GoldenEye: Rogue Agent [PS2]

In the '90s, Doom may have defined the first-person way of killing, but GoldenEye brought it to the masses. Now, after lying dormant for years, the series has been revived by EA. Although some major changes have been made -- most notably to the primary cast -- things are much the same. In other words, Rogue Agent is a solid first-person shooter in which the solo game is satisfying but the multiplayer is everything.

The original GoldenEye retained some non-lethal goals and actions, simply because Bond doesn't kill... at least not indiscriminately. But now that we've stepped out of the dapper agent's footsteps, things are a little different. After a run-in with Dr. No leaves players with an artificial right eye and flashy code name, the chase is on as GoldenEye works with Goldfinger and Scaramanga to wrestle control of the new O.M.E.N. device and put down Dr. No.

This is not a complex game, even within the context of first-person shooters. It is, however, a fast, fun bit of entertainment. The solo game attempts to replicate the multiplayer experience by using a strong AI, and though not entirely successful, the CPU enemies are fun to play against. At a distance, enemies react in fairly predictable, though seemingly unscripted ways. Up close, their behavior is smarter and less predictable, as they aggressively use cover and flanking techniques.

Enemies can do everything the player can, so you'll see them grabbing a second weapon for dual-wield action, and using fellow soldiers as human shields. Those touches add a lot of life to what otherwise would have been a fairly basic shooter. At the same time, it requires overwhelming numbers to overwhelm most players, as even the adaptive AI still doesn't match human whim.

The story is fitting enough for the Bond family, but that eye is really the key to the game. Over time, it provides four unique powers. The magnetic shield and telekinesis are useful in obvious ways, while the MRI vision is a stellar feature and the ability to hack electronics proves quite satisfying when disabling the weapons of a room full of guards. Each power is quite distinct from the other and MRI vision provides some truly great game moments. The eye can be frustrating to use when the power supply runs down... but that's why people have trigger fingers.

Weapons are always a great draw in a Bond (or anti-Bond) title, and Rogue Agent does the series proud. There are simple sub-machine guns, pistols and fully automatic assault rifles, but expect to see a few unique items as well. The detonator looks like a pistol, but fires explosive casings that adhere to any surface, waiting for a second trigger press to explode. The rail gun can shoot through nearly any obstacle, making it a perfect complement to the MRI vision. And much as in Halo 2, GoldenEye can wield two weapons at once, provided neither requires two-handed operation. (In another touch borrowed from Bungie, health will regenerate, given a moment to rest.)

In addition to all the handheld weapons, almost every level is peppered with one or more death traps. This is evil machinery in the classic Bond vein. Players will find such mortal dangers as vats of melted gold, trapdoors in the Golden Gate Bridge, and even simple remote-operated gun emplacements. Traps are typically activated by nearby switches, and can provide serious "rogue" bonuses when used properly. There's a certain gratification when a few icons flash after you blow up three enemies with a rocket launcher, as if the game is validating your tactics.

But all these elements come together in the multiplayer game, which manages to capture what made the original so much fun. Whether in deathmatch, domination, or the new Tug of War games, the action is fast and the weapon balance holds up. The latter is a nice variant on capture the flag that pits two teams against one another as they vie for control of a bomb. Each is trying to advance the bomb to launch, while preventing the others from doing so.

Regardless of objectives, the deathtraps are far more satisfying when deployed against human opponents. And while the maps are small by Halo standards, they're smartly designed to keep players moving constantly. The one-on-one maps hold up well, too. Based on famous Bond showdowns, these are even smaller maps, but the duel is a very welcome alternative to large-scale deathmatches.

Much of the best content must be unlocked by scoring in the solo game, but since that's a fairly short campaign, most players will quickly have a full feature set to play with. For those who've honed their skills in games like Halo, the lack of vehicle support here could make the multiplayer offering seem thin. It's true that there's not much depth to GoldenEye -- instead, the game offers a fast, easily approachable game that doesn't require the time investment of other online shooters.

Things stay smooth thanks to a graphics engine that trades glossy effects for dependability. The game looks nearly identical across platforms, and though there's some complex level geometry and attention-getting lighting, Rogue Agent wears a cartoonish aesthetic. This is generally bloodless violence, where bodies do fly about, but always with parts and fluids intact. Some of the look is certainly a nod to the original N64 game. Most of the realism actually comes from a hard-hitting suite of sound effects, some thumpingly effective music (by Paul Oakenfold), and appropriately exaggerated voice acting.

The Bond franchise has always been associated with ambition, and this is no exception. While the final cocktail that is Rogue Agent breaks very little new ground, the eye powers and deathtraps are extremely welcome additions to the shooter arsenal. We'd appreciate a more robust solo game, but there's enough content there to prime players for multiplayer, which is where the action really is. In that respect, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is a fitting successor to one of the enduring classics of the genre.