007: The World is Not Enough

"Not as good as GoldenEye, but worth it"

The World is Not Enough was released on two consoles: the N64 and the PlayStation. Both versions are the same but I am going to review the N64 version. If you have an N64 and only an N64, then you will only have played GoldenEye, which is far superior to this one. Well, lets bust this one open!

Game play 6/10

This one may be different from GoldenEye. It's the same thing, you beat a mission, you advance on the next mission, and you do that until the end of the game. The controls are simple: Just shoot with Z, switch gadgets with a combination, pretty simple. One cool thing about this game is that gadgets are actually sorted AS gadgets in this game.

The enemies are tougher depending on the difficulty level, and that's a bit obvious. However, the game play takes a dive in the Courier level since that in the Upper level, you have Security guards in there WITH the baddies and all that people. I can understand the civilians being there as well, but the guards have f***ing guns! If they're shooting at me, my instinct is to shoot back! I can't just shoot one guy and all of the sudden just switch to my darts! THAT'S FREAKING BULLS**T!!!

Also, the objectives are downright silly! In the mission where you first meet Renard, and when he sets up the bomb, your overall objective is to LEAVE. Yes, that may sound simple, but you've got a five-second time limit. How are you going to know that you're supposed to jump on some swing and ride there?

None of the objectives relate to the movie at all, but you do have missions that follow scenes from the movie! Now, there's one mission in which Bond goes to a subway station and tries to defuse a bomb! Wow… where was EA when they thought up with this idea?

Story 8/10

So Bond goes to a Spanish bank to get some money Sir Robert King accidentally purchased a document about a nuclear arsenal, which a MI-6 agent was killed for it. The money does get returned back, but inside the lapel pin inside the suitcase was a bomb. King was killed and Bond chased the “cigar girl,” only to find out that she works for someone dangerous, but she doesn't tell whom. MI-6 suspects Renard for this set-up, and they think that Sir Robert King's daughter, Elektra, is in danger. Bond then goes to her mansion and spies on Davidov, a worker for King Industries, and then assassinates him.

Bond goes to an oil pipeline in Kazakhstan where he first meets Renard under disguise. Bond gets away with someone named Christmas Jones, who is an expert in disarming nuclear arsenals. Watch the movie for the ending.

Graphics 9/10

The graphics look amazing for a N64 game. As far as I can tell, everything is distinguishable and, that's about it.

Sound 7/10

The music is OK, but we don't hear “The World is Not Enough” theme song anywhere in this game. Stupid, huh? The SFX are ok, but they can be improved.

Replayability 9/10

Playing it on higher difficulties and even getting unlockables (somewhat) adds replay value. However, the unlockables are just extra characters and stages, nothing special.

Buy or Rent?

I'd rent this one to try it out first: it does have an acquired taste, but it's worth it. I'd personally buy it, but that's just me.

Overall

This is one that fits into the Bond timeline. There are worse Bond games out there, like the Game Boy version, but overall this one is worth it. Good job EA!

Pros
+ Great Controls
+ Good linking to the movie
+ Unbelievable Graphics
+ OK Sound/Music
+ Higher difficulties add to replay value

Cons
- The difficulties are abnormal
- Unnesscesscairy stages
- No music from the movie
- Unlockables are nothing special

Total Score: 78% (Rounded to the lowest 10) 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/09

Game Release: 007: The World is Not Enough (US, 11/01/00)