Written by: PlayDevil.com Staff

 

 

 

"GoldenEye: 007 Reloaded" is peculiar creation. An update of a game based on a reinterpretation of the movie that inspired the Nintendo 64 classic. It's creation is a complicated and long story of licences and ownership, but the long and short of it is that Activision owns the name so have decided to utilise this to bring the franchise back.

 

Basing their modern interpretation of the story on Daniel Craig’s Bond, this new Goldeneye experience was bought to Wii and proved popular enough to inspire this HD release to now be made for PS3 and 360.

 

James Steer, Goldeneye Reloaded’s producer introduced the demo to the room. There was a lot to show for people who had never played the Wii release of Goldeneye. An emphasis was placed on the games use of multiple paths and choices between stealth and aggression. Playing through some of the early levels of the game clearly demonstrated both of these points. Sneaking around the movie’s (and N64’s) iconic damn complex while evading detection with the choice to observe or kill opponent was the first style of play shown. It was satisfying to watch as Bond eavesdropped on facility personal on his way to his objective.

 

Though direct aggression was an option through the first section this was saved for the next segment on show. It was a scene that will prove instantly recognisable to those who have played Goldeneye on the Wii. In a 007-style set piece Bond takes down an attack helicopter, evading attacks and utilising weapons in the environment to beat the areal opponent. Back to back these sections of play clearly layout the pace of play, with combat and stealth available wrapped in the explosive action of Bond title.

 

As with the helicopter scene those who played the Wii game will not be surprised by much of this Reloaded release. HD textures and extra geometry in levels are all that has changed from the low-resolution offering with maps and gameplay remaining otherwise unchanged. Voices from the movie’s cast also make a reappearance (though are apparently extended), maintaining the strong audio production. And in a final attempt to show its heritage Goldeneye Reloaded even has Move support in its PS3 release, retaining the Wii’s motion control.

 

After the single player story had been revealed the demo’s commentary switched to the challenge maps and multiplayer game. Challenge modes or ‘MI6 Ops’ as they are called here, clearly sees its foundations in Call of Duty’s Special Ops mode. These include a range of challenges but, as with the original N64 game, a wide variety of parameters are available to be changed. So, for example, if you choose to do a speed run you can choose to play as the designers intended or alter the weapons available, aggression of AI or any number of other settings to increase and lower challenge. Time and results can then posted to friends who can import settings for their own attempts.

 

This is just one of the online features now being integrated in to the Reloaded update. Multiplayer is also under going an overhaul with its online functionality. While the four player split screen remains intact from the Wii version (an oddity these days to be sure), the multiplayer now also benefits form PSN and XBLA’s infrastructure with a lobby that will enable you to easily play strangers and friends.

 

"GoldenEye: 007 Reloaded" is going to cash in on many older players nostalgia for the N64 title that it apes only slightly. It retains some of the feel of the game it takes it name from, but it is players how had the Wii version who real really get a sense of déjà vu with this being almost exactly the same game bar improved visuals, MI6 and online options. The problem is that while it looks better than its Wii predecessor it still looks noticeably more rigid than what most HD gamers have come to expect making it a hard sell in the overcrowded FPS market.