365//365: Day 328 – GoldenEye 007 (Wii) [PP]

Remember GoldenEye: Rogue Agent a generation ago? The game that tried to capitalize off the success of a similar title from a generation before that? Remember how much of a flaccid, poorly designed title it was, from multiplayer to single player? That’s apparently the GoldenEye that Activision and Eurocom produced for gamers. GoldenEye 007 Wii is nothing more than a ploy to cash in on inaccurate beliefs that this was a “remake” or “re-imagining” of the classic Nintendo 64 title. The visual quality and detail do match that of the N64 version (though slightly better), along with the choppy frame rate when things. The sparse musical pieces don’t add much flair to the action, neither do the stock audio clips that provide the meager ballistic effects. Multiplayer, the aspect that a majority of N64 GoldenEye fans remember the most, is a shell of a shell of a shell of its former self. While connections are commendably smooth, the gameplay is not. Sluggish aim controls, stiff overall controls and accuracy that’s inconsistent help put a golden bullet between the eyes of gamers, not to mention the abhorrent map selection available (none of the classics are here). Most of these issues carry over on solo play, from the extremely dated look to the gamma settings that never seem to brighten up your surroundings enough, right on through to the control nuisances (though the recoil isn’t much of an issue), as well as a game world that has little to no resemblance to anything presented by the N64 shooter. The controls do feel much tighter on the single player side, though the bland, uneventful and drab single player portion isn’t even worth the time. Even the leveling up system for multiplayer (certain levels unlock weapons, game modes, etc) isn’t a strong enough addition to expel the multitude of failures. There’s paying homage and there’s capturing the name of a legendary console first person shooter just to sucker people in under false pretenses. GoldenEye 007 Wii is the latter, and is no where in the league of the famed Nintendo shooter from two generations ago, but more towards the piss poor incarnation of the previous generation. At least the golden classic controller packed with the special edition of this title is smooth as butter. Can’t say for the game its self.

If you're the poor sucker that paid $70 for the collectors edition, at least the controller has a true golden sheen, whereas GoldenEye 007 Wii is a dull brown turd.

Rating: 4.5