The Nintendo64 had some great games, but they were always few and far between, especially in the early days. That was a big problem for Nintendo’s last cartridge-based console, until Rare came out withGoldenEye 007,that is. Who cared if there wasn’t a new game every week when you could just playGoldenEyeto pass the time?
Rare’s first-person shooter paved the way for a genre that would come to consume store shelves and the beloved game is getting a re-imagining for the Wii and DS this November. I got my hands on the new game last week and I wasn’t all that disappointed with what I played.
GoldenEye 007(Wii, DS)Developers: Eurocom (Wii), n-Space (DS)Publisher: ActivisionTo be released: Jun 03, 2025 (US), July 10, 2025 (EU)
Remember the tank level in the 64 version of007? It was a pretty badly designed and boring level. The new tank section in Eurocom’s version of the game is a gigantic blast though, mainly due to the fact that there’s a ton of action taking place on the screen. Enemies are coming at you from the ground and the air giving you something to shoot at throughout the entire level.
Along with the massive amount of enemies, buildings are getting bombed all around you in an attempt to stop Bond from giving chase to his target. It’s pretty impressive to see buildings crumble (for a Wii game, anyway).
This section of the demo was short but it did the job, showing how much Eurocom has changed from the original. The new game’s story followsGoldenEye’splot for the most part, but there are some additional missions never seen in the original game or movie for that matter.
Of course, the real meat toGoldenEyeis the multiplayer. They’ve updated the scheme so that it takes a more modern day approach, meaning that you have loadouts to pick from whenever you spawn instead of finding weapons scattered throughout the map. you’re able to only carry two guns and a few grenades at a time, too.
As a fan of the original, I wasn’t all that thrilled with the loadout feature. I get that enough inCall of Dutyand theHalos. What I really like that is new, though, is all of the modifers you have at your disposal. Only a few were shown, but expect to see things like paintball mode, Golden Gun matches and a modifer that makes people explode when they touch each other.
If there is anything that will really hurtGoldenEye, it’s the graphics. Multiplayer is a ton of fun, but when you’re on a map with wide open spaces, it’s nearly impossible to spot the (up to eight) other players from afar.
Along with the Wii version, I checked out the DS game being developed by n-Space and it was alright. It’s just a matter of FPS games being your thing on the DS. n-Space has developed all of theCall of Dutygames for the DS and they know how to make a solid handheld shooter by now. You’ll like it if you’ve enjoyed their other offerings.
I’m actually split onGoldenEye. It’s a case of overwhelming nostalgia dulling my feelings and being a big James Bond fan. I’ll play it just to see how much has changed, but take away my love for the original game and I don’t thinkGoldenEye 007would be on my radar at all.
Oh, also, ODDJOB THROWS HIS FUCKING HAT AT PEOPLE. FUCK YEAH!
For more on GoldenEye, check outMatthew Razak’s interviewwith Eurocom andanother preview of the gamefrom gamescom.
