Gaming Target - GameCube: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

Written by D'Marcus Beatty on September 15, 2003

First Impressions: GameCubeЕNintendo GameCube's favorite secret agent is back.

BondЕJames Bond. These words have been known to evoke dangerous envy in men and insane lust in women. These two words encompass the essence of the super-secret agent, the man who is simultaneously smooth, confident, sexy, and dangerous. In short, all women want him, and all men want to be him.

Well, come October, men and women alike with have the chance to be the world's favorite secret agent in James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. As a special treat for this generation of Bond fans, EA has secured the right to utilize Pierce Brosnan's likeness for Everything or Nothing, so players actually feel like they're controlling Bond. The game also offers a movie-like appeal, with all of the appearing actors of the Bond universe offering both their likenesses and voices to make the game more cinematic for die-hard Bond lovers. Players will see John Clese as Q, Richard Kiel as Jaws, and Dame Judi Dench as M, along with some new characters voiced by William Dafoe, Shannon Elizabeth and Heidi Klum. The game is set in third-person view, allowing gamers a constant view of Brosnan's on-screen appearance.

Everything or Nothing has everything that a Bond film would. Be prepared for vehicle chases, hand to hand fighting, even a scene where Bond rappels down the side of a burning building while shooting at other enemies and avoiding their return fire. Bond is allowed a high level of interaction with his surroundings, giving him the opportunity to attack using boards, bottles, and even the wall to incapacitate enemies. He can also take cover behind fallen tables or dive over bodies, making the player feel more involved with the game environment. EA is also introducing the Max-Payne УBullet TimeФ effect, coined here as the УBond Zone.Ф Much like Max Payne and the Matrix, Bond can slow down time to attack foes or dodge bullets.

How much fun can a spy-game be without sneaking, right? Everything or Nothing offers a fair amount of stealth missions as well. Bond can sneak up on enemies, dispatch them, then steal and use their weapons. Players are rewarded with style points which rate how effectively that the gamer assumes an enemy's identity to gain entry to restricted areas.

Of course, the much-lauded Bond multiplayer mode will return, although there will be a new challenge for two-player mode. The arena mode is almost unchanged, with a four-player free-for-all, and one fundamental difference: There is no split screen. The action all takes place on one screen that all combatants share. The two player mode, similarly, is also a departure from the FPS battle that lovers of GoldenEye remember. Two player mode is cooperative. One example is in one player rappelling down a building while the other player aids his descent with covering fire. Should Player One prove ineffectual, Player Two will be overcome and killed by nearby enemies. This is an interesting and possibly deep supplement to the Bond gaming formula, and should be a welcome addition.

The graphic are shaping up nicely and will be a treat for the player. Brosnan and his on-screen associates all look like their true counterparts and are easily and immediately recognizable. Animation is fluid, with great particle and lighting effects, especially on the rappelling level spoken of earlier. The fire bursting out of the windows have just the right lighting to make players flinch in fear of getting burned.