The launch of Goldeneye 007: Reloaded was undoubtedly one of the most keenly watched remakes of the Wii’s lifespan. The likes of the Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary may have received more coverage in the specialist press, but for gamers of a certain age, the redistribution of one of the most critically acclaimed FPS games was almost cause for concern.
It’s telling that Activision choose to opt for Nintendo’s consoles first. Bringing it to an audience that may not have played many games since the original seems like a win. But the subsequent release Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 saw gamers eagerly anticipating the chance to return to Rare’s masterpiece with a very different set of expectations.
Of course, the first thing to be realised is that Goldeneye 007: Reloaded is not, in fact, RARE’s masterpiece. It’s a new perspective on the game. Taking into account the decade of progression and the demands of the modern audience. Whether or not that means it’s a more satisfying game experience also depends on your own personal perspective; no one’s expecting every gamer to agree with Activision that this is how Goldeneye 007 should play in the modern age. Unfortunately, there are very many who see things very differently.
Put simply: Goldeneye 007: Reloaded feels very little like Goldeneye 007.
GoldenEye 007: Reloaded – Getting into It
Taking a single level as an example, set in Severnaya, the player is tasked with infiltrating an enemy bunker. While this may sound familiar to Goldeneye 007 veterans, the mission structure is far different in Goldeneye 007: Reloaded. The level is greatly expanded, and the player must remain stealthy as they approach the rear entrance of the installation. A number of weapons are available. However, the player has to ensure that only silenced weapons are used so as to avoid detection.
Once inside the building, the player is given greater freedom to interpret the best course of action. However, unlike Goldeneye 007, a single misstep would cause far too much gunfire to rain down to enable the player to reverse their actions.
The final game will consisted of single-player, MI6 Ops (which functioned similarly to the Spec Ops mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2) and multiplayer gameplay. However, local multiplayer was underplayed, and paled in comparison to the original. For many, this was the death knell for a remake of a game that never asked to be remade.
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