All that 2023 needed was a touch of 1997, at least to someone who grew up playing video games in another era. The return of GoldenEye 007 is being celebrated not because it’s a slice of the James Bond universe; it’s a chance to revisit a game that became a milestone among game developers. So a big round of applause is due to the iconic game developer Rare for giving the game a release on Nintendo Switch and Xbox Game Pass.
When GoldenEye 007 was originally released, most games followed the Wolfenstein 3D formula of scouring for keys to reach the next level and in the process killing enemies, who looked the player straight in the eye even after taking multiple bullets. Games like Quake and Doom followed the same formula.
The James Bond franchise tie-in, which came a couple of years after the film starring Pierce Brosnan, did things differently. There is a story involved even though James Bond has to go through several levels. He has to collect intel, know how to use different weapons and as the player goes higher on the level ladder, more tasks are thrown at him. With each level, players quickly learn that the stash of ammo from an enemy can be collected after killing him while some weapons work better at certain levels, like the Sniper Rifle is a good choice in level one (Dam) while an automatic shotgun is perfect for level 10 (Statue).
The gameplay of GoldenEye 007
That’s one part of the game-changing deal. The other part involves how it has a multiplayer mode. In 1997, having four players sounded like a million friends joining in. It was always fun to begin in Normal mode and then change gears. Also, AI. Yes, AI was there and it could be seen in how enemies reacted. In Wolfenstein 3D you can pump a couple of bullets into the enemy but he would stand there, looking blankly at you. Here if you shoot the enemy in the hand, there is some level of pain while shooting an enemy in the knee would elicit a different level of pain. The element of movement is also noteworthy. The left and right C buttons enable strafing, while the top and bottom enable full Z-axis movement.
Youngsters playing the rereleased version may not be impressed, especially with the graphics because some of the characters appear boxy, especially Natalia. But give it a chance and you will realise why GoldenEye 007 remains one of the most important titles in gaming history