Sunday, 8 Sep 2024

007 Legends Review

007 Legends

James Bond’s history in video games has been a mixed bag, with varying levels of quality. While classics like GoldenEye and Everything or Nothing stand out, there have been some lackluster entries like Agent Under Fire and GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. Unfortunately, 007 Legends falls into the latter category, as it fails to inspire and is plagued with issues.

The concept behind 007 Legends is both novel and nonsensical. It begins with a scene from the film Skyfall, where Bond falls off a train. In the game, this incident causes Bond’s life to flash before his eyes in the form of five missions, each based on a different Bond classic. While it may seem like an interesting idea, it fails to deliver on its potential.

When playing 007 Legends, you’ll find yourself simply following on-screen indicators that tell you what to do at every turn – press this, shoot this, hack this. There are moments when you’ll investigate a baddie’s office or attempt stealth sections, but the majority of the gameplay is generic shooting.

Each showcased Bond villain in the game has the same lackluster boss battle, consisting of quick-time events where you punch and disarm them. These encounters lack any real challenge, as most bosses can’t even land a hit on you.

The game’s flaws go beyond its uninspiring gameplay. Enemy AI frequently glitches, with soldiers running into walls and shooting at the ground. Frame rate drops occur at random moments, even when there is no action happening. The visuals are subpar, with doorknobs drawn onto textures like it’s a Nintendo 64 game. I even encountered enemies materializing out of thin air in one room. These issues extend to the multiplayer mode as well, with lag, poor character animations, and an underwhelming upgrade system.

It’s clear that 007 Legends was rushed to coincide with the film’s release, sacrificing quality in the process. However, we’ve seen that with the right development team, a great IP can result in a fantastic game, as demonstrated by Rocksteady’s work on the Batman Arkham series. The world of James Bond holds enormous potential for an incredible gaming experience, but Activision missed the mark with 007 Legends.

FAQs

Q: Is 007 Legends worth playing despite its issues?

A: Unfortunately, 007 Legends falls short in many aspects, making it difficult to recommend to players looking for a high-quality James Bond gaming experience.

Q: Are there any standout moments in the game?

A: While the concept of reliving iconic Bond moments is intriguing, the execution in 007 Legends leaves much to be desired. There are no standout moments that truly capture the essence of the film franchise.

Q: Is there any redeeming factor to the multiplayer mode?

A: The multiplayer mode in 007 Legends suffers from various issues, including lag and subpar animations. It fails to live up to the standard set by other popular multiplayer shooters.

Conclusion

007 Legends, despite its potential, falls short of delivering an engaging and polished James Bond gaming experience. Its uninspired gameplay, technical glitches, and rushed development point to a missed opportunity. While the world of James Bond has the potential for an incredible game, 007 Legends fails to live up to expectations.