Customer Reviews

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

...and for The Bourne Conspiracy, according to the developers, that objective was that the players would "be Jason Bourne." They've succeeded, and along the way have created one of the most engaging action games in a long time.

Pros:

Excellent Combat Mechanism
Realistic Shooting Mechanic
Captures Jason Bourne Flawlessly
Powerful graphics

Cons:
Grainy cinematics
Too many big guns for Bourne

I'll be taking a closer look at all of these in a moment, but for now, lets begin by examining the three basic areas of gameplay: Close Combat, Shooting, and Driving.

Close Combat in The Bourne Conspiracy lives up to the fight scenes in the films. By using the X and Y buttons, Bourne can execute light and heavy attacks on opponents. Holding down the buttons prepares a light or heavy kick, which is impossible to block, but takes about 2 seconds to prep. One of the unique aspects here is adrenaline. As you successfully land punches and kicks, you build up adrenaline, which can then be used to execute devastating takedown attacks, which allow you to use the environment (such as pens, books, windows, other enemies) to bash your foe to the ground. The combat flows well, and the only real issue here is that while you fight one enemy, his buddies all just circle the fight (occasionally they will try to hit you, but you can simply press a button to knock them out of the way and cancel the blow.) Overall, it works surprisingly well.

Shooting in Bourne takes place in a third-person perspective without falling into the trap of impossible aiming mechanics. Fighting here is cover-based, but unlike a lot of other cover-based shooting games, Bourne allows you to draw enemies out of cover by firing at their cover (distracting them or making them feel they are no longer safe). Here as well you have the ability to use adrenaline to fuel shooting takedowns, which, while not as impressive as the close quarters ones (Bourne usually just aims with a cool look on his face and shoots) they still provide a good deal of satisfaction. My biggest beef with the shooting is also pretty minor. Bourne's got too many guns! You spend a good deal of time using shotguns, SMGs, and even an AK-47. Those things bring to mind Rambo, not Bourne, who specializes in stealth and professionalism.

Driving is only featured in one level, but since it's a pretty iconic scene (the Paris Car Chase) it deserves a mention here. The driving system is similar to the one used in a lot of driving games, such as Grand Theft Auto or Crackdown. The only real difference here is that you can, as Bourne, use adrenaline to enhance your abilities by slowing down time to allow more precise driving. As a bonus, one of the Achievements available to unlock while driving is a reward for smashing up Paris as much as possible, always a nice touch.

Before I wrap up, there are a few more things to touch on. The so-called "quick action events" (an event requiring you to swiftly press a certain button during a cutscene to influence events) are a welcome break from the constant fighting and add variety to the game. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, the cinematics can at times be a bit grainy. I think the issue here is that the brightness during cinematics is turned up too high (and unfortunately changing the game brightness doesn't help)

Overall, the Bourne Conspiracy captures the heart of the Bourne films without trying too hard to be a "movie game". Aside from a few minor issues, this game is a solid title and hopefully the first in a franchise of games based on Jason Bourne.

The game covers the first of a three part story about an assassin who is found floating at Sea in Europe and has to unravel his past and the "Conspiracy" around it. This installment is based on the Bourne Identity book with action elements from the movie.

Cons:
1. The game gives flashback into the character's past. Though nice in theory it completely gets rid of any idea of trying to follow the prime point of the plot, Finding Bourne's Past! Because of this if you hadn't seen the movies or read the books then you'd have no real care about the plot.
2. Too damn short. It's a Next-Gen game. Why the does it only cover the first book? and when I say short I mean: All the levels, Extra, and Bonus stuff in less than 10hrs and that's replaying a few missions for find items.
3. I would have liked a little more to the HtH fights. You get 4 actions: Light, Heavy, block & adrenaline. The later needs to build up in combat before it can be used. While it keeps the hand-hand simple it leaves you wondering, "Why isn't an assassin better then this?"
4. For the 360 why do I need Achievements for having less then 10% accuracy? Achievements are supposed to be good, not bad.

Pros:
1. The game keeps you on your toes. Even the when a cut scene happens you better hold onto the controller.
2. Character doesn't look like Matt Damon. That's not a jab. I liked this becuase it gets rid of the idea this is based solely around the movies.
3. The Sound track will get stuck in your head.
4. The extras, when unlocked, are very good for the first game.
5. Even with the combat being as simple as it was I still had several times of holding my breath in a boss fight.
6. After the first few levels head shots will become second nature, and it will need to be.
7. Building up the adrenaline meter to drop 3 targets at once.

I hope the second and third improve on these. If your a fan of the series buy it. Otherwise I'd say it's a rental or borrower.

They did a good job of producing a game that's fast-paced and action packed. Shooting mechanics aren't good, but it's not meant to be a shooter. The hand to hand combat sequences look good and incorporate your surroundings. But the only thing i didn't like is that the fighting consists of blocking and then attacking. You could block all day long if you wanted to without injury. Then there are the mandatory buttons you have to hit at the right moment to initiate a choreographed sequence. You either like it or you don't. I didn't, but it definitely keeps you on your toes at all times throughout the game. Graphics are good, but not great. It is a fun game and would recommend at least a rental; don't know about replayability. I guess if you wanted to beat the snot out of someone, you can replay the boss battles over and over.

The game isn't very long or difficult, but is a blast to play. The fighting is intense and just like the movies. The Paris car chase level is awesome and was giving my wife a panic attack she found it so intense. Only com complaints are that the bad guys are take bullets like sponges and the game play is very repetitive. But if you like the Bourne movies, you'll love the game. I highly recommend it to any Bourne fan.

The Bourne Conspiracy is the console adaptation of the 1980 book and 2002 film "The Bourne Identity". The game takes you into the mind of Jason Bourne, an assassin gone rogue who must fight to uncover a mystery about his past, through escaping buildings filled with policemen, reliving past missions and fighting hand-to-hand with trained mercenaries.

As an adaptation of the book/film, for it is inspired by both at points, the game is very faithful. Although the character looks very little like Matt Damon, he is very believable as a trained assassin and the cut scenes are cinematic and interesting. The major problem with the game's story is that it essentially reveals the mystery behind the series in the very beginning, whereas the book and the film were careful to let it play out in front of you. Granted, the story isn't what most gamers will be paying attention to here.

The most prominent aspect of The Bourne Conspiracy is combat: hand-to-hand, gun fighting and car chases. The hand-to-hand combat is a mixed bag. It looks fantastic visually and often you really feel like a karate master, but sometimes it reaches a point where you're just button smashing and hoping to get a good hit onto your opponent. Gun fighting is nothing special, but is easy to control and you will have the opportunity to use Bourne's "adrenaline burst" to make impossible shots and add some cool cut scenes into the middle of a fight. Car chases are rare and not very exciting.

All in all, The Bourne Conspiracy can be a fun game if you're really into assassin/secret agent type stories. You will feel professional at times and unexciting at others. If you can find it cheap, I'd recommend picking it up or at least renting it, for it is a pretty short game.

The look of this game is amazing. You feel totally awesome beating everyone down with all the different take-downs. It's a little unrealistic in that you kill EVERYBODY, but then again, you are Jason Bourne.
I loved it. The overall feel is the best part about it.
Plus if you die it doesn't send you too far back so that you have to do a million different things all over again.

First review so please don't be too harsh.
When I first bought this game wasn't sure what to expect as to graphics and storyline but wasn't dissapointed it combines shooting which usually works satisfactorily ,the driving section which the other drivers seem to be part time police officers as they will intentially try to cut you off during a chase,and the fighting where this game excels ;True to the books and the movies Bourne is a human weapon able to use the environment and his own body to take down opponents often larger and equally skilled as he is at hand to hand with no problems except for some difficulty on the boss battles often times the health bar for the boss will not move whereas your own drops quicker than the temperature during a blizzard; storywise as some of the other reviewers have said it incorporates some settings of the first movie into the story namely the embassy escape,the farm ,and the safehouse but most of it is played in flashbacks as to the events leading up to the movie such as how he gets to Mombasi in the first place.the big element of this game is the use of andrenaline which is built up through combining moves ,driving and shooting once the meter is full it can be used for one button shooting attacks or fighting multiple assailants with a single button press if the level is high enough ;extras include option of replaying levels and the chance to relive some of the first movies memorable fight scenes as Jason Bourne.

I wound up buying Bourne the other night.

Pretty good movie game so far, it follows the movie a bit which is good....but I am glad this wasn't a fall release.

The controls could be much tighter on this game and actually could have used some of the tricks done for Stranglehold.

The aiming is not all that great and the combos are so so. It could have used a leveling system or some kind of earning system but some of it gets repetitive after a while...this is definently a summer (something to do until Madden et al. comes) kind of game.

This a good change of pace from most action or stealth games.
If you have seen the movies then this is just like playing the movie. The fighting is very innovative and the take down moves are awesome. The fights look just as hardcore as they do in the movies.
The button press inserts never get repetitive and if you have to play a certain part over you feel good when you nail it just right.
If you loved the movies and the books then pick up the game. It's a nice change of pace to the regular action games on the market. challenging and fun are balanced equally.

I hate to give this game a bad review, but it would be dishonest if I didn't. I loved the Bourne movies, but I do not like this game.

My main problem with the game is the hand-to-hand combat gameplay. The fights are way too difficult in my opinion. It seems like all you can do is throw the same punches over and over until you get enough adrenaline for a takedown. I was expecting Bourne to have a wider range of fighting moves. Even a simple kick move would be nice to be able to control. I'm not going to claim to be a good video gamer, but I thought I would be able to defeat these guys on easy mode. I was wrong. I can't even defeat people on easy mode. The gameplay forces you to use the block button. I hate using block buttons. I have given up playing this game and I'm pretty sure I didn't get very far. The Sierra company and High Moon Studios really did themselves a disservice with this game.

The gameplay while wielding weapons is not too easy. I would prefer something similar to Call of Duty when wielding guns. I guess that is too much to ask for.

I would advise everyone not to buy this game.