First Impressions: GoldenEye 007

I know I'm a little late on this one, but better late than never eh? In November last year a remake of Rare's N64 classic FPS GoldenEye was published for the Wii. I didn't pick it up due to the fact I was and still am saving up for a 3DS, but when I saw it for a measly price in CEX recently, I just couldn't help myself. So, is GoldenEye 007 a travesty that fails to capture the magic of the original, or is it a future classic worthy of the GoldenEye name. Let's find out...

Developers Eurocom were calling the new GoldenEye game a re-imagining of the original rather than a bog-standard remake for a reason, and that's because the new game strays away from being a successor to the original, and instead more of a tribute. Despite this, they put a hell of a lot of work into the Wii edition as well as enough new features and ideas that help make this version its own game. For starters, James Bond is played by the current Bond actor Daniel Craig rather than Piers Brosnan, who starred in the original GoldenEye film and game (something to do with legal issues). The story has also been fully re-written, taking the same sort of plot and a couple of returning levels and using them as the mould for a new GoldenEye story. The First level takes place in the Dam, and is clearly the setting inspired most by the original game. Alec Trevelyan, or agent 006, is Bond's partner for a mission to investigate a Russian base for some reason. At times, you'll be teaming up with 006 to take out enemy troops and opening doors for each other. It's one of the many clever ideas implemented into GoldenEye 007, and it makes the game a more clever and streamlined shooter than something like TimeSplitters or even the original GoldenEye, where you simply push forward and kill anyone you see.

This level, set in a Siberian warzone, has to be one of my favourites.

I personally wouldn't consider GoldenEye 007 a 'future classic'. I can't see people talking about this re-working of the original as much as the N64 version which gamers across the world still praise and play to this day. In truth though, the new version is a very, very well-made title, and one of the very best shooters on the Wii if not the best. It's even got Split-Screen multiplayer, something that modern FPS games on other consoles seem to lack. On top of this, there's an expansive online multiplayer mode with 52 levels and plenty of ace unlockables to be found. GoldenEye 007 is a truly great game, and a worthy successor to the original classic. Look forward to the inevitable review.