Page 29 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #7

James Bond 007: The Duel (1992)
Developer: Domark Software, Ltd.
Publisher: Domark Software, Ltd.
Platform: Genesis

The first and only Bond game on Genesis, The Duel takes a few cues from
Namco's Rolling Thunder series as you shoot your way past guards to rescue
hostages, disarm bombs, and battle bosses from 007’s storied past. The
sharply dressed Bond can also perform a somersault jump, scale ladders,
throw grenades, and in true Rolling Thunder fashion, duck into alcoves or
doorways for cover. Unfortunately, the Duel is a solo affair only, and with a to-
tal of four missions, your time as a secret agent feels shorter than Nick Nack --
and not nearly as memorable.

GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo 64

Originally designed for the Super NES, British developer Rare’s lone James Bond title
for N64 is a showstopper, not only setting a new benchmark for movie licensed games,
but also for multiplayer, artificial intelligence, and level design, which rewards smarts
just as much as skill. Bond has to be selective with his shots, or the game will become
more challenging as nearby soldiers rush to the noise. The three featured difficulty lev-
els don’t merely offer harder enemies, but completely new objectives: giving the game
an entirely different feel for the second and third times through. Enemies are also un-
usual in how they go about their routines or patrols, batting flies out of boredom or even
taking naps. If they spot you, they’ll run to sound alarms or seek out cover to avoid get-
ting hit. Location-specific damage gives the game another shot of realism, as do the
death animations, even if the blood has been dialed down to appease Nintendo’s sensibilities. Though there is noticeable slowdown in
certain levels and the graphics are a little rough in some spots, the amount of playability offered through the competitive multiplayer
mode and in unlocking cheats (they must be earned) kept the game near the top of the sales charts years after its release. In short,
nobody does Bond better than GoldenEye.

James Bond 007 (1998).
Developer: Saffire Corp.
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Game Boy

An unusual release for the normally quality-conscious Nintendo, James Bond 007 is an ill-conceived game that suffers from an iden-
tity crisis. Played from an overhead perspective with short, squatty characters, James Bond 007 doesn’t know whether it should be
an adventure or an action game. Unfortunately, it does neither particularly well. Whether it’s completing silly scavenger hunts to ac-
quire items or firing the equivalent of a peashooter at well-armed thugs, the game’s 11 stages grow more tiring than thrilling. When the
highlight of a Bond game is playing simple versions of baccarat, red dog, and blackjack, something is terribly wrong.

Classic Gamer Magazine July 2004 29