I thought I would share with you guys a few words on my all time favorite game of all time...
Check it out..
GoldenEye Game for N64 (1997)
GoldenEye 007 is a first-person style shooter. Based upon the movie of the same
name. Although, it came out two years after the movie, it was a massive success and
introduced most gamers to the first really good multiplayer split screen game mode,
as well as individual missions in one player mode. The storyline of the game follows
the movie in which players assume the role of British Secret Intelligence Service agent
James Bond as he fights to prevent a criminal syndicate from using a satellite weapon
against London to cause a global financial meltdown.
Thinking about it overall, this is my favourite game of all time. It is definitely the game
I have played more than any other. This is due to many reasons including the usual,
good graphics, sound, and usability. But overall the main reason why I played this game
so much was because of the multiplayer mode. During split-screen multiplayer mode,
two, three or four players can compete in different types of deathmatch games. This
was before broadband connections and meant that you would have to call around to
your friends house to play multiplayer, meaning a good night in with the lads instead of
todays more impersonal internet based multiplayer.
At first GoldenEye was conceived as an on-rails shooter like Sega’s virtua Cop and
other arcade games, but then it was redesigned as a free-roaming shooter. The game
was a massive success despite a lukewarm reception at the E3 convention. It sold over
8 million copies worldwide, making it the third best selling Nintendo 64 game. Looking
back at this game it is easy to forget that GoldenEye pioneered many features that
have since become commonplace in first-person shooters, such as varied and complex
mission objectives, multiplayer mode and the excellent zoomable sniper rifle and stealth
elements.
The challenges in single player mode keep the player interested and engaged
throughout each level. The multiplayer was unique and fun (at the time).
Graphicsoldeneye displayed realistic graphics that again for its time were cutting edge. It
pushed the N64 console to its limit, with bright colors and realistic effects. By todays
standards a lot of the characters may look quite blocky, with clenched blocky fists and
limited movements. But a lot of the objects in the game are designed beautifully, lights,
computers, tables and chairs. Many of these elements can be interacted with, (shot at,
knocked over) etc. This of course adds to the realistic gameplay.
The graphics also have realistic lighting effects and shading, there is not an over use
of gradients. As you progress through the game you can see that there are many
interesting textures used for various items in the game.
Sound
For its time (1997) the game used really realistic sound effects and dramatic
atmospheric music to add to the overall appeal of the game. Each gun, created unique
sounds, and for the first time, the sound was not only focused on the gunshots but also
what the bullets would hit. major feature of gameplay is how a lot of items in the game can be interacted with and be damaged or destroyed by contact. Glass breaking, crashing, character noises all
add to the atmosphere.
The music was closely matched to that of the movie, giving a kind of industrial soviet
feel to some of the levels, this also included the famous James bond jingle that would
play every time they died, as well as playing in different styles throughout the game.
Target Audience
The game was targeted to fans of the Bond movies, and catered mainly to teenage
boys. But anyone who owned a N64 at the time would have surely at least once owned,
borrowed or stole a copy of the game at the time.
Playability
GoldenEye is a first-person shooter that features both single and a multiplayer modes.
During gameplay for single player there are many realistic missions relating to usually
completing a series of objectives - such as collecting or destroying specified items,
rescuing hostages, or meeting with friendly NPCs – and then exit the stage. Sometimes
you could even use gadgets from the James Bond films such as his magnetic watch
used to pick up a set of keys while locked in a jail cell.
Another major aspect of the gameplay was the realistic way in which guards in the
game would if they spotted you, run away and sound alarms. This would trigger a flood
of more guards and would usually spell the end of your game. The same would go for
security cameras, you could use your gun to shoot these out before crossing a road or
passage way. This stealthy approach forced the player to take their time instead of just
running quickly through the game, shooting and blowing things up. Something that I feel
is a major criticism of today's massively popular Call Of Duty series. This also meant
that you would use a silencer on your gun or a telescope on your rifle to avoid detection
and therefore adding to the fun of the game.
GoldenEye boasted an arsenal of weapons including pistols, submachine guns, heavy
weapons, grenades, and throwing knives, among others. Guns have a finite magazine
and must be reloaded after a certain number of shots, but the player may acquire and
carry as many weapons as can be found in each mission. The player begins the game
in most missions with James Bond’s Walther PPK, like in the books, although it is called
a PP7 in the game.
Level of Difficulty
Like all good games GoldenEye has a few different difficulty levels. The easy level is
easy enough to progress through most of the game, but as you get better you can try
your hand at the most difficult level called 00 agent. Another feature about the level of
difficulty in this game is that as you and your friends progress in skill playing multiplayer
this will also add to the overall level of difficulty. In other words, as you and your friends mprove their skills the difficulty level of multiplayer increases.
Creativity
GoldenEye 007 was developed by an inexperienced team; eight of its nine
developers had never previously worked on video games. David Doak commented in
2004, "Looking back, there are things I'd be wary of attempting now, but as none of the
people working on the code, graphics, and game design had worked on a game before,
there was this joyful naïveté."
I think that the game overall was very creative, each level is unique and interesting.
It loosely follows the storyline of the movie but has nice aspects like if you were to
shoot an innocent character you can be caught and the game can be over. The stealth
gameplay also allows you to use your sniper rifle to quietly take out the guards and
creep around the different levels.
Level 1 starts out in the chemical weapons facility similar to the movie, you begin by
entering the enemies bathroom via a ventilation shaft. From the very start of the game
there is an emphasis on engaging in stealth tactics so as not to alert other enemies or
alarms in the game. You then progress outside, where you are introduced into using
a sniper rifle to take out the bad guys, this cool feature was the first time a decent
zoomable gun was available to players of any game.
There is a loose storyline that again roughly follows the game, characters speak with
english subtitles instead of today’s expected acted out and spoken out english. As
you play on, levels and environments around you change but unlike other games at
the time, the gameplay and challenges adapt and become more complex and difficult.
Rewards for playing, involve unlocking characters that you can use during multiplayer,
and include James Bond Villains from right across the whole James Bond franchise.
Value for money
As previously stated I believe that GoldenEye is one of the best computer games ever
made. For overall Graphics, Sound and gameplay nothing else before or since has held
my attention more, a close second is Modern Warfare but it is hard to compare because
there is over 13 years in the diference. But for its time GoldenEye was truly amazing.
I think when it came out it was 30 Irish Pounds and well worth the money. There have
been a few recent updates, the latest being the version for the Nintendo Wii but it is
hard to beat the original game for fun.
