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Quantum of Solace
November 8, 2008 | 8:22 PM PST
Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
"The name is Bond, James Bond." That line is recognizable to the entire Western culture, especially in North America -- even though Bond has undying loyalty to the Queen of England. Gamers have a deep connection with 007 because many have fond memories of the canonized Nintendo 64 title, GoldenEye. Since then, the Bond franchise has wandered in the wilderness never quite claiming the same glory. With Activision and Treyarch behind The Quantum of Solace, using the Call of Duty 4 engine, let's see how this entry plays.
What's Hot
Solace doesn't pull any punches, from the first level you hit the accelerator and keep going. The game is fast paced and the bullets fly. The first scenario you encounter seems like it would be the last level of a lot of games. With such a blistering pace, you'll notice that levels whiz by as you are having fun. Yes, fun. Solace captures the fun of playing a video game. Perhaps it the scads of exploding barrels or the frequent and furious gunplay, but I noticed I was enjoying myself throughout the game. The reason for that is because the game barrows from GoldenEye a good deal. It is certainly a nice praise to have when a piece of that magic.
It is interesting to see how much the CoD engine was tweaked for Solace. Few parts are actually recognizable. The first big change is Solace feels more "cartoony" and I don't mean that in a negative way. Bond is always about surreal situations and the more realistic, biting and gritty look of CoD games wouldn't have fit the Bond universe. The results are brighter colors and grander locations. It does this while maintaining a sense of believability and it keeps you in the Bond frame of mind. Solace has a cover system which adds depth to its genre. It reminded me of Rainbow Six: Vegas style cover where the transition from first person to third person is smooth and you can get a better view of the situation and avoid suspicion. There are some interesting cinematic moments during gameplay that split the camera while you cross a ledge, making you feel like you are part of a spy movie.
Multiplayer is another mode that takes a different approach. It is noticeably stripped down compared to what else is out on the market. Solace knows that the best approach to a Bond game is to keep it simple. You don't gain experience or try to increase your rank, you just play and have a good time. That is not to say that the modes included aren't fun. There is a Counter-Strike-like mode that pits one player, as Bond, against the Organization team to diffuse bombs. Time-tested favorite modes like team games are available to play and are very reminiscent of GoldenEye.
What's Not
Trying to emulate GoldenEye while innovating on an 11-year-old formula is a tricky task and it almost worked. The problem rests with the clumsy cover system. While it is nice to see a stealth element in a Bond game, there are problems with trying to get from cover spot to cover spot because the window to dash into cover is short.
The Bond franchise only enhances the game slightly. If you take away virtual Daniel Craig and the supporting cast with voiceovers, the game would be rather bland. The levels feel somewhat generic and might make more sense when the movie releases, but as a game, it could be a lot better. When you do get into the groove of the game, the fast pace means it ends much too quickly and you'll wish it kept going.
To make Solace not feel like a standard FPS game, a different approach to melee was taken. Instead of Judo chops or quick jabs, you enter a quick time event (QTE). Now, if you have been playing games recently, you will know this is the most overused gameplay mechanic and many gamers do not find it appealing. Some games can pull it off, others can't. This is a case where QTEs are annoying and pointless and make you not want to melee.
Final Word
This is the best Bond game to hit shelves in a long time. I occasionally got flashbacks of GoldenEye while sneaking through corridors as well as in multiplayer matches. It would have been interesting to see some of the cover and melee ideas fleshed out a little bit more, but I can't argue with the outcome as the game delivers a sense of fun. While it might not be the greatest FPS game to release this year, you'll enjoy your time spent with Solace.
What the Game's About
"The name is Bond, James Bond." That line is recognizable to the entire Western culture, especially in North America -- even though Bond has undying loyalty to the Queen of England. Gamers have a deep connection with 007 because many have fond memories of the canonized Nintendo 64 title, GoldenEye. Since then, the Bond franchise has wandered in the wilderness never quite claiming the same glory. With Activision and Treyarch behind The Quantum of Solace, using the Call of Duty 4 engine, let's see how this entry plays.
What's Hot
Solace doesn't pull any punches, from the first level you hit the accelerator and keep going. The game is fast paced and the bullets fly. The first scenario you encounter seems like it would be the last level of a lot of games. With such a blistering pace, you'll notice that levels whiz by as you are having fun. Yes, fun. Solace captures the fun of playing a video game. Perhaps it the scads of exploding barrels or the frequent and furious gunplay, but I noticed I was enjoying myself throughout the game. The reason for that is because the game barrows from GoldenEye a good deal. It is certainly a nice praise to have when a piece of that magic.
It is interesting to see how much the CoD engine was tweaked for Solace. Few parts are actually recognizable. The first big change is Solace feels more "cartoony" and I don't mean that in a negative way. Bond is always about surreal situations and the more realistic, biting and gritty look of CoD games wouldn't have fit the Bond universe. The results are brighter colors and grander locations. It does this while maintaining a sense of believability and it keeps you in the Bond frame of mind. Solace has a cover system which adds depth to its genre. It reminded me of Rainbow Six: Vegas style cover where the transition from first person to third person is smooth and you can get a better view of the situation and avoid suspicion. There are some interesting cinematic moments during gameplay that split the camera while you cross a ledge, making you feel like you are part of a spy movie.
Multiplayer is another mode that takes a different approach. It is noticeably stripped down compared to what else is out on the market. Solace knows that the best approach to a Bond game is to keep it simple. You don't gain experience or try to increase your rank, you just play and have a good time. That is not to say that the modes included aren't fun. There is a Counter-Strike-like mode that pits one player, as Bond, against the Organization team to diffuse bombs. Time-tested favorite modes like team games are available to play and are very reminiscent of GoldenEye.
What's Not
Trying to emulate GoldenEye while innovating on an 11-year-old formula is a tricky task and it almost worked. The problem rests with the clumsy cover system. While it is nice to see a stealth element in a Bond game, there are problems with trying to get from cover spot to cover spot because the window to dash into cover is short.
The Bond franchise only enhances the game slightly. If you take away virtual Daniel Craig and the supporting cast with voiceovers, the game would be rather bland. The levels feel somewhat generic and might make more sense when the movie releases, but as a game, it could be a lot better. When you do get into the groove of the game, the fast pace means it ends much too quickly and you'll wish it kept going.
To make Solace not feel like a standard FPS game, a different approach to melee was taken. Instead of Judo chops or quick jabs, you enter a quick time event (QTE). Now, if you have been playing games recently, you will know this is the most overused gameplay mechanic and many gamers do not find it appealing. Some games can pull it off, others can't. This is a case where QTEs are annoying and pointless and make you not want to melee.
Final Word
This is the best Bond game to hit shelves in a long time. I occasionally got flashbacks of GoldenEye while sneaking through corridors as well as in multiplayer matches. It would have been interesting to see some of the cover and melee ideas fleshed out a little bit more, but I can't argue with the outcome as the game delivers a sense of fun. While it might not be the greatest FPS game to release this year, you'll enjoy your time spent with Solace.
November 20, 2009
