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| Activision "GoldenEye Reloaded" (2011) So much for that "There is no Substitute" tagline...
A remastering of the Wii game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in 2011, re-titled as GoldenEye 007: Reloaded. The game features high-definition graphics due to running on a new game engine, an achievement system, new "Mi6 Ops Missions", and PlayStation Move compatibility for the PS3 version. On Sept. 14, 2011, Activision announced plans to release an exclusive PlayStation 3 bundle called 007: GoldenEye Reloaded Double 'O' Edition, which will include access to the downloadable character Hugo Drax. The bundle included a PlayStation Move motion controller, navigation controller, PlayStation Eye camera, and Sharp Shooter peripheral along with the game on Blu-ray Disc. That game was released on November 1, 2011 in North America and on November 4, 2011 in Europe.  Although Pierce Brosnan starred as Bond in the film GoldenEye and was featured in the 1997 game, subsequent Bond actor Daniel Craig's likeness and voice are featured in the 2010 game and the plot has been modified to fit his interpretation with the current style of James Bond films. Judi Dench, who has portrayed M since GoldenEye, reprises her role for the game, though in voice only. With the exception of M, all other main characters from the film have had their appearances altered, though they still retain their original names, although Rory Kinnear reprises his role from Quantum of Solace as Bill Tanner, M's Chief of Staff.. David Arnold, composer of every Bond film score since Tomorrow Never Dies, composed the game's score. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls performs the title song, a cover version of the film's theme which was originally performed by Tina Turner. The game's script is penned by Bruce Feirstein, the co-writer of the GoldenEye film. Unlike the original video game and therefore movie, the whole story takes place after the Cold War due to the Soviet Union's replacement by Russia, so the story does not jump nine years ahead after the opening sequence. Feirstein has described several changes made to update the story in the fifteen years since its release; for example, Alec Trevelyan's motivations have changed, as the character's backstory involving a Lienz Cossack father would make Trevelyan seventy-one years old in 2010, while Valentin Zukovsky no longer has any connection to the KGB. Feirstein also cited a sequence of the game set at a Dubai arms fair.  The story is set some time after Quantum of Solace as 007 James Bond (Daniel Craig) and 006 Alec Trevelyan (Elliot Cowan) are on a mission infiltrating a chemical weapons facility in Arkhangelsk, Russia, which is believed to be the source of weapons used by a terrorist cell to target British embassies around the world. The mission goes awry when Trevelyan is apparently shot by General Ourumov (Laurence Possa). Bond escapes by detonating explosives he had placed throughout the facility before fleeing Arkhangelsk via airplane. Later, a phone call intercepted from Ourumov connects him to Russian gangster Valentin Zukovsky (Alec Newman) as Ourumov attempts to acquire a helicopter that has been modified to survive an electromagnetic pulse. Zukovsky directs him to an arms fair in Dubai but is unable to stop Onatopp and Ourumov from stealing the helicopter. He is however able to plant his smartphone on-board, and MI6 is able to track the helicopter to a remote base in Siberia. Bond is unable to stop the theft of a GoldenEye weapons satellite which is detonated by Ourumov. Bond is able to rescue Natalya Simonova (Kirsty Mitchell) before being arrested by the Russian army. Believing Bond and Natalya to be responsible for the GoldenEye blast, Russian Defense Minister Dmitri Mishkin (Ed Stoppard) interrogates the two in St. Petersburg, but is killed by Ourumov who abducts Natalya. Bond pursues him to a train and confronts him over his plan for the GoldenEye satellite. Xenia betrays Ourumov and kills him. Bond is able to help Natalya off the train and goes to a meeting at Statue Park learning that Trevelyan survived his execution at the hands of Ourumov and is now Janus, the mastermind behind the GoldenEye theft and leaves with Natalya, who is instrumental to his plan. Bond is able to infiltrate a Solar facility in Africa and tricks Alec into destroying his supercomputers stopping his plan to use the satellite to destroy the bank of London erasing evidence of finances he stole. After fighting Trevelyan, Bond is able to overload the facility control room and shoots Trevelyan sending him to his death over the tower. Natalya and Bond escape the base by helicopter, with the couple kissing in the mission's aftermath.  GoldenEye 007 has received positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Wii version 83.67% and 81/100 and the Nintendo DS version 68.82% and 64/100. IGN awarded the game a 9.0 out of 10 and an Editor's Choice Award, praising its multiplayer component and its well-crafted story while criticizing the lack of voice chat. The reviewer, Craig Harris, concluded by acknowledging that the gameÑas of its releaseÑis the Wii's best first person shooter. Gaming Nexus gave GoldenEye 007 an AÐ, stating, "instead of standing in the original GoldenEye's shadow, Eurocom has created a brand new game that is just as compelling and addictive as the original." GameSpot reviewer Tom McShea also praised the game, awarding it an 8.5 out of 10. Joystiq scored the game 4 out of 5. Nintendo World Report awarded the game an 8.5/10, with the reviewer stating, "Frankly, I haven't seen a more impressive Wii shooter." The Official Nintendo Magazine gave GoldenEye 007 a score of 90%. GameTrailers scored the game at 8.6 of 10, indicating that while most aspects are well-done, the game's performance suffers from inconsistent framerates, particularly during splitscreen play. They also derided the menus as "bland" and the "not very crisp" overall picture due to aliasing. Digital Trends' gave the game 8 of 10, complaining of the enemy AI's simplistic strategies and lack of adaptability. While the multiplayer gameplay was highly praised by the reviewer, the lack of voice chat was seen as a significant omission. GoldenEye 007: Reloaded also received positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 75.60% and 72/100 and the Xbox 360 version 73.20% and 72/100.   |
