Reviewed: December 14, 2004
Reviewed by: Justin Grandfield
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Developer
EA (Los Angeles)
Released: November 22, 2004
Genre: FPS
Players: 1-8
ESRB: Teen
8
8
8
9
8.5
Supported Features:
Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
Do you remember the Joy of GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64? It has returned to console gamers to bring back the classic deathmatch (before Halo) gaming matches that you most likely played all night while your mom screamed at you to go to bed.
James Bond has returned, just not in a starring role. You get to be the evil GoldenEye in EA's take on the Bond series, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. The game is an FPS where you must complete missions for Goldfinger who is currently having a vendetta against Dr. No. You fight fight alongside classic villians like Oddjob and Pussy Galore.
The unique aspect of Rogue Agent is the use of your character's synthetic eye. Your eye can allow you to see through not-so-thick walls to see your enemies, temporarily defect bullets or cause your enemy's weapon to malfunction. However, you must watch out, or the energy in your eye will run out and you be left up the creek without a paddle. When you use the eye wisely, it can be a great asset to you during the game.
Being able to play as the MI6 trained GoldenEye proves to be quite fun. He's like Bond in every way, except he's bad to the bone, and in some ways, more fun to play than the usual 00 agent. He's got all the moves, but none of the restraints Bond has. Being evil gives you a chance to take out all kinds of enemies, whether they be good, bad or just plain butt ugly.
Guns, guns, guns! There is a lot of mayhem to be had in this game with all the weaponry at your disposal. For example, no enemy will stand in your way whilst you tote two Mark II Detonaters, which are like mini grenade launchers that you can set off manually. And then there's the Longbow SR. Yes... sniper rifle... feel the evil surging up in you! The variety of weapons, including the coveted Golden Gun, leaves you craving more.
Multiplayer mode is a blast, as usual. What else can you say about four-player splitscreen multiplayer mode? You will spend many endless nights with your friends in the four combat modes the game has to offer. The game also has an online gameplay capability, which you can use to slay your enemies with incredibly ridiculous names, like n00b23_killme... okay, so I'm lying about that name. But you know there will be someone like that in the online mode.
For an FPS, Rogue Agent has pretty good graphics. Though some of the structures and enemies will seem very polygonal sometimes, it does not detract from the gameplay. The characters are built very well. They all have very fluid motions and seem like real people. The weapons function just like their realistic counterparts. Explosions will rock the screen and your world if you're hit. The locations in which stages are set are beautifully rendered. From the rooftops of Hong Kong to the innards of Hoover Dam, each area is very realistic.
For once, you have full camera control. The camera controls are reminiscent of Halo and GoldenEye for the N64. This is a great thing for this game. Being able to turn around quickly is a real lifesaver! It's saved me many a time in the game!
The sound is excellent in this game. No detail is overlooked. Every weapon sounds like what it's supposed to sound like. The voices are superb. Each character has a unique voice. No two voices sound the same. The music is something else. It definitely puts you in the right mood for taking one an army of foes. I get pumped up every time I hear it. It's a kind of rock/techno mesh that's just too perfect for the game. EA kicks some butt on sound once more.
This game definitely has replay value. You'll play over and over trying to unlock all of the artwork, and not just because you want to see it, because you'll enjoy trying each level over and over. No two games play the same way. The game has a unique enemy AI feature, which means they'll react differently every game.
This game is worth the price tag. Since it's on multiple systems as well, you can enjoy the game no matter what systems you have. For the fans of the N64 GoldenEye, buy this game! You will have as much fun as you did with the N64 version.
This game truly rocks my socks. Great gameplay, graphics, sound and value. You just can't beat it. EA shows their skill against the gaming giants in Japan and delivers another classic hit for gamers. And the box says it all, “Why save the world, when you can rule it!” Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within will have a tough time competing with Rogue Agent.