Page 28 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #7

James Bond 007 in The Living Daylights:
The Computer Game (1987)
Developer: Sculptured Software, Inc.
Publisher: Melbourne House
Platform: C64

The Living Daylights proudly follows the 1980s tradition of Bond
games being unnecessarily difficult to the point of hair-pulling mad-
ness. Players control a tuxedo-clad James Bond from a side-scrolling Bond, James
perspective as he runs, ducks, and shoots down enemies with his
Walther PPK or other weapons designed by Q Labs. In an unusual
design decision, players must aim a targeting cursor to pick off ene-
mies in the background, who will suddenly appear from behind cover,
fire at you, and then hide again like the yellow-bellied cowards they
th
are. The game’s eight levels are based on locales from the 14 Bond
film, including Moscow, Tangiers, and the training mission in Gibral-
tar, but we suspect most would gladly lick Scaramanga’s third nipple
than attempt to tame such unwieldy controls.

License to Kill (1989)
Developer: Quixel
Publisher: Domark Software, Ltd.
Platforms: PC, Amiga, Atari ST, C64

Now this is more like it. Licence to Kill offers plenty of action-
packed thrills in a diverse series of vertically scrolling stages remi-
niscent of arcade hits Commando, Ikari Warriors, Tiger-Heli, and
more. Players will pilot a helicopter, advance through a military base
on foot (firing 360° to mow down soldiers), make their way across a
moving plane, swim underwater, waterski behind a seaplane, and
even drive an 18-wheeler in six stages that stir your blood, not
shake your confidence. Not an easy game by any means, but one
you won’t mind revisiting for some good, old-fashioned arcade-style
fun. One of the better examples of how to do an action-oriented
James Bond game while still being faithful to the film.

James Bond: The Stealth Affair (1990)
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: Interplay
Platform: PC

Known simply as Operation Stealth overseas, this third-person adventure game was not originally conceived as a James Bond
title, which is perhaps why it is so enjoyable. To be fair, the developers at Delphine Software were clearly inspired by James Bond
when they created their protagonist, a sly, sarcastic chap (in a tux, of course) who must unravel an international mystery behind a
missing American stealth plane. The game features an intuitive point-and-click interface (with commands Examine, Take, Inven-
tory, Use, Operate, and Speak), colorful VGA graphics, and a sense of humor in the finest LucasArts tradition.

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