Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Rent it first"

Disclaimer: No amount of time was spent exploring the game's multiplayer options.

If any game stands out in the memory of Nintendo gamers, it's GoldenEye on the N64. Whenever a debate occurs of which game most deserves a remake, this rarest example of a movie-based video game done right is always the first to be brought up. Now, the same team responsible for many of the Call of Duty games has not only remade the game, but filled the campaign with more thrills than the original could ever hope to have.

Like its predecessor, GoldenEye 007 begins on the Byelomorye dam. Many of the opening moments will be familiar, but aside from familiarity, just about every level has been completely reworked. Character models have been remodeled, most notably Pierce Bronson's character being replaced by Daniel Craig's. It still follows the basic plot and storyline of the movie, but on a much grander scale. Scripted events are much more action-packed and the gameplay itself has been completely redesigned.

The Wii version of GoldenEye now features a cover system. You can crouch behind obstacles and peak out from them to take potshots. Bond will also regenerate his health if you can avoid getting shot for a few seconds. Holding down the Z button will cause you to aim down the sites, and if your target reticule is pretty close to the enemy before you hit Z, the game will automatically line you up. It's a great way to help compensate for the rather loose and sloppy control set up. If you don't want to use the nunchuck combo, GoldenEye does support the Classic Controller.

An interesting omission is the lack of dual-wielding. You can only wield one gun at a time, so the original game's mix ups of automatic rifles, shotguns and grenade launchers are sorely missed. Bond will always carry his silenced Walther P99, and some weapons have secondary fire options, but he's limited to carrying three guns at a time. Strangely enough, he's also unable to throw grenades at his enemies, while they toss them at Bond like rice at a wedding.

Many of the levels give Bond an opportunity to approach them with stealth. When crouched, Bond can sneak up to nearly any enemy and dispatch them with a quick flick of the nunchuck (it's also handy for charging enemies in a firefight). The weird thing is they are completely oblivious to the obvious footfalls you're making even when crouched and they have very limited peripheral vision. Also, sometimes you are completely careful yet for some unknown reason, you'll be detected and the cavalry will be called in. Factor in the unhelpful radar (which only shows enemies Bond can see), and the stealth mechanics aren't nearly as fun as they should be.

Bond's also incredibly shy on gadgets. The only device he caries with him is his smartphone. When you come across an object you can interact with, a flashing icon will appear. Pull out your smartphone, pan around the area and you may come across something you can hack. The most useful trick is to take over an automated turret and turn it against the enemy, but the phone's usually relegated to simply taking pictures. There is one level where you go about looking for a contact and you use the phone's facial recognition app to do it, but it's not really executed all that well.

Once you get the hang of GoldenEye's tricky controls, the game becomes rather fun. The problem is when the action really heats up, it's entirely too easy to run into problems. If you move the remote too quickly in one direction, you're met with a red crossed out circle that prohibits you from moving any further. When you're staring down the sites, it's also a pain to aim as it's just too sluggish. It's maddening knowing there's an enemy right above you, but the game just won't let you aim up to shoot at him. You have to exit out of zoomed aim, reacquire your target and zoom back in. Bond also tends to get stuck on objects, and some objects won't allow Bond to climb or vault over them, even though they clearly look like they should.

Graphically, GoldenEye 007 is one of the better looking Wii games. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed appreciating it on an HDTV as the textures aren't really that sharp, but the models and environments are well built. Where the game's visuals really shine are the special effects. There's so much destructible material laying about the levels, and some stages throw so much debris and smoke at you that it actually hinders the gameplay because you can't see what's going on. The tank level is also one of the most impressive displays of the game's graphics as entire buildings are reduced to rubble. Other smaller special effects such as gunfire are done rather well, too.

GoldenEye boasts some pretty good audio. The gunfire sounds terrific, which each gun having its own distinct report. You can actually make out what kind of weapon is being fired at you, so you can go after whoever has that special gun you really love. Other sound effects such as explosions and crumbling structures sound very believable as well. The soundtrack sounds just like it would belong in an actual 007 movie. The voice acting is well-performed, but it takes itself a little too seriously, losing a bit of life that the original had.

GoldenEye 007 for the Wii has come close to living up to the expectations of fans of the original, but it misses the mark thanks to touchy controls. There are many ways to tweak this problem, but the default control scheme should never be this messed up. Thankfully, the incredible campaign makes up for this, with some truly memorable moments. Even without relying on the license, GoldenEye 007 is a decent enough shooter that any fan of the genre will want to have in their collection. Just don't hold your breath for an instant classic like the N64 version was.