Of course, to many gamers Goldeneye triggers memories, vivid recollections of Goldeneye 64 and of summer holidays spent playing with friends and sniping security cameras. And not atypically, EA shrewdly banked on these memories and released Goldeneye: Rogue Agent for the Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube last year. Despite poor reviews for the console incarnations - the Goldeneye name was an anchor rather than an aid when it came to the critics - EA remained unphased, and have now converted Goldeneye: Rogue Agent for the Nintendo DS.
In the game, players assume the role of an aspiring 00 agent who has been dismissed from MI6 for reckless brutality. The player is recruited by Auric Goldfinger in a ruthless war against Dr. No. The singleplayer campaign is a little shorter than we had hoped, and takes place over six missions. And whilst the missions are lengthy enough, the number could easily have been doubled. To their credit though, EA have included multiplayer support with only one cartridge, so even if the game isn't that compelling - and being brutally honest, the singleplayer mode on the consoles hardly bowled us off our feet - the multiplayer aspect could yet prove an interesting aside.
You're Fired.
The bottom screen is used for the heads-up-display (HUD), and is garnished with the usual features and trinkets, namely health and ammunition levels. Neatly, the touchscreen also serves in taking part in electronic device hacking and unlocking security locks, and whilst we would have appreciated a little better use of the bottom screen, we appreciate EA were obviously under a tight schedule. Or were trying to make as much money as possible before Metroid Prime: Hunters appeared on the scene. You decide.
The DS version of the game also includes a Virtual Training mode. This allows players to learn the full controls of the game, rather than be thrown straight into the mix. However, as far as new features go, it's difficult to shake the feeling that EA may have rushed the title to completion a little quicker than it should have been. Worryingly, it just doesn't appear as if EA's game will offer DS owners a drastically different experience from what can be found on the consoles, and while it's great that they didn't have to scale back too much, the original game wasn't exactly an enjoyable package. Indeed, we would have definitely preferred a selection of extra levels.
Dual Wielding appears to be the flavour of this game.
Still, there's the odd decent tweak; the game includes the ability to customise and upgrade your villain persona, and allows the player to move up the ranks through levels. And as it's set to be the only first person shooter on the DS until Metroid Prime: Hunters, it may just have to suffice until Samus arrives to rescue the situation.
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