James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing Hands-On Impressions

At the recent Camp EA press event, we had a chance to check out a new version of EA Games' latest Bond game, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, which is currently in development for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Unlike previous James Bond games, the new game is played from a third-person perspective with gameplay that closely resembles that of Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell--though there doesn't appear to be as much emphasis placed on stealth. In the first mission we saw, James Bond has to rappel down the front of a building while avoiding falling debris and fire spewing from windows. Once he successfully makes it down the building to a platform, the core gameplay mechanics start to kick in.

At this point, you can decide what sort of strategy you want to use when dealing with enemies--Bond can either rush in with guns blazing, or he can use a more stealthy approach by peeking out from behind walls to pick off enemies with his gun as they come into view. Since there are so many enemies in this particular area, a stealthy approach is much more effective, and since Bond can also use the walls as cover from enemy fire, there's much less chance that he'll be injured. But if you do have to run into the open area and start fighting, you'll find that the game's lock-on targeting system works reasonably well.

Essentially, you can automatically target an enemy by pressing a specific button on the controller and then clicking it again to acquire another target. If an enemy gets too close, you can remove Bond's weapon and instead use his fists to get rid of enemies. Interestingly, there's quite a bit of depth to the hand-to-hand combat. Bond can use a variety of different punches, throw his enemies, and even pick up items, like bottles, and use them as weapons. Of course, you have to be a bit careful when using hand-to-hand fighting against a large group, since other enemies will continue to fire at you in the meantime.

After dealing with the enemies in that portion of the level, Bond can rappel even further down the building, but this time, there are enemies coming down the side as well. Fortunately, you can target these enemies and easily dispatch them with just a few shots while making your way down.

This level is definitely a little more fast-paced than the other ones that we had an opportunity to try. In one level, Bond has to infiltrate a bar to locate a certain person captured inside. You'll not only have to find a specific entrance into the bar, but you'll really have to be stealthy to get into the main area. Thankfully, Bond has a stealth suit that camouflages his appearance, so when enemies or guards walk by he can either quietly take them out with a punch or two or with a silenced weapon. However, when you do eventually make it into the bar, the stealth element comes to an abrupt end as you're thrown into a massive firefight against several enemies equipped with shotguns.

Other missions are entirely vehicle-based. There's a helicopter mission where you have to follow an enemy helicopter as it maneuvers through a series of canyons with massive boulders and other obstacles being thrown into your way. There's also a driving sequence in which Bond zips down the freeway on a motorcycle.

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is scheduled for release later this year for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, and a Game Boy Advance game is also in development.