As everybody does, first thing I started to do when checking out this game was think “how will this compare to one of my favorite classics, Goldeneye?” but I quickly decided to dash that out of my brain. No matter how good it looked, a game that played exactly like Goldeneye now with amazing graphics, would get a big “meh” from gamers without Goldeneye HD as it’s title. So as I dived into this game, I did get some feeling from that game, and that feeling was fun from a Bond game. Sure this isn’t the best game of the year and it does suffer from being right in the middle of the fall overload, but it is still a fun, competent game. The game also uses a cover system in combat that works quite nicely, and was definitely needed at times. You can also sneak up to enemies, or run right at them and use a takedown that uses a quicktime event that definitely makes you feel the most Bond-like out of anything in the game.

I really have two major complaints with this game. One: the single player is too short, and has loosely tied together storyline elements from both Daniel Craig Bond movies. Two: the graphics are good looking, but lack style. Daniel Craig’s character and other main do look good, but you hardly see them but in cut-scenes. This carries over to both the single and multiplayer.

Graphics: As said previously, it looks good, but a little bland, lacking style which should be a large part of anything Bond.

Sounds: Another good part of the game, guns sound fine, and with voice acting from the movie actors, you can’t go wrong.

Xbox Live: A multiplayer mode, with quite a few varying modes, where MI6 takes on “The Organization”, and sometimes Bond joins in on the fun as well. There is also a fairly robust upgrade system where you use credits earned in multiplayer to upgrade your equipment. The modes have good ideas, but some of the new ones, are usually way to short of matches, due to balance problems.

Some minor facts and details:

Achievements Unlocked: 28 of 50

Currently Left Off At: Finished Single Player Once. Played about 20 Matches of Multiplayer.

Best Experience: Getting the golden gun in multiplayer/ the drugged Bond getting to his car sequence from Casino Royale

Biggest Complaint: Lack of style for a Bond game. The gameplay is fairly solid, just nothing really special making this stick out of the pack. You never truly feel like Bond as much as you should.

Will You Continue Playing: I may play the multiplayer from time to time, but will not be repeating the short single player.

Final Thoughts: This game is in no way a bad game. It just needs a bit more. More style, more ways of making you feel like Bond, and a longer campaign, and this could be the one to shut people up about Goldeneye. If these people make the next Bond game, they’ve got a good start.