In a word, poor (Tomorrow Never Dies (PS))

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	Tomorrow Never Dies (PS)
Date:	03/08/01 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Erm, the Bond name?

Disadvantages: Poor graphics, Limited gameplay, Poor attention to detail

The James Bond franchise has always been a big moneyspinner on the big screen, so it’s not too difficult to see why games companies would be keen to add a 007 title to their list. Unfortunately the majority of the Bond games that have appeared so far have been disappointing, with the sole exception of Goldeneye, a title sadly restricted to the N64.

Tomorrow Never Dies was 007’s first appearance on the Playstation platform. Strangely, it was released almost 2 years after the film that bore its name was released. The game is only loosely based on the film.

Unfortunately TND falls a long way short of the standards set by Goldeneye. One of the great attractions of Goldeneye was its superb gameplay, something notably lacking in this game.

The game takes the form of a third person shooter, with you unsurprisingly taking the role of Bond as you attempt to complete a number of missions. There’s no subtlety to the way Bond approaches his missions in this game, it’s just a relentless shoot-em-up. There are none of the elements of stealth introduced so successfully by Metal Gear Solid, a game that shows up this one in a number of areas.

Later levels introduce different elements, such as driving levels and a section where Bond must ski down a mountain side to escape his pursuers. There is also a sniper level. None of these levels are particularly inspired, and add little to the main game.

Apart from the limited gameplay, the biggest disappointment of the game is the graphics. Even by the standards of the original Playstation, which is beginning to show its age a bit, TND is graphically very poor indeed. Textures are rough, and landscapes look extremely blocky and sharp edged. The attention to detail is also not too hot – witness the snow flakes that mysteriously fall through the roof of a concrete bunker you’re sheltering in.

The in game views can grate a bit, especially when th
e camera changes angle to supposedly make things easier for you. In reality you find that this just makes things even trickier, since it makes it less easy to see where you are in relation to other objects. This can be a real pain when you can’t see where a power up is lying, since you can’t see below waist level.

The game features a number of clips from the original film, but these only serve to remind you just how poor the game is in comparison. It’s a little surprising that the game’s makers couldn’t manage to get any of the real actors to lend their voices to the game, which would have gone some way to making it feel more authentic. Instead this could be any average shoot-em-up, and you’re left with the distinct impression that the Bond label is only there to shift more copies of the game. This could easily be rebranded to feature any other character.

It’s surprising that 007’s guardians allowed their name to be put to such a poor product. Hopefully 007 Agent Under Fire for the PS2 will go some way to relieving the disappointment of this game. For the moment the best way to play out your fantasies as Bond is to get hold of a copy of Goldeneye.

Summary: