Bond game brings feel of movies to the console
February 25, 2004
If you only order vodka martinis “shaken not stirred”, if you only play roulette on black 17, if you always introduce yourself in “(Last Name), (First Name) (Last Name)” format, this is the game for you. “James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing” is almost everything a Bond fan could ask for.
“Everything or Nothing” is made up of both third-person shooter levels and driving levels that, when combined with excellent features such as voice acting from the cast of the Bond movies and some outstanding cut scenes, make this feel like the most complete Bond game yet.
The most immediately obvious aspect of “Everything or Nothing” is the use of the talent from the Bond movies as well as other major actors to provide voices for their digitized counterparts. Pierce Brosnan lends the voice of James Bond, with Judi Dench and John Cleese as M and Q. The game also features Heidi Klum, Shannon Elizabeth, Japanese pop star Misaki Ito and Mya as “Bond girls,” with Willem Dafoe playing supervillain Nikolai Diavolo. This use of “real” Hollywood actors helps make the story more believable.
Graphically, the game is absolutely gorgeous. The story visits a variety of locales which all look outstanding, and while only the XBox version of this game was tested, it easily rivals any other XBox game on the market for visuals.
Most of the action in the game is of the third-person shooter variety. This plays somewhat similar to “Brute Force” crossed with “Metal Gear Solid.” There are only a few stealth elements in the game, but primarily, you need more strategy than your average shooter to avoid dying. Bond cannot be shot many times before he dies. This forces you to take cover behind walls and boxes and means Bond cannot just run into rooms and mow everyone down. The only problem with this section of the game is the third-person view and “lock on” targeting systems — it is sometimes difficult to “lock on” to enemies, especially those who are close to you.
The other levels of the game are driving levels in which Bond can take control of a motorcycle, car or helicopter. These levels feel more like driving in “Grand Theft Auto III” than a true driving simulator, but the arcade feel makes them quite fun. Most vehicles are also armed in true James Bond style with weapons such as machine guns, missiles, flame throwers and acid slicks.
Some of the nicest features of the game are the “Bond moments.” In every level, there are generally several different chances to do something particularly Bond-like. For instance, instead of simply killing an enemy, you can drop a chandelier on him. Trying to find all these Bond moments, as well as attempting to unlock all the secret characters, is enough to provide ample replay value to an already longer-than-average game.
Overall, “007” provides a thoroughly enjoyable experience, particularly for Bond fans, although the high production values and great gameplay make the game appealing to almost anyone not put off by killing hundreds of people.