System: Wii (also on: Nintendo DS)
Developer: Eurocom
Publisher: Activision
Genre: FPS

Fans have been clamoring for it for ages now, and it’s finally here. This game is a remake of the classic Goldeneye 007 video game released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997, and without a doubt revolutionized the FPS genre on home gaming consoles forever. It was that N64 game that would lay the framework for titles like Halo and Call of Duty, paving the road for their success.

And now, in the form of this Wii game by the same name, Goldeneye 007 exists again, modernized and completely rebuilt from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii hardware. Developed by Eurocom, most known to Wii games as the devs who crafted the excellent Dead Space: Extraction, this modernized classic can be one of two things: a cheap cash in, or the real deal. Ladies and gentelemen, I’m here to tell you that not only is this game genuinely great, it may even be the best FPS the Wii has to offer.

Review:

We’ll start with the game’s campaign mode. Go ahead and forget about everything you remember about the single-player mode from the original game, because this 2010 Wii rendition re-does just about everything there is to redo. But don’t worry, the Eurocom has made nothing but enhancements and improvements. Levels are brilliantly designed, locales range from labs to exotic jungles, and the story has been completely modernized to include today’s issues like global warming.

Oh, and let us not forget the abandonment of Pierce Brosnan, who has been replaced by Daniel Craig. I personally would have preferred bringing Brosnan back for this game, though I do feel that Craig is a much better Bond overall. Still, everything that has changed has changed for the better, and the game has taken a lot of influence from modern shooters such as COD and Halo instead of simply reviving a 13-year-old game that simply doesn’t stand up to today’s standards.

Most gamers will make it through the campaign in about seven hours, but that’s only on the easiest setting. The truly hardcore will try to bump it up a notch and task themselves with finishing all secondary objectives as well as primary ones, adding significant challenge to the already challenging story mode.

Of course, a lot of gamers aren’t going to play through a single game’s campaign mode more than once. If you’re one of those gamers and you don’t want to throw $50 away on a seven hour campaign, then not to worry, you’ll easily be able to sink fifty hours into the game’s addictive and adequate multiplayer, which is easily the best online play I’ve experienced in any first-person shooter on the system.

I know that’s not saying a whole lot given the competition, but if all you have is a Wii, you’re going to love what Goldeneye offers in the online multiplayer department. It is sorta like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s online offerings, only not as good. There are plenty of modes of play, but not enough maps. There is a leveling system in place to reward the more dedicated gamers with perks and better custom loadouts, which is certainly a welcomed feature, but perks don’t come often enough making it easy to lose interest.

There are some technical problems, like dropped games and a bit of lag here and there, but overall this is as solid as online multiplayer gets on Nintendo’s system.

The question on everyone’s mind is; does it capture the magic of the original? It’s obvious that an N64 first-person shooter from 1997 isn’t going to stand up to what we play today, but that doesn’t mean the original Goldeneye wasn’t the best of the best when it hit store shelves. There was nothing better than sitting down for an hour of split screen gaming, only to notice you’re dying of hunger and then realize seven hours have passed.

The answer? Well, it’s hard to say. Goldeneye for Wii is significantly superior to its parent, but it doesn’t really revolutionize anything like the original did. You’re not going to become addicted to the split-screen offerings like you did back in the day, but it does feed your nostalgia and gives you a great feeling. You’ll trash talk and scream at each other, try to hit your friend in the balls for spawn camping, enjoy a few good laughs, and drink Mountain Dew until you develop diabetes. But that magic wears off after a while, and you’re left with something that just isn’t as fun as it used to be.

Final Words:

Goldeneye 007 on Wii is probably the best FPS the system has to offer. Split-screen and online multiplayer, a challenging and satisfying campaign, albeit a bit short, very impressive visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack all come together to create one hell of a game. This game isn’t “good for Wii,” it’s just a good game.

There are some issues to be sure, but the good certainly outweighs the bad, and you’re going to have a blast playing this game, especially if you fell in love with the N64 original. If all you have is a Wii, this is one of the best shooters you have access to so buy it, even if you never played the original.

Final Score: 8.75/10 (Great)