Goldeneye. There, I've said it. As the premier Bond console game, the Nintendo 64 classic still stands as the high watermark for 007 gaming, years after its introduction. Rare's seminal FPS masterpiece brought outstanding control, graphics, storyline and gameplay together in a great single- and multiplayer experience. When MGM transferred the license to Electronic Arts, it was hoped that we'd see even more Bond goodness on the next-gen platforms. After stumbling badly out of the gate with Tomorrow Never Dies and 007 Racing, EA restored some lustre to the franchise with the development of The World is Not Enough on N64. Can they take it to the next level with Agent Under Fire?
The storyline in James Bond is not based on any movie you've seen. Instead, EA has amalgamated several different scenarios into a brand new script for the game, using new characters combined with old ones to bring the 007 mythos to life. The storyline itself is somewhat jumbled, with certain scenarios that make sense, and others that are dropped without explanation. Still, there are numerous hot babes for James to joust with, and you'll find yourself playing just to find out what's around the next corner. Speaking of corners, the FPS level design varies from weak to okay. Buildings and outdoor areas are constructed in a fairly realistic manner, if not to the same extent as Max Payne, for example. The graphics are beautiful, with locations rendered in sharp colours and detail. Those that say the PS2 can't perform good texturing need to look at this game - it looks great.
Control is good for a console-based FPS - there are different configurations that you can choose from, and most of them are serviceable. Auto-aim helps cover the lack of pinpoint control inherent in console shooters, although it can sometimes lock on to enemies that you don't want to target immediately. There are certain moves that you can perform in different parts of each level, called "Bond moves". These slick acts of derring-do demonstrate how Bond would work in the movies, and if you perform enough of them in a level, you earn points which go towards medals. Earn enough of the higher-class medals and various secrets are unlocked, like new multiplayer maps and weapons. The enemy artificial intelligence certainly doesn't compare to other titles on the market like Halflife - they don't notice you until you're right in their sights, and on only a few occasions did noise-making attract the attention of a guard. If I shoot an enemy and one his colleagues is standing on a platform right above him in plain sight, you'd think they would notice. Well, not in AUF. The missions fall into the usual FPS style - kill this guy, steal these papers, get away without dying. One extremely annoying aspect of the FPS portion is that, for some reason, EA felt it necessary to hold your hand through the entire game. Need to know where an objective is? The camera will swing up in a cut-scene to show you exactly how to get there. You've just finished the first part of your mission? Count on M to stick her nose in and tell you where to go next. I half expected her to cut the crusts off my sandwiches while she was at it - enough already! Give me the mission, and let me find the way to success on my own. It's much more gratifying that way, and as it stands, being led down the garden path isn't much fun at all.
There is another component to Agent Under Fire that sets it apart from previous FPS efforts: the driving portion, developed by the same team behind the seminal Need For Speed series. The driving levels are, in a nutshell, brilliant. One minute, you may be flying down the road with a beautiful woman behind the wheel, as James blasts away at pursuing enemies or clears the streets ahead. The next, you're careening through the city in a full-blown chase, hunting down an evil henchman. Dodging traffic while keeping an eye on your radar and enemies was an exhilirating experience, and certainly bodes well for the first NFS title to hit the PS2. These portions of AUF are so much fun, it's a shame when they're over. They break up the game nicely, and are a welcome addition to AUF.
The audio is crisp and clear, although the main theme is used far too often for anyone's liking. The voice acting for the different personalities is well done, and provide wonderful atmosphere. As for the multiplayer? Well, it's no Goldeneye, but it is still pretty good. Variations on the deathmatch theme are the name of the game here, and up to 4 players can shoot it out. There is no bot support, unfortunately, and that drives the score down a bit. In fact, the entire game won't take you long to finish, leaving the driving portions and deathmatch the only factors inviting you back for more - collecting all the medals turns into a chore, at best.
It's a shame that in comparison to other recently released PS2 shooters like Half-life, AUF comes up holding the short end of the stick - the driving portion is the only real standout part of this game. James Bond - Agent Under Fire is a title that, for all its good looks, is unbalanced and painfully average.
