the already remarkable package. Rare
took on an idea based on a movie, which nearly always leads to trouble,
and transformed it into a masterpiece, with a charm clearly deriving
from the brilliant execution.
What also made this little installment tower above the rest was the
diverse and ever-changing environments. Unlike most renditions today,
which feature overused rooms and repetitive looking hallways,
everything in this classic installment seems fresh; due in part to the
excellent level design and incredibly balanced stage structure. For
example, the missions which took place outside seemed to last far
longer than their indoor counterparts. Thus allowing for more freedom
and the ability to take in all of your surroundings – while you are
busy sniping away at those unsuspecting guards. And even after all of
this time and playing it alongside far more technologically advanced
shooters, the visuals still continue to impress. The great fog effects
and view distance all help build, not only upon the scenery, but on the
depth that coincides with the engaging campaign.
Nothing more enjoyable than walking into a room full of guards and
showing off all the impressive toys you brought along. Now while Bond
is usually known for stealth and interrogation, it seems that was
knocked aside to bring the full spirit of the first person shooter into
account. That is not to say you still cannot creep lightly behind the
clueless schmuck and knock him senseless with the end of your rifle.
Cheap, yet strangely satisfying. What exactly would a first-person
shooter be without the weaponry? Goldeneye certainly doesn’t falter in
this department, and you have easily over fifty options to use at your
disposal. From the spurt firing power of the RCP-90 to the startling
DD44 Dostovei, each gun you find along the ground is cooler than the
next, with the cream of the crop waiting for those who prove their
worth.
The combat is certainly exciting, but will not be the only task you
undergo. As you prepare to take on a certain stage, the game will
prompt you with three difficulty settings: Agent, Secret Agent, and 00
Agent. As you continue to hone your skills, you will be able to glide
past the easy objectives and more into dangerous territories. Thus, the
more you move up in rank, the harder the enemies, the less damage you
can take, and the more objectives you have to tackle. For example, you
may only have to remove the security device on a computer terminal in
Agent. All in a simple day’s work right Mr. Spy? However, while on 00
Agent, you may have to grab a top-secret video tape, make a copy of a
key, and escape within a time limit, as well as completing the
previously mentioned task. The challenge is executed flawlessly, and by
the time you finish the easier difficulty settings, you will be ready
to meet the next surreal obstacle in your path.
What will stand in your way the most in your road to completion will
not be in the form of an opposing antagonist or stumping puzzle, but
that of a woman. Reminiscing back to earlier titles from the past,
computer oriented buddies are a little more trouble than their worth.
Constantly getting into tough spots and biting off more than they can
chew, thus resulting in you failing your mission. The same can be said
here and the woman being referred to is Natalya. There is nothing more
frustrating than trying to save someone who thinks they are invincible.
Moving from point to point, you will open your mission folder to
suddenly find a “Mission Failed.” How did this happen? Well, almost
every time, you will find it to be her fault; with her inability to
confront enemies being the most frustrating aspect of all. Though the
enemy AI is usually a bit clueless in most cases, it seems that it all
comes back to them when you bring an ally along for the ride.
This derives from the fact that the opposing force is always shooting
your friends instead of you. And it would seem that they prefer
watching you blow your objectives than actually eliminating you. The
best example for this scenario occurs in the later “Control” mission,
which is far and away the most annoying level in the history of gaming.
You play the bodyguard for the ditsy girl who is trying to stop a
diabolic threat from happening, and you must fend off an endless stream
of guards for five minutes. Words can’t describe how many times you
will replay that level, only to see Natalya die again and again. What a
pain in the ass. Thankfully, the most stressing levels are late in the
game and only appear for a short time. This means it’s back to your
lonesome again for some more espionage orient missions devoid of
annoying sidekicks. For you are well aware you can easily handle those
numerous hardships on your own.
Give me a minute to reflect back . . .
Ah, I can faintly recall staying up past the midnight hour one Saturday
night. The room is constantly flashing due in part to the sparks
emanating from within the television. Mountain Dew and other caffeine
induced drinks being consumed to heighten the already robust adrenaline
circulating throughout the room. The sounds of the rocket launcher and
dual wield weaponry resplendently shatter the moments of lurking around
dark corners. And finally with one false move that trademark red screen
of blood folds over our screens. This is truly what multi-player was
all about, a competitive madhouse of carnage, all racing toward that
winning score. While it may seem like it is lacking in certain aspects
because of its age, Goldeneye really is still at the top of its class
because of the freshness felt when it first arrived. The classic
nostalgia apparent in virtually every nook and cranny reaches even
deeper than Bond’s predictable charm towards the ladies.
There is certainly no dullness noticeable in the battle mode and the
customization you can set up for each event is seemingly limitless.
Options such as: the type of weapon selection, allowance of body armor
(shields), and the never-ending list of character choices, all surely
satisfy if you are a seeker for large quantities of content. Up to four
players can throw down at one time thanks to the split-screen display
and the level selection is not too shabby either. Though each
environment feels and looks different than the next, one thing
generally stays the same, the desire of learning the locations of the
best weapons and armor. From small corridors to hidden doors which
coincide next to familiar wall patterns, each stage has something that
makes it unique. Even team battles can be set up if you and your buds
want to break from the FFA action for a little bit. There is plenty to
do, and grabbing a large party of friends to compete and explore all
the possibilities offered, really is the best way to play Goldeneye.
And in comparison, nothing even comes close.
Even after all of these years I can still pick up this gem and fall
prey to the excellent single player mode or the remarkable
multi-player. Despite running through today’s FPS giants such as: Halo,
Half-Life, and Call of Duty, there is something about Goldeneye that
puts it a step above the rest. Maybe its legacy derives from the fact
it literally defined first person shooters on the console or it could
be that I am poor and have no other games to play. Regardless, if you
still have not wrapped your fingers around this little number, you
really are missing out on something captivating. Though it may seem a
little dated by today’s standards, as all Nintendo 64 games do, there
is still so much charm to be found it easily bypasses the minor quirks.
It truly is a shame that no other Bond installment that has emerged can
hold a candle to this one and I can safely say that none ever will.
