Plot: What’s it about?
Goldeneye was a landmark game in the first person shooter genre, one of those rare games that jumps a genre forward in a single bound. All the hours spent in split-screen death matches, hating your friends who played as Oddjob, and laughing at the paint-ball carnage, Goldeneye was an awesome experience. Now we have Goldeneye: Reloaded, which tries to capture some of the spirit of the original, but also integrate some of the genre’s advancements. In other words, this isn’t an HD remake of the original, this is a new experience in the same vein. The new campaign is fun, but is rather short and quite linear. Even when you have side missions to complete, the linear path remains intact. If more chances to approach situations from multiple angles were included, the game would have more of an epic Bond texture. Even so, the campaign is fun while it lasts and while not groundbreaking, the new stealth system is a welcome addition.
I was pleased to find a solid campaign, but this is a Goldeneye game, so I wanted to jump into the multi-player. The task of creating a new Goldeneye had to be a daunting one, since the original is considered one of the best multi-player experiences of all time, but the result is impressive. While some of the spirit of Goldeneye remains, the experience has been brought into the modern shooter world. This means you can now customize your loadout of weapons and perks, take on new game modes like Escalation, and of course, the shooting mechanics are razor sharp and well polished. In addition to the beloved local matches, up to 16 players can shoot it out on-line, which is of course a lot of fun. The local matches feature much more control over variables however, so they still offer a wild, frenetic experience. Whichever way you choose to play, the multi-player is a blast and really captures the spirit of the original game. So with a rock solid campaign and an excellent multi-player component, Goldeneye: Reloaded is a double threat and earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
I found the visuals to be quite good, but not top of the line. The game is sharp and detailed, but lacks that depth and polish the best looking games are given. Even so, the visual design is effective, with a lot of detail in the levels, well crafted characters, and good guns and explosions. I think most players will be enjoy the visuals and nice Bond inspired touches, so Goldeneye: Reloaded is rock solid in this department.
Audio: How does it sound?
From the signature Bond music to the rampant gunfire to the fiery explosions, the sound design of Goldeneye: Reloaded delivers and then some. The music helps keep that espionage mood, while powerful gunfire and explosions ensure the action is red hot in those frantic moments. I can’t think of much else to say here, the game has a terrific sound design that bolsters the experience and conjures up that special Bond vibe.
Supplements: What are the extras?
N/A
