Once you take the rose-tinted nostalgia glasses off, GoldenEye 007’s age becomes incredibly obvious. The visuals are dated, the controls are rough, and the frame rate occasionally suffers. When everything comes together, though, it’s still an unforgettable experience.
Enter the long-awaited remaster of GoldenEye 007. No, not the complete ground-up remake and remaster that’s often been rumored. We’re talking about the 4K upscale that’s now on Xbox Game Pass and a part of Rare Replay. It may lack the online multiplayer of the Nintendo Switch version (more on that later), but honestly, that’s not a deal breaker.
This is how GoldenEye was always meant to be played. Despite all the odds, it proves that the game still has a seat at the table today with other to-tier console FPS titles.
GoldenEye 007 Has Never Played Better
I should preface this by saying I’m talking about specifically the Xbox version. While the Nintendo Switch version runs surprisingly well, it suffers from some frustrating controls. These are done in an attempt to emulate the style of the Nintendo 64. Of course, you can get used to them. When the Xbox version looks and feels so good, why risk it?
Playing GoldenEye 007 on Xbox is a dream come true. This is the definitive way of playing the game between the polished controls and upscaled visuals. Have parts still aged poorly? Yes, but you’re going to be surprised by how much of the game has aged remarkably well.
Enemies are shockingly clever; they’ll use cover, roll, dodge your attacks, and attempt to flank you throughout the campaign. Is it perfect? No; most AI operates on what feels like an on-rails system. However, once you become used to their movements, they’re easy to predict and counter. As a result, the campaign plays better than most modern shooters released today. Whether you decide to stealthily complete your missions or bust the doors down and go guns blazing, you’ll be overwhelmed with a wonderful sense of nostalgia.
Rare crafts a perfect balance between original content and movie-inspired level design. While the game’s story takes some liberties with the source material, every change works extraordinarily well. There’s a shocking amount of narrative featured for a game initially released in 1997. Storytelling has evolved in modern gaming. Most narrative-driven experiences can deliver an experience that rivals the best films. While it pales compared to what’s on the market today, you still have to tip your cap on everything GoldenEye accomplished over twenty years ago.
A License to Kill
Many are nervous that GoldenEye 007’s issues will become too prevalent once the nostalgia is gone. Thankfully, that couldn’t be further from the truth. This game is arguably better today than it was in the past. Is everything perfect? Not quite, as level design is hit or miss; traversing through similar locations can feel repetitive and frustrating, even if it’s an entirely different experience. The second half of the campaign suffers from some erratic pacing.
The game’s first half, however, is an absolute delight. Upscaled visuals, iconic music, and fantastic gameplay on the Xbox makes me wonder what took so long for this game to be re-released. Furthermore, it makes me wonder how the heck that “remake” from 2010 got everything so wrong. Of course, there are licensing issues at play here. Additionally, the shooter genre trended in a new direction. Many recent FPS titles resemble Call of Duty or squad-based looter shooters. Still, DOOM 2016 and Wolfenstein: The New Order prove that old-school arcade-style shooters still have a place in the FPS environment.
Some modern conveniences, such as a checkpoint system, would have been nice. For the most part, though, levels are short enough to where you can overlook this. Most of the time, anyway. Look, Natayla is a surprisingly effective video game companion, but she still has a nasty tendency to walk directly in the line of fire.
That’s precisely what GoldenEye 007 is: an old-school arcade-style shooter. Yet, even with its outdated enemy behavior and level design, I’ve already found myself returning to it. After playing through the campaign on Xbox, I jumped into the Nintendo Switch version, where the game’s age became far more apparent.
The Nintendo Switch Version of GoldenEye Is a Little Too Faithful to the Source Material
I totally understand the logic of making you feel like you’re playing on the Nintendo 64. But, sometimes, it’s best to leave antiquated hardware and graphics in the past. For example, GoldenEye 007 works so well on Xbox for two reasons: a modern control system that’s smoother than butter and updated visuals that actually let you see enemies in the distance.
I played this game a lot when I was a kid, and I do mean a lot. The number of times I would replay the Dam, Silo, and Runaway levels, to name a few, is too numerous to count. It was the first thing I did when I purchased a Nintendo 64 a few years back as an adult: boot up GoldenEye and play through the campaign. There was just one problem: I couldn’t see who was shooting at me. It’s one thing when every game is like that back in the late 90s. Today, though? So many old-school games benefit from upscaling and improved visuals. So why can’t the Nintendo Switch get the same love?
Sadly, we all know the answer: Nintendo Switch Online is just running an emulator for the Nintendo 64 game. It’s disappointing, but it doesn’t make the game unplayable. The control setup, however, nearly does. There are moments where levels require precise aiming to progress forward. In addition, the awkward control setup makes it incredibly difficult to play the game efficiently.
Then, of course, there’s online multiplayer, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. Is it disappointing that you can only play with friends without online lobbies? Yes, but this one is on Nintendo, not GoldenEye. I’m not sure what the finer details are as to why Nintendo’s the home of exclusive online multiplayer, but it’s frustrating. The game performs surprisingly well, albeit not perfectly, in terms of frame rate in multiplayer. The impressive weapon arsenal is still enjoyable today as it was over twenty years ago. There’s a definite goldmine here regarding replayability and entertainment, yet it feels trapped by the restraints of Nintendo’s online infrastructure.
Wrapping Up
GoldenEye 007 is honestly two different games between the Xbox and Nintendo Switch releases. The former is a beautifully made upscale that brings an all-time classic to the modern era of gaming. While additional features would have been welcome, such as voice acting and online multiplayer, it’s still a game I’ve played non-stop since release. It’s a game I continue to look forward to playing after finishing this review. I wish I were playing it right now.
The Nintendo Switch version, on the other hand, feels awkward. In an attempt to emulate, both figuratively and literally, the original Nintendo 64 experience, GoldenEye on Switch feels like an uneven experience. Its highs show that maybe this game hasn’t aged as poorly as we thought. The lows, however, send the opposite message: this game has aged poorly and desperately needs the TLC that exists on Xbox. There are some workarounds with the controls, but they shouldn’t need to exist.
Here’s to hoping Nintendo puts out an update that allows us to use a modern control scheme. I’m somewhat optimistic we’ll see that. Unfortunately, I’m less confident about seeing the Xbox version get online multiplayer, which is a shame; that’s the best way to play this game. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, and renewed interest in the game will lead to an official remake with all the bells and whistles. For now, though, I’m honestly content to enjoy the Xbox version.
Editor’s Note: This review is primarily based on experience with the Xbox version of the game and is scored as such. We do not recommend the Nintendo Switch version and would rate it a 6 out of 10.
