This is use of the COD4 engine that COD:WaW wishes it had implemented. Not only a good game, its TOTALLY 007!
The QTE (quick time event) sequences will either be loved or hated but they are so short and such a small element of QoS that in the end it won't matter. But myself, I love sneaking up on unsuspecting bad guys and breaking some bones the old fashioned way and watching the action after I've preformed the necessary input (two target reticules appear on screen and you must place the one that you can control inside the other that is located somewhere randomly on the screen - within 2 seconds). The code breaking aspect on the locked doors (which is a bit like a "Simon" mini game - quickly press the key that just lit up) isn't so bad but I feel that on some levels it gets in the way of the action as its over used on one or two of them. The other aspect that I think might be overlooked by some is that making your way through most of the level undetected is key. Certainly you can shoot your way out of being discovered in any sub-section of any level, but you are Bond, not Rambo and stealth is a major part of moving through this game as I believe it was meant to be played. Not only can you use (a QTE) hand to hand combat to silently take down any enemy patrol stupid enough to get too far away from his partner, followed by that partner as well but you can also use your silencer which every weapon is fitted for. I feel this screams "be quiet" very quietly to the player, but some may feel more at home setting off every single alarm they can find simply to have more targets to choose from. However, that will be disallowed on some levels where stealth isn't an option, and since its been so long since a Splinter Cell release this title will hold me over for a bit longer.
But as for the rest of this game, the cover implementation is PERFECT in every way. Gears of War and R6 Vegas perfect. In fact its closer to Gears of War than it is to Vegas, but I have a feeling after this release gains popularity we'll see it implemented in Vegas as well. There is a great selection of firearms in each level including a hidden super gun. Oddly enough lots of high pressure tanks or very flammable explosive containers surround the area that the bad guys are usually fighting from making it easy to take out clusters of them or deny access to certain flanking options. I'd complain about that if we were going for realism in say Rainbow 6 Vegas but this is Bond and where would we be without things blowing up, and bad guys who can't seem to plan for perhaps the guy who is hunting them inconveniently showing up.
Of course the cut scenes although few and far between are perfect reproductions of elements we've either seen in the films or from my understanding were cut from it. In a way allowing you to play a DVD extra. I've seen a bit of the film and this game certainly has the representation of the new films and modern Bond universe right on the money penny.
One other note, the pre-level introduction screen has a user interface that MI-6 uses in the film on a touch screen "surface" like device and from a design point of view its completely beautifully done. Great to look at. And again, totally represents the style of Bond in a more modern age.
If you are an action or tactical shooter fan and yet only a little or not at all a fan of the Bond series, you can not miss this title. Its Golden-Eye all over again, just these developers doing it better.