James Bond - License to Thrill. (James Bond: From Russia With Love (PS2))

Member Name: Souther

Product:	James Bond: From Russia With Love (PS2)
Date:	09/01/06 (403 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accurate representation of Bond Universe.

Disadvantages: Occasional trial and error gameplay.

It would be fair to say that most people have heard of James Bond. Whether it’s Sean Connery’s charm, Roger Moore’s sophistication or Pierce Brosnan’s humour, Bond has achieved a high status and strong popularity throughout the world. Many things in the Bond films have made an impact on society. The love of martini’s, ‘shaken, not stirred’, the ingenious technological gadgets, and the classic, ‘I haven’t got a costume to wear for the fancy dress party so I’ll wear a tuxedo and say I’m James Bond’ saving grace for all male students everywhere. However, in my opinion, the last couple of Bond films have really just been over-the-top action films and I think the essence has been lost. With this in mind, EA has released a new Bond game based on the film From Russia with Love (1963) and it is not only a breath of fresh air in terms of style, but plays well and immerses you into the 1960s Bond universe.

As the game is based on the film, the whole feeling and atmosphere is definitely ‘old school’ Bond at its best. From the menus to the graphics and everything in between – a lot of effort has been made to create a realistic interpretation of the film. The music is also very authentic and really adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.

As an action game, it is a fun and enjoyable journey and all of the authentic elements of the Bond universe serve to heighten the enjoyment factor. The laser watch, remote control helicopter, sonic cufflinks and briefcase turret are just a few of the specialised weapons that you can use to your advantage against the enemy. It’s these touches and the healthy selection of period guns that succeed in entertaining the player. You can sneak around killing the enemy silently in some areas and are rewarded for doing so or go on a John Woo style killing spree with the assault rifle and cause maximum carnage – either way is fun.

One problem I would say is that the aiming mechanism can be a bit ropey at times. When seven or so guards surround you and the target locks on to a barrel instead of the enemy, it can be pretty frustrating. The zooming in function that lets you focus on guard’s weak points is the only way you can manually aim and if it was included it would add to the experience and make the player feel more in control.

Despite this the player has control of many aspects of the game that may not normally be accessible in such a game. You have the choice throughout the game to upgrade your weapons – faster firing rate, more ammo, more clips and more special ammo (does more damage than normal ammo). Body armour can be upgraded, as can all of the offensive gadgets as well. Different outfits are picked up as you progress and can be switched whenever you want. Dinner jacket and trousers to Russian soldier disguises are all yours. You can also buy montage movies, concept art (which really is amazingly detailed and beautiful) and also extra characters in the multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer mode is a lot of fun. The reason I think it is a worthy addition is that you can pick up the normal weapons as in any other action title, but all the gadgets can be used as well. You might find a jetpack in the level and can fly around with special weapons or hop into a armoured vehicle with a rocket launcher attachment – they really add to the tension and creativity of the mode. There is another mode where you have to plant a bomb in the other player’s base but it is one of the worst multiplayer set-ups I have ever played – steer clear of that one and save yourself the frustration!

For all the criticism that EA receives, I think that it did a good job with From Russia with Love. It captures the Bond license well and as it is based on an older Bond movie, it adds a fresh outlook to quite a standard genre. I would recommend the game as a rental and if you really like it then buying it would not be a bad idea as there is a lot to do and lots to find and unlock. One of the better Bond games on the PS2.

Summary: Solid Bond game in the wake of many below-average past Bond titles.