007: Nightfire

This game is one of the all time most classic Playstation 2 games. There's a reason this 007 game, out of the vast number produced over time, is the most widely recognized and is sometimes enough of a reason to buy the PS2 console to begin with.

Most every single multiplayer first person shooter games of the modern age take lessons from the game play you experience in the 1-2 (1-4 with multi-tap) arena style matches that debuted in 007: Nightfire. Multiplayer gaming before this was akin to the bonus disc in some DVD's: a feature that sounds awesome enough to raise the market price, but in reality does not have the quality and substance to draw you in like the main feature does. Some of my earliest memories of playing a video game with other people are from 007: Nightfire, and remind me very much of the heated modern day Call of Duty multiplayer game play that has resulted in globally broken walls, broken friendships, and broken controllers (in the best possible way!).

If you're in the mood for some retro gaming, 007: Nightfire is an absolute must have!

Working with another agent, Bond uncovers a plot by millionaire businessman Drake. Investigating his supposedly above board operations with Phoenix Corporation, Bond uncovers things that point to a bigger plan that threatens the security of the world as Drake seeks to control the world powers from his outer space base; can Bond save the world again?

Having clocked Agent Under Fire in a few days I went out and hired this thinking that it would be fun but simple like AUF. However this game is much better than the first Bond on the PS2. Nightfire starts well with a title sequence which is cool (despite an awful song) and even a pre-credits stage in the game! The graphics are much improved but still have a real quality `Bond' feel to them. The biggest improvement on AUF is the fact that I didn't finish the game within a few days! This thing is difficult, even on the easiest level. It takes practice and learning what to do whereas AUF was just run in blasting this is the opposite – do that here and you'll be dead quickly in most cases.

A fine example is the sniper level. In AUF all snipers had infrared beams to show you a) where they were aiming and b) where they were! It made them no problem to avoid. In Nightfire (the snipers level in the old nuclear plant especially) the snipers are really hard to get until you start to work out roughly where they are. All you have to go on is the fact that they shout `I see him' and `where'd he go' when you move in and out of their line of sight – but given that you're in an open industrial area that still covers a large area. The stages prior to this are quite easy but still require work. After this it is gets harder and is a good learning curve.

The multiplayer is also better. The levels involve a lot more running around in complex areas as opposed to quite open areas as in AUF. Also, thankfully, you can have computer controlled characters so you can be as sad and lonely as you want but still have this challenge to keep the game alive long after you finish it.

Overall I really enjoyed this game as it was a challenge for me even on the easiest level. The is really only one level that I would class as a simple `run and gun' blasting level where you can just let rip – the rest require a certain degree more finesse – just like Bond himself! I was a little let down by how easy AUF was, with this I had no complaints (apart from yelling at my TV when I couldn't spot the snipers on that flippin' level!)

I remember this being an okay game. It was pretty difficult but once you got the hang of it, you could move along quite nicely. The graphics were pretty stunning for the time and the environments were fun to explore.

This game is one one of the best bond games i have ever played in my life because:

The mission's are very good and very fun to do and sometimes they can be really really hard. The story is very good. The driving levels are the most fun to do and the cars in this game are very good. This game has lots of action and good weapons to use. Voice over actors are good but bond would have been better if pierce brosnan had done it but who cares as long as it looks like and acts like him in this game.Also the graphics are pretty good.

Overall score ******** out of **********

I have rented it. Loved it, and am about to buy it. The graphics here can rival any game cube title (but I don't know about Metroid Prime). They made Bond look exactly like Brosnan, and almost everyone here looks too real (but they made poor old Q un-funny and cartoon-like! Look at his bow-tie!) The sound is very good, I would swear a gun-fight is being fought in my living room! The gameplay is pretty easy to understand and you can just pick up your controller and blast away at things!

Now, the bad parts.

Who exactly though this illogical Moonraker/Golden Eye/Tommorow Never Dies/World is Not Enough story would work anyway? I mean come on! I have written better stuff than this in school essays! And the theme (while it is nice the game had one) totally bombs! Ever since Tommorow Never Dies there have been no good Bond themes! Anything else I can think of...yes. Two words: Raphel Drake. The worst James Bond villian since Charles Grey played Blofelt! He is as threatening as Leo Bloom for crying out loud! Hmm...anything else. Yes. Two ONE more word (since I forgot here last name): Alura. Never has there been a more irritating, annoying, ditzy, unatractive, unintellegent airhead since Dinese Richards play Christmas Jones (she is in the game too...AAAUUGGHHH!). Every other Bond girl was good (Kiko espically) but she was a major downpoint.

Overall: Buy it asap!