James Bond 007: NightFire

"Good....but with Halo on Xbox, its hard to see what Nightfire has going for it....."

Gameplay- 7/10

007: Nightfire truly is a huge step from that of 007: Agent Under Fire. There are more missions, more Weapons, more Gadgets and of course, more good-looking Bond Girls. But under 007: Nightfire's graphical polish, and great sound effects, there are a couple of gripes that simply make other games such as Halo and Unreal Championship, a lot better. One of my gripes is that there is NO CUSTOM control option.....this is something that should be made STANDARD with all FPS games. There are a total of about 7-8 different control settings, all with names relating to the old 007 movies, such as GoldenEye, and Moonraker, but I suppose I am being really picky, because you are almost sure to find a control setting that fits you perfectly, and for me, that control setting would be 'Goldfinger'. It is as close to a normal Xbox FPS's controls as you can get, and that makes me somewhat happy. There is also a pretty good Single Player to 007: Nightfire, though you can beat it in about 4 1/2 hours; make no mistake, the game is really fun, with all the fast cars, Weapons, and Gadgets, you are sure to have a blast with this latest installment to the 007 series of games. Even if the Single Player doesn't make you happy, the Multiplayer is sure to make you happy; with a total of 12 different Multiplayer Scenarios, such as GoldenEye Strike, Demolition, and old classics such as Capture The Flag, and Deathmatch. There are also awesome modifiers in Multiplayer, such as Mounted Guns, and Remote-Controlled Miniature Vehicles, such as Helicopters, and Tanks.

Graphics/Sound- 7/10

Though (IMO) Halo still holds the crown for best-looking Xbox FPS, 007: Nightfire gives the other Xbox FPS's a run for their money with all the splendid effects it has, such as the snow on the level 'The Exchange', and the explosions that create visible shock waves. The character models are sharp, and detailed, but one would hardly have time notice in a heated firefight with a group of enemies. There are also some great visual effects, such as the Infrared Scope on the AIMS-20 Assault Rifle, which looks really cool when you are sniping an enemy and see their body heat signature. The sound is also a very attractive part of the game, such as the main opening theme, which simply kicks ass, and the classic 007 theme is also added.....what kind of a 007 game would be complete without the distinctive 007 theme?

Story- 6/10

Same old Bond vs. Bad Guy/Evil Group storyline. The game starts off with info about a corporation called Phoenix Industries, which is dedicated to environmental clean-up, and charity work. Little known to the government, that Phoenix Industries is actually creating a plan to destroy civilization itself, and that they plan on using the United States own Space Missile Defense platform by turning the defensive missiles into massive offensive missiles, to destroy the whole world. Not only that, but they also create Weapons, such as the Phoenix Samurai Laser Rifle.

Play Time/Replayability- 8/10

With a good amount of unlockable Multiplayer Characters, Weapon Upgrades, and Gadget Upgrades, 007: Nightfire is sure to keep you busy for at least a month or two, and the great Multiplayer is sure to keep you coming back for more.

Final Recommendation- BUY!

Though not as good as Unreal Championship, Halo, or Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter, 007: Nightfire is a great bargain at only $19.99 brand new, and should last any FPS lover a few weeks, but if you are just a casual FPS lover, then you might want to skip out on Nightfire.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/04