Goldeneye 007: Reloaded

15 years ago, Bond fans were treated to what has been considered the greatest first-person shooter of all time. Then, last year it was re-released for the Wii and DS, pleasing Nintendo fans to no extent. PS3 and Xbox fans had to make do with Blood Stone, the less than perfect 3^rd person shooter. Now, PS3 and Xbox owners will be shaking with glee, as Goldeneye has finally hit Sony and Microsoft.

Goldeneye 007 Reloaded is not a graphically updated clone of the original. Instead, it puts a modern twist on a well-loved classic, retelling the story in a different way, and casting Daniel Craig in the shoes of Bond. If you’re looking to play the same game, and thus think back to the great times of the N64 times, you won’t find it here. However, if you’re looking for a great FPS with some slight references to the original game, you’re in for a treat.

Let me start by saying that this game looks great. Whilst unable to compete with the likes of Uncharted 3 or Mass Effect 3, Reloaded is certainly not ugly. The environments are varied, and subtle hints tell you where you would be in the original. The mission designs allow for just the right amount of exploration, being linear enough for those who are focussed solely on the gameplay, yet having tokens hidden around each level for you to find.

The single player campaign is good enough, offering some solid action, some cool looking quick-time events, and giving you plenty of choice about how to approach a mission-whether that be using stealth to infiltrate enemy territories, or using a sniper rifle to pick off targets from afar, or perhaps just blasting your way through using an assortment of shotguns and assault rifles. Certain points in the game need some solid shooting, and cannot be overcome by using stealth, but these moments are few and far between. The majority of the game gives enough choice for you to play your own way. The main issue I had with the single player campaign was the length. As with most modern FPS games, it was far too short, and can be finished in around 6 hours.

Luckily, the game offers some insanely addictive multiplayer modes that make up for the shortness of the single player campaign. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect. There is a severe lack of customization that fans of the genre would come to expect from multiplayer games. Aside from a few unlockable skins and the ability to create your own weapon loadouts, there is nothing you can do to truly create your own character. However, this is a tiny fault when placed in comparison to what else the game has to offer. The various modes make up for any lack of character making, and gaining XP and levelling up is hugely satisfying. As well as standard Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes, you have a few unique games, such as Golden Gun, which is standard Deathmatch, with a single one-hit-kill gun hidden somewhere throughout the map.

As a whole, this game is a fun FPS with a few subtle markers for older players who have played the original. However, if you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, you won’t find it here.

9/10 - Fantastic