James Bond 007: NightFire

"Bond is Back"

In all honesty, the last game based on the popular James Bond franchise that was actually a good game was Goldeneye. All Bond games since then have felt like mere rip-offs, not original in any way. 007 Nightfire falls into this category. It tries very hard to be original, and comes so close to succeeding, and I mean very close. I was extremely impressed with the first few stages, but after that, I knew what was going to happen. It felt like the developers used the first few stages to reel the gamer in, and that he would then fall in love with the rest of the game. Unfortunately, this is not the case, because a great shooting engine was squandered with poor execution.

The plot is original, and when I say original, I mean that the names of the villains have been changed and there are different locales. Is there even such a thing as an original plot in a James Bond game? Anyway, philanthropist Raphael Drake is supposedly organizing the theft of missile guidance hardware. Of course, there is only one man suave enough for the job. Enter Bond. James Bond. 007's adventures will take him from castles set atop snowy mountains to a lush tropical paradise, even all the way into outer space. This is probably the best story for any Bond game thus far, as it encompasses every aspect of the films. Not only will you be running about with your guns blazing, you'll be sneaking, using gadgets and driving recklessly in one of those hot Bond cars. The story pretty much has it all.

Following in the vain of all Bond games before it, Nightfire is primarily a first person shooter. You can select from a large variety of weapons, as well as some really cool gadgets. Shooting is, of course, the main focus of the game, but there are several aspects added here missing from previous installments. Most FPS shooting games nowadays have an alternate firing mode for most weapons, and Nightfire is no exception. Need to be stealthy? Better attach a silencer to that pistol. Need precise accuracy, but lack a sniper rifle? Just click your rifle into single shot and you're all set. The weapons get better and better as the game progresses, but you'll always be equipped with you trusty PPK. The final weapon feels like something that would find a happy home in a game like Timesplitters 2. Stealth is now a major factor in the game. There are a few levels that require stealth, and there are some levels that simply reward you for being stealthy. You could charge the front gates of the castle and waste everyone in sight, or you could take the slightly more dangerous way, and make your away around the castle high atop a cliff to the find the unprotected back door. Doing this will get you more points, and will probably feel more rewarding.

This is one aspect of Nightfire that really improves the Bond formula. There are many ways to approach a given situation. Most levels don't follow a set path, so you'll be able to take whatever path you feel is best. It might be easier to scale down the side of the building instead of facing the gunmen inside, but you also might fall and take damage. The choice is entirely up to the player. Unfortunately, this feeling of freedom falters towards the end of the game. A 007 game just wouldn't be right without James pulling off some spectacular moves. If you can find these pre-scripted events, you're rewarded with a Bond Move. These increase your overall score at the end of the level. The player will also be scored on statistics like accuracy, health remaining and enemies surrendered. It increases the replay value, because you can go back to try for a higher rating.

There are several vehicles you'll be able to control as well. You can drive the Vanquish, a flashy sports car with missiles and other assorted weaponry, as well on-the-rails vehicles like a snowmobile and a plane. While these levels break up the shooting , I found that the majority just weren't as fun. I'd rather be shooting it out then following a set path. Most of the stages that feature vehicles are left until the end of the game, so they're all in a big clump. By the time you get near the end of this clump, you'll be praying for it to stop.

The visuals are almost surprisingly good. The textures are all around very crisp and clear, and even the CG impressed me. In some stages, the lighting effects are almost too good to be true. When sneaky into the snowy castle under the cover of night, you actually feel invisible. When you're trying to make your way through a sniper-polluted warehouse in the middle of the day, you'll feel like you're right out in the open. The graphics convey a sense of danger that not many other games like this do. The character models are extremely well done, especially for James Bond. He looks just like Pierce Brosnan.

Just like every Bond movie and game, the movie is awesome. You can hear chords of the classic tune strung into just about every background score, whether it be tense and slow-moving or exciting and fast paced. The music is easily one of the high points of the game. The ambience is good, but a little low-key. The gunshots, on the other hand, sound awesome. Each weapon you come across in the game has a very distinct sound. It's a shame the voices aren't nearly as well done as the music. It doesn't make a huge difference, but it would have been nice if Pierce Brosnan's voice had been used. It would have made the game feel that much more authentic.

The replay value is quite good, as you can unlock new weapons and character for multiplayer. Only the most skilled of players will be able to unlock everything this game has to offer, because this means getting the highest score possible on every single level. It is indeed a challenge.

So, while this is a good game, it falls short in a few places. If the developers had continued using the system that was used in the first level, this game could have been really special. Instead, it's a fairly standard romp through the world of FPS.

Gameplay- 7/10
The shooting is good, but some of the levels aren't big enough and there are too many vehicle stages.

Graphics- 9/10
Very nicely done, even surprisingly good at a few points.

Sound- 9/10
Like anything Bond, the music is always good.

Replay- 8/10
Unlocking everything will prove to be very difficult.

Final Score- 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/10/03