GoldenEye 007: ReloadedJames Bond might be in a holding pattern on the big screen, but 007's getting quite a workout in the gaming world.
With its remake of the seminal shooter GoldenEye 007 proving a hit on the Wii last winter, Activision is sprucing up the game for high definition consoles, with plans to release it later this year.
If you're keeping score at home, this marks the third time the game is being released. For a title that doesn't have the widespread nostalgia value of a 1980s arcade hit, that's a pretty astonishing number.
GoldenEye, though, is more than your average shooter. The 1997 original was as influential for console gamers as Quake or Doom was for the PC crowd. Originally developed by Rare at the height of their creative power, it added multiplayer elements, stealth modes and set the tone for dozens -- if not hundreds -- of games to come.
In 2010, Activision announced a "reimagining" of the game, swapping out Pierce Brosnan's Bond for Daniel Craig's and incorporating modern elements, such as an online multiplayer mode and new level layouts. Players were initially skeptical, but the game -- a Wii exclusive at the time -- released to wide praise.
That was all Activision needed to bring it to the Xbox 360 and PS3. The new game, called Goldeneye 007: Reloaded, will incorporate all of the changes made to last year's version and add new 'MI6 Ops Missions,' which let players explore a series of objective-based levels. Also on the way back is the split-screen multiplayer from the original -- with four-player local play -- and brand new 16-player online play.
And because this is the era of motion gaming, Reloaded will also incorporate PlayStation Move functionality specifically designed for the Sharp Shooter peripheral.
The game is said to use a new graphics engine as well, which will make it a lot more visually appealing than last year's release. Attendees of this year's Comic-Con will get the first look.
Despite the success of last year's GoldenEye 007, this latest version for the 360 and PS3 is anything but a sure success. Gamers weaned on the original game are the same ones who devour titles like Call of Duty and Halo today. To recapture them, it's going to take more than a trip down memory lane.
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