Developed by Treyarch (CoD3, World at War), this game was released in November of 2008. It marked the next-gen debut of everyone’s favorite British super-spy, James Bond 007.
Many folks hoped that this would be “the next GoldenEye.” While it was a decent game, it certainly didn’t make the same splash that the N64 classic did years ago.
I played through this game a number of times when I first picked it up back in November. It was on hiatus for a while in favor of CoD: World at War and Gears of War 2. I really enjoyed my first couple play-throughs, and it’s always interesting to go back to play something again after a bit of a break to see if your initial opinions still hold.
After running through this game again over the weekend, it’s safe to say that I’m still fond of it, though it falls a little flat after the high notes that are Gears 2 and World at War. It’s pretty tough for Quantum to stand up to titles like that. But, I would still recommend this game to anyone who is a fan of the old N64 masterpiece that is GoldenEye 007 and the CoD games (since it’s sporting the CoD4 engine & same overall feel).
Quantum of Solace offers a number of interesting levels to play and a pretty decent time overall, albeit not a very challenging one compared to some of the other shooters out there. The music and voice-overs from the film actors add a nice, authentic touch but graphically, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Overall it doesn’t stack up visually to something like World at War, but it still offers some nice looking areas and character models. Some spots could have used a bit more polish though… there is definitely some room for improvement visually if a follow-up game is released.
The third person, Gears-style cover system, though somewhat gimmicky, can be pretty handy at times and works well. Bond can also perform a number of “take-down” maneuvers if you click the right analog stick when in close proximity to an enemy. Once the sequence starts, you’re prompted with a button-push in order to successfully complete the move. It can be fun to watch, but ultimately leaves you feeling more like a passive spectator than the aggressive S.O.B. that is Daniel Craig’s Bond. I would have liked to have felt a bit more involved, but the take-downs are still cool.
This brings me to the interactive cinematic sequences that are passed off as mini boss battles. You’re watching Bond duke it out with an enemy that’s pissed him off for some reason, and at various points in the battle, you’re prompted to push or mash the correct button so Bond will pull off a combative or defensive maneuver. These sequences are kind of neat, but again, you don’t feel very involved. Although, they’re perfect for those times when you’re feeling lazy and not in the mood for a fight that requires major concentration.
As with most shooters these days, it’s too short. I was left wanting more when I originally finished, which isn’t a bad thing, but this issue could have been solved by including more levels based on the Quantum of Solace film. Most of the levels (in spite of the game’s title) are based on Casino Royale. I’m certainly not complaining about the inclusion of Casino Royale missions, as I really enjoyed the levels that were tied in from Daniel Craig’s first Bond movie. But considering how quickly you can smash through this game, the inclusion of a few more levels that dealt with the Quantum film would have been an obvious solution to extending the campaign’s short life cycle.
In conclusion:
Quantum of Solace is not a perfect game… but it’s a fun game. You really can’t go wrong with setting aside some time on a weekend to play through this one. And I’ve come to accept that there may never be a Bond game that will be considered “the new GoldenEye.” That game made such an impact and was so revolutionary that we probably won’t see another Bond title that generates the same sort of response from gamers. Although, Quantum of Solace certainly reminds me of the good old days with GoldenEye, and it’s definitely a nice game to have in your collection to play once in a while.