Normally, Licensed Video Games based on film, television, and celebrities' properties are pretty crap, after all, in the early 1990s, video games companies like LJN run the idea to the ground, with a number of below-average games that has game-play that little mirror the source material, it's adapted from. However, after upon first seeing this 1997 N64 game, based on the 1995 James Bond film, 'GoldenEye'. I was deeply surprised, by how groundbreaking this game was at the time. The entire game takes place from a Doom-like perspective, except that holding down the R button allows you to aim anywhere on the screen, and with the sniper rifle, zoom in for a nice, clean head shot. Add with that, each environment levels really looks good at time, with a decent amount of detail. It did show that licensed games could work, as the majority of the game's atmospheric single player missions are directly lifted from the film, with some slight alterations and omissions. Only a few, were jarring. The only ones I had a problem with, is the cavern chase and the hero visiting the Severnaya test site, as it made little sense to the story. Despite that, 'GoldenEye' still tells the story of James Bond (Computer Model after the likeness of actor Pierce Brosnan, but voiced by Kevin Bayless) having to fight a criminal syndicate from using a satellite weapon against London to cause a global financial meltdown, accurate enough. It even has the large range of music from 'GoldenEye' soundtrack. Without spoiling the game, too much, I have to say, still, there were some flaws. It was a bit weird, to see, how the game is laid out, seeing how 'GoldenEye' started as an free for all, on-rails shooter inspired by Sega's 'Virtua Cop', before being redesigned as a stealth element, free-roaming FPS. You barely see, any of that original draft. Instead, the game levels are full of objectives that will eat a lot of time. Don't get me wrong, the single-player campaign is fun to play; but some of the objectives, they want you to complete, were a bit confusing and can get boring at times. So it's very important to listen in, to the mission statement, or read the guide book that came with the console, if you want the action to continue. If not, you will get lose, as the mission has a lot of nonlinear pathways, and checkpoints that wouldn't go, any further without accessing a few specified items like gadgets or non-player characters (NPCs). Four save files are also available to track the player's progress through the game's twenty missions, each of which may be played on "Agent", "Secret Agent", or "00-Agent" difficulty settings. To be truthful, there isn't much, different, between the difficulty settlings, besides the amount of enemies and weapons, as the AI enemies act, nearly the same, regardless. 'GoldenEye', at the time, probably the most sophisticated artificial intelligence model of any first person shooter. I like, how enemies AIs can dodged bullets, set off alarms if you made too much noise, & realistically react to injuries. Yet, there was were some flaws in this programming, as enemies will not open fire unless they have a clear line of sight. Railings, glass, bottomless holes, and invisible walls count as obstacles for the purpose of aiming. So, stay near those, as it makes for some morbidly sense of entertaining, seeing some of them, make no effort to take cover or even protect themselves against your firing, as they will still stand around or patrol as if nothing happen, until they die. You will see, a lot of that. Even the boss battles has flaws, as some of them, will not shot if you cross a bridge or run up or down stairways. It's doesn't help that computer allies are also somewhat dumb, as they had poor situational awareness. Depending, who you are, rescue missions can be challenging, as fellowship AI models tend to wander into your line of fire, and get themselves killed. It's also funny to see AI models, toss grenades at and don't avoid the explosions. They're suicidal. Despite that, I do like the idea of environmental destructible, while shooting or setting off bombs, even if too many explosions can slow the resolution of the game. There is something, realistic, seeing bullet holes in walls, even if other items, like books, chairs, or locks tend to be over the top with it bursting in flames. Regardless of that, the arsenal of weapons use in the game-play, includes pistols, sub-machine guns, assault rifles, grenades, and throwing knives, were all fun to the point that playing this game in multiplayer is a must. I love how the game allows, two, three or four players to compete against each other in any map, with any character in the game in five different types of split screen death match games: Normal, 'You Only Live Twice' (two lives), 'The Living Daylights' (Flag Tag), 'The Man With the Golden Gun' (one hit kills gun), and License to Kill. (All guns one hit kills). It's the best thing about this game. Several hidden missions and characters inspired by other Bond movies were also included for gamers good enough to reach them, so that is a plus; even if Oddjob's short status is a bit annoying. What wasn't cool was Electronic Arts released Goldeneye Rogue Agent, seven years later in a blatant attempt to cash in on this game, popularity. At least, 2010's 'GoldenEye 007' made the retro shooter video game seem new, by updated it, rather than cheaply copying from it. In my opinion, regardless of the new 007 games, you play now. 'GoldenEye' is a retro game, still worth playing. A rare hit for Nintendo License Video Games. A must play for any Bond fan.
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