GoldenEye 007 Preview

Bond is back. James Bond, that is. The British spy returns shaken, not stirred, in Activision’s reimagining of GoldenEye 007. Pierce Brosnan is out. Daniel Craig is in. And that’s just the beginning for this promising title, exclusively for Nintendo Wii.

On the show floor, GoldenEye 007 was playable in split-screen for up to four people in death-match multiplayer. Many nods to the classic were present in the mode, with characters like Odd Job and Jaws running around. Blood even drips down the screen after dying. At the same time, the mechanics showcased the new look of Bond. Players can sprint, aim down sights similar to Call of Duty, and even take cover throughout the environment.

In addition, Activision is promising eight-player online matches for the title when it ships later this year. The game will include an experience system with unlockables and achievements, as well as five different maps. None of these new features was on display at E3; though Activision has a good track record with online Wii shooters.

The one part missing from this Wii shooter, however, was Wii Remote controls. The game was demoed with the Classic Controller Pro, with no option for pointer controls. The game will support the Wii Remote and Nunchuk — along with the Wii Zapper — but the omission was a bit alarming. Everyone else was enjoying the classic approach, but I love the IR sensor to pinpoint my targets.

A lot of my apprehension in regard to the controls was lifted after seeing a single-player demo behind closed doors. No, Wii pointer controls still did not make the cut, but the Dam Level on display was truly breathtaking. The visual prowess of the game is pretty top-notch, with the engine coming from Eurocom. For those unfamiliar, the developer demonstrated its graphical knowhow with Dead Space Extraction.

The slick presentation helps convey the intensity of GoldenEye 007, which was present from the start. Bond slowly creeps behind an enemy, drags him to the ground and then forcefully chokes him. You see the white of the man’s eyes flare up as Bond suffocates him, illustrating the grittiness of this remake. This new approach makes sense in regard to Craig’s Bond, who has a certain roughness and instinctive nature. The original scribe of the GoldenEye movie is even helping with the game to make this transition as smooth as possible.

The action gets better from the first takedown, though. The most impressive segment of the demo occurred when Bond and Trevelyan jumped in an enormous truck. The characters banter with each other before two guards start to question them. Things turn sour quickly, and as such, the spies dispose of them with precise shots to the head. From here, 006 takes the wheel and flies down a tunnel overflowing with adversaries, enemy trucks and explosions.

The way the game effortlessly shifts between story and action during the scene was nothing short of spectacular. The chase is completely interactive, and Bond even needs to protect the truck with some accurate shooting. The whole segment flowed so well and hopefully points to many more action-packed scenes throughout the game.

GoldenEye 007 ships this holiday season for Nintendo Wii.