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Is there such a thing as a franchise that's too bankable? If there is, perhaps James Bond is it. It's an almost guaranteed seller, which is perhaps the reason that EA's last entry in the series, James Bond 007: NightFire, seemed to be cruising on autopilot. Sure, it was fun and breezy – I really liked it at the time – but it didn't really offer much in terms of depth or novel concepts. It almost felt like the development team had become a little too comfortable with its standard mix of FPS, track shooting, and driving.
Perhaps sensing that ennui was setting in, EA boldly chucked its 007 blueprint and opted to craft Everything or Nothing as a third-person action/adventure. Given that the last time Bond went third person, Tomorrow Never Dies, was an out-and-out disaster, this game represents a pretty big risk for the conservative gang at EA. Does it pay off? For the most part, the answer is yes.
One of the big things this title brings to the table is Bond's rappel gun, which is used frequently and adds a nice dimension of verticality to the levels. It's pretty cool to be storming down the side of a building, dodging explosions and capping enemies with glee. In another instance, you'll forgo the rappel altogether, and jump off the side of a cliff in order to save a plummeting damsel.
It's these sequences that really made Everything or Nothing for me. While the basic third-person shooting is well and good, EoN supplies the flashy, over-the-top stunts that one expects from the Bond films. I was satisfied with the old FPS-action, but this new format gives EoN a bombastic panache and a tremendous amount of variety. Whether you're running roughshod over a Central American city in a tank, using some of the cool gadgets like the spider bot, or trying to drive your motorcycle onto a moving plane before it takes off, EoN has a wicked sense of daring and a brass set of balls.
This is a Hollywood blockbuster in every sense of the word, and features some of the biggest star power ever seen in a game. Including Monty Python alum John Cleese as Q, Maxim favorite Shannon Elizabeth, professional creep Willem Dafoe, and Pierce Brosnan, this is a truly A-list cast. It's even more significant for the fact that this is an adventure unique to video games, not based on any movie project. If you still doubt that gaming is growing larger than the movie industry, here's further proof.
Despite its daring, varied design and big-time production values, it's not perfect. There are frequent problems with camera view, and the auto-targeting vacillates between adequate and maddening. However, good games can make you overlook their flaws, and on this count Everything or Nothing is a success. Is it the next great evolution of gaming? Perhaps not, but it is a step towards creating the ultimate James Bond title.
The Edge
Although Electronic Arts does a good job of making sure its multi-system games are pretty comporably across all three platforms, there are always advantages to certain consoles. Unsurprisingly, the Xbox EoN looks the best, althought it's not pushing the limits of the hardware. On PS2, there isn't as much graphical degradation as you might expect, and the four shoulders are handy in many situations. So, let's call these two a draw, which brings us to the GameCube. Nitendo definitely comes in third here, mostly due to the lack of buttons. On Xbox and PS2, you have separate buttons for hugging the wall and crouch. On the 'Cube, both moves are done with the Z-button, which sometimes means you crouch when you want to hug.
Concept:
Out with FPS, in with over-the-top third-person adventuring
Graphics:
Not an award-winner, but as solid as you expect from an EA product
Sound:
Mya's Bond theme is even worse than Madonna's; but it does feature a great score and tons of celeb voiceovers
Playability:
The usual complaints (camera, auto-aim) don't detract too much from the experience
Entertainment:
It's good to see EA taking chances with this property again
Replay:
Moderate
Rated: 8.5 out of 10
Editor: Matt Helgeson
Issue: March 2004
2nd Opinion:
Bond's new video game adventure was a lot more enjoyable for me than his last few cinematic outings. Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist? Who thought that was a good idea? While Shannon Elizabeth may not be an acting juggernaut, Everything or Nothing still feels like it could have worked on the big screen. The frequent switches in action keep it moving along at a nice pace and make it hard to put down. I especially like some of the more creative action stages, such as the free fall down the side of the cliff. The third-person shooting levels which make up the meat of the game are fun and work pretty well on Xbox and PS2, although the GameCube controls came up a bit short. While I preferred playing this title on the Xbox, it's a solid release on all three systems, and it's a great chance to see Bond in an adventure that's (a little) less ridiculous than most of his recent missions.
Rated: 8.75 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing adaptation of the Bond movie series,
This review is from: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Video Game)
In a sure sign that video games are as powerful as movies, the latest James Bond game has all the actors, all the action, all the effects - and isn't based on a movie!Perfect for fans of New Orleans, a lot of the story takes place in that historic city of Louisiana. James Bond has the fast cars, the sexy, intelligent women, and the self assured skills that get him out of any jam. All the actors and actresses are here, and it makes a HUGE difference to hear John Cleese, Judi Densch, Pierce Brosnan and all the other voices speaking to you while you play. The likenesses are all very accurate too, so it really is like playing a movie. Where some previous Bond games were more like Rambo, this one is pure Bond. You get special bonus points for doing a special Bond Move where you defeat your enemies with a brilliant strategy instead of just blasting them. It's more Splinter Cell rather than Unreal II. The graphics are great, with little spider robots, slick cars, well done smoke and fire and other atmospheric effects. You really do feel like you're in a movie and not looking at a texture-mapped building. Gameplay is great, too. The enemies show some amazing AI in sequences. It might get a little used to the gameplay style, but stick with it. After a few hours of the learning curve (which a well done training level works you through) you will be totally immersed in this world. Replayability is just amazing, too. You go through once to get the basic idea of the level. But then you keep going through aiming for those Bond moments, and trying to ratchet your score up by doing it quickly and accurately. If you're able to get on Platinum Level in all missions, you unlock new bonusses. Everyone I know who has seen and played this game loves it, and we ourselves are quite addicted to it right now. There are stealth missions, driving missions, shooting missions, even ride-and-shoot missions. The cut scenes are great, too! I definitely rate this one a must-buy for any fan of the Bond series, and for any action gamer in general. Enjoy!!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bond, James Bond,
By Larry (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Video Game)
I've read the reviews, both good and bad, and I have to say that I really enjoy the game. The controls are pretty simple (except for driving, which I think may be a bit oversensitive) and I picked them up rather quickly. The graphics are spectacular, like watching a movie, and the voices really give it a cinematic feel. No, it's not the hardest game to master, but it's a fun game to play. Despite what others have said I found plenty of things to shoot at; yes, there's stealth required at times, but that's to be expected from a Bond game. If you are looking for a challenging game with a lot of puzzles and riddles, go buy Tomb Raider or something. If you want a fun-filled afternoon, but Everything or Nothing. I also recommend Kill.Switch but that's just for the total mayhem and violence that you can create. I'm versatile that way.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, you get to fight like Bond,
By
This review is from: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Video Game)
As a rule, I haven't been overly impressed with James Bond games in the past. The exception to this rule, of course, was the superb and seminal 'Goldeneye' for the Nintendo 64.Most of the problem is that the Bond games until now have failed to convey the fun and fury of the movies. This is ironic, considering how much like a video game the games increasingly feel. I think Electronic Arts may have crossed an invisible line in the sand with 'Everything or Nothing'. It may be that we don't need the movies anymore. After all, wouldn't you rather play James Bond than watch some actor playing James Bond? Maybe not. Regardless, 'Everything or Nothing' hits several important benchmarks for being a Bond game and nearly seemlessly blends storytelling with the action set pieces. Like a Bond movie, the game starts with a stellar action scene. The third person perspective adds volumes to the "Bond feel" of the game. The graphics are so good, you could almost believe you were directing a movie. Gameplay is intercut with effective in-game movies which actually help add to the atmosphere and help move the story along. It's obvious EA hired decent writers as well as the legitimate actors for this game. Pierce Brosnan was the physical model for the last Bond game, 'Nightfire', but he didn't voice his character. Instead, they chose a far posher English guy with a "plum in his mouth". I could have done a better Bond impression (but then again, I am English). Brosnan, Judi Dench and Richard Kiel as well as John Cleese all make extensive appearances in the game having been scanned by computer and do their own voices. The effect is a blurring of the movies and the game and it works to great effect. The game mechanics themselves are much improved over 'Agent Under Fire' and 'Nightfire'. As stated, the portions of the game playing Bond first-hand have dispensed with a first-person view and introduced a third person perspective. The game borrows much from 'Splinter Cell' but it all works out very well. Fighting hand to hand is fun. Nothing like punching out a bad guy, smacking him into a wall, then throwing him over your shoulder. Sadly, the car and helicopter missions aren't as enjoyable as the first person shooter portions. The game engine feels overly sensitive. I enjoyed the first car mission as you chase a train through an Eygptian environment but I felt like success was less about skill than keeping my fingers firmly on the gas and the missle launcher. By comparison, a lot of the first person chapters emphasize stealth, strategy and accurate shooting. Yum. The variety of weaponary available and the sound of the various guns is superb. The joy of rappelling down the side of a building cannot be underestimated. I only hope the next Spider-Man game will be as exhilarating. Multiplayer: 'Everything or Nothing' comes with online accessibility but I can't comment on that aspect as I don't play my PS2 online although I may try it with this game. I enjoyed the cooperative play immensely. The screen splits horizontally and works very well. Perhaps out of necessity, the missions in the Co-op differ from the single player game. I initially hoped that you'd be able to play the entire game as a single and Co-op but no. Haven't been able to finish the second level of the Co-op yet, but it's still fun. Sadly, the 1-4 multiplayer isn't as good as the one that came with 'Nightfire'. My daughter and I enjoyed teaming up on Nightfire to kill the four Bots sent against us. This option isn't available in 'Everything or Nothing'. In fact, the multiplayer "Arena" isn't even open by default. You have to get to a certain point on the Co-op before you can play. Hopefully a cheat will be available soon. Overall - excellent job EA. This is the first true Bond game. 2115|R10CRPLE4ITANW;2115|R1AEC6LT62AR9I;2115|R35UQFDFD4H6O3;
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