Adding a hint of Zelda to the mix makes this game shaken, not stirred.
What's the story behind the game? "Get the girl, save the world, and stop the bad guys from their plot for world domination." But unlike any other Bond game before it, this was the first Bond game I played that actually had a story rather than just playing the game not knowing what the game is actually about. You start off in China where your first objective is to find the secret plans somewhere in the country, as this begins the first level of the game. I won't say any more about the game's storyline, but as you progress later in the game, the plot will become more interesting and it will actually make sense in some parts of the later levels.
How does the game look like? The game doesn't look pretty, but they were decent at the time. The level design wasn't very creative and the houses and buildings looked flat. Even the characters on screen didn't look good. And most of the gray-scale colors in the game range from very bright to very dark, making the player confused and frustrated in some parts of the game. There is a map system, but you get that later in the game and it doesn't help you out at all. So there's trial and error on going from point A to point B.
How do you play the game? It seems as though James Bond is being a lot like a "Legend" we all know and love. The game does indeed feels like Zelda, where you go around, collect new items and weapons, solving puzzles, and going up against bosses near the end of each level. And just like Zelda, you select your items/weapons when you pause the game, and you also do a few trading sequences: one of them where you find a "strange" item somewhere in the beginning of the game (where you can trade this item to various people in later levels) and a couple trading sequences that you must complete in order to advance in some levels. The combat is very-well executed, although it can't compete against Zelda in any way. When going against bad guys with martial arts, you can block them and punch them, if you time them right. When going against enemies with armed weapons, you need to dodge their bullets and time your shooting in order to defeat them. (These tactics are also used in certain Boss fights with the right weapons at your disposal.)
This is one of those rare games you need to appreciate from time to time, and I'm glad I have James Bond 007 after all this time. It may not be as memorable as any of the Zelda games, but it is indeed a game you can't just overlook when passing by at your local GameStop or EB Games. The puzzles can be a little unbalanced and convoluted at times, but the game itself can be enjoyable to the very end. Adding Zelda to the mix makes James Bond 007 shaken, not stirred, and that's why I like the game's presentation and, of course, the game itself.