An exceptional campaign, enjoyable multiplayer, sharp control and good weapon variety make this Goldeneye great.
Fast forward a dozen years later-Activision introduced the first Nintendo console exclusive Goldeneye at Nintendo's 2010 E3 press conference. One of the most anticipated Wii games, I was taken aback by the shoddy graphics presented in the game's debut trailer. EA had failed in an attempt to revive the Goldeneye name during last generation with Goldeneye for the Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox, and Playstation 2. Goldeneye for the Nintendo Wii won me over with its exceptional single player campaign, sharp control with many customizable control options so that everyone will be sure to find something to suit them, and with enjoyable online multiplayer. Activision's Goldeneye for the Nintendo Wii is one of the best first-person shooters to be released for any console this generation.
Goldeneye 007 has many control options. You may use the Wii-mote/nun-chuck combination, the classic controller, or Gamecube controller. The game allows you to customize each of the controller options to a tee. I found the Wii-mote/nun-chuck combination to be the most accurate and intuitive. Sensitivity is adjustable for each of the controllers, and there are even controller modes that cater to beginners, intermediate, and expert players. Taking clean accurate shots is a skill to be mastered in Goldeneye 007, particularly when Bond or the desired target are on the move. You also have the ability to zoom in with each of the weapons, which really aids accuracy.
There are a ton of weapons in Goldeneye. Bond can hold up to three weapons at once, with one of them being the standard pistol which can also be equipped with a silencer. There are more than several types of shotguns, machine guns, pistols, snipers, and more. Each of the weapons are very fun to use. Some of the most enjoyable moments in the single player campaign are when you stealthily pick off enemies, with bullets to the head, one by one, until each of them are wiped out. Crouching, hiding, crawling into ventilation shafts and hiding behind corners are all crucial in pulling off a perfect stealth invasion-immensely satisfying when done. Being heard or seen by one of the guards will cause him to alert his allies-then the gunfight is on. Gunning down hoards of enemies is also very satisfying.
The single player campaign contains a good variety of settings in which Bond will travel to complete his mission. The jungle, frozen forest, a night club, and secret facilities are just some of the many places where Bond will infiltrate. What the game lacks in technical beauty it makes up for it with good graphical style and presentation. The voice acting is very good, as Daniel Craig's Bond is portrayed very well in Goldeneye 007. There are interactive cinematic cutscenes which usually contain motion controls and button mashing that must be successfully initiated by the player. The motion controls in Goldeneye are far and few between. For the most part they feel gimmicky and mindless, but they do not get in the way enough to frustrate or annoy you.
Though Goldeneye is mainly a pure first person shooter, there are some unique moments that add some flare and change of pace to the campaign. One mission acquires you to navigate a tank through a city, fighting off helicopters and men with rocket launchers while trying to keep up with an escaping menace. Goldeneye could have benefited from more of these added gameplay elements. The fact that there are so few of these is questionable, and may make you wonder how it fits in with the game's overall identity. As a whole, the single player campaign has action, stealth, team-based missions, a vehicle section, a boss fight, and the ability to hack into devices with James Bonds' smart phone. There is hardly a dull moment in the campaign, and with four difficulties to choose from and a plethora of control options, every one is bound to find something to suit them in Goldeneye 007.
Goldeneye's multiplayer is also one of its strongest attributes. It may not be up there with some of the elite first person shooters that can be played on Xbox Live, PCs, or Playstation Network, but it is enjoyable. There are more than a dozen different game modes to choose from. The stages range from very small to large-a selection that captures the variety of settings in the single player campaign. Up to 8 players can join in a game and slaughter to their hearts content for ten minutes per match. There is no Wii-Speak support, a very questionable decision for those who like to game online for the social interaction. For the most part I have had little trouble with freezing or lag, though it does occasionally rear its ugly head. The game also has offline split-screen multiplayer which supports up to four players at once-a staple feature of the original Goldeneye.
Goldeneye for the Nintendo Wii contains one of the most enjoyable first person shooter campaigns that I have experienced this generation. Its graphics are weak, but it is compensated for with a stylish presentation. Control options are vast, customizable, and intuitive, and the game boasts a grand musical score that does the Bond name justice. For the few things that hold the game back from being a classic, it makes up for with many features that make it a fine first person shooter for the Nintendo Wii.