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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (PS2)
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Publisher: EA.
Developer: EA Redwood Shores. Released: November 2005. Genre: Third-person shoot 'em up. Posted 12th September 2012. By Tom Clare © 2012 |
One of the more unusual cinematic
adaptations of recent times centred on the rebirthing of From Russia With Love, the 1963 Bond film based on Ian Fleming’s
novel of the same name. The game parks itself in a respectable middle ground as
far as 007 titles go; neither among the better nor the worst uses of the
licence, it rather sums up EA’s troubled run with the franchise. There’s craft
and competency in design but little sparkle, and despite the comprehensive dose
of weapons, gadgets and action that such a venture typically ensures, it’s all
a bit workman-like.
The film’s well-regarded amongst film critics and fans alike, though FRWL probably isn’t the first that would spring to mind if you were tasked with designing a video game around one of 007’s adventures. And this predictably has its issues, namely that a significant dose of artistic licence has been required to make it all work outside of the silver screen. Inevitably then, big moments are either cut completely, or left for the cut-scenes to tell. The pre-credits sequence makes for a sprightly introduction though, culminating in the player rescuing the Prime Minister’s daughter (oddly played by and modelled on singer Natasha Beddingfield) by jet-packing around Big Ben. It sets the scene for a fast-paced and enjoyable, if slightly lightweight, spy adventure.
A third-person shoot ‘em up, the first thing that distinguishes From Russia With Love is a Bond character modelled to resemble Sean Connery. Recognising the rarity of such an occurrence, EA pulled off another coup in getting the legendary actor to record all-new dialogue for the game. Admittedly, this proves a bit of a double-edged sword. Essentially you’ve got a thirty-something spy being voiced by a 75 year-old, and thus the delivery sounds rather laboured, and at times the effect is closer to Indiana Jones’s Dad than the international super-spy. Still, though it does feel out of place at times, Connery’s presence is still a boon.
The film’s well-regarded amongst film critics and fans alike, though FRWL probably isn’t the first that would spring to mind if you were tasked with designing a video game around one of 007’s adventures. And this predictably has its issues, namely that a significant dose of artistic licence has been required to make it all work outside of the silver screen. Inevitably then, big moments are either cut completely, or left for the cut-scenes to tell. The pre-credits sequence makes for a sprightly introduction though, culminating in the player rescuing the Prime Minister’s daughter (oddly played by and modelled on singer Natasha Beddingfield) by jet-packing around Big Ben. It sets the scene for a fast-paced and enjoyable, if slightly lightweight, spy adventure.
A third-person shoot ‘em up, the first thing that distinguishes From Russia With Love is a Bond character modelled to resemble Sean Connery. Recognising the rarity of such an occurrence, EA pulled off another coup in getting the legendary actor to record all-new dialogue for the game. Admittedly, this proves a bit of a double-edged sword. Essentially you’ve got a thirty-something spy being voiced by a 75 year-old, and thus the delivery sounds rather laboured, and at times the effect is closer to Indiana Jones’s Dad than the international super-spy. Still, though it does feel out of place at times, Connery’s presence is still a boon.
"Shandy with lime. Stirred, not shaken"
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Bond forgets that parking an Aston outside a hideout isn't at all stealthy
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And 007 looks excellent.
Stylish and detailed, the spy is very much reminiscent of the actor, not only
in terms of facial likeness but the smooth, slick manner in which he moves. And
but for a seemingly inescapable descent into samey, corridor-heavy
level-design, the decent environments would likely have reached a similar level
of excellence. Interiors are pleasantly fleshed-out, and include M’s office,
Q’s laboratory and various impressive outdoor locales linked to the film. From Russia With Love has few troubles
presentation-wise; the music in particular is fantastic, whilst the cut-scenes
and intro music video come with all the trimmings of a blockbuster venture.
For the most part, the story is fairly comprehensively covered, though in making it game-friendly, it can sometimes feel inconsistent. The Gypsy Camp shows positive endeavour, incorporating gaming elements around a memorable cinematic scene. Bond is lead through a fire-fight, rescues hostages and ends up covering an injured Kerim Bay with a sniper rifle. But just as this demonstrates good thinking, the Train level late on is indicative of the missed opportunities, as little is made of a potentially very exciting action setting. It offers some serviceable driving sections as you motor round in an Aston Martin; there’s a couple of cool gizmos, but the driving bits on the whole are run of the mill.
Elsewhere it’s guilty of not making imaginative use of the source material – as is the case with so many Bond tie-ins, most of the gadgets are either rarely required or boring to use, with Bond’s laser-watch being deployed for little more than busting electronic locks, and the sonic cufflinks end up feeling like novelty stun grenades. The Q-Copter is the one really cool toy at your disposal, as you can guide it through vents into otherwise inaccessible rooms, taking out guards and security systems.
For the most part, the story is fairly comprehensively covered, though in making it game-friendly, it can sometimes feel inconsistent. The Gypsy Camp shows positive endeavour, incorporating gaming elements around a memorable cinematic scene. Bond is lead through a fire-fight, rescues hostages and ends up covering an injured Kerim Bay with a sniper rifle. But just as this demonstrates good thinking, the Train level late on is indicative of the missed opportunities, as little is made of a potentially very exciting action setting. It offers some serviceable driving sections as you motor round in an Aston Martin; there’s a couple of cool gizmos, but the driving bits on the whole are run of the mill.
Elsewhere it’s guilty of not making imaginative use of the source material – as is the case with so many Bond tie-ins, most of the gadgets are either rarely required or boring to use, with Bond’s laser-watch being deployed for little more than busting electronic locks, and the sonic cufflinks end up feeling like novelty stun grenades. The Q-Copter is the one really cool toy at your disposal, as you can guide it through vents into otherwise inaccessible rooms, taking out guards and security systems.
Bond hits the dancefloor a shade too early, causing much embarrassment
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007 heaps more misery on cleaning ladies of the world
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Realistically,
the game would have had a hard time reaching Triple-A standards anyway due to the
simplistic, unsatisfying combat. Chiefly, this is the fault of the lock-on
function which limits the need for skill and precision in battle. Though the
catalogue of weapons is extensive, almost all save for the rocket launcher and
sniper rifle handle much the same, with only relatively minor differences. Rummaging
around for hidden schematics files rewards the player with ability to upgrade
their arsenal, though oddly most parameters only really improve the size of
clips or overall quantity of ammunition the player can carry.
The multiplayer is no great shakes, but it does at least provide the player with some incentive to unlock new characters. And in fairness, there’s no shortage of content. The main story shouldn’t take long to mow through as, but for the odd spike caused by some tricky on-rails shooting sections, the difficulty is relatively gentle. But fifteen missions represents an impressive amount of bulk, and at to this bonus incentives and EA have done a sound job. Strong performances are converted into points and bonuses, including perks for killing a set number of foes, completing levels quickly or on a high difficulty, and for achieving a Bond Moment, such as gaining access to locked rooms or taking down helicopters. There are also four additional bonus levels, which should keep to the keener Bond fans busy, as even if they aren’t massively diverting, they do provide a robust challenge.
There are many better action games (and better Bond adventures) available, but for an experiment in resurrecting old source material, it’s a surprisingly content-rich title with plenty of action to wade through. In the end, From Russia With Love is decent fun and a perfectly serviceable video game, but with basic combat stunting both challenge and enjoyment factor, it’s unlikely to leave you shaken or stirred.
The multiplayer is no great shakes, but it does at least provide the player with some incentive to unlock new characters. And in fairness, there’s no shortage of content. The main story shouldn’t take long to mow through as, but for the odd spike caused by some tricky on-rails shooting sections, the difficulty is relatively gentle. But fifteen missions represents an impressive amount of bulk, and at to this bonus incentives and EA have done a sound job. Strong performances are converted into points and bonuses, including perks for killing a set number of foes, completing levels quickly or on a high difficulty, and for achieving a Bond Moment, such as gaining access to locked rooms or taking down helicopters. There are also four additional bonus levels, which should keep to the keener Bond fans busy, as even if they aren’t massively diverting, they do provide a robust challenge.
There are many better action games (and better Bond adventures) available, but for an experiment in resurrecting old source material, it’s a surprisingly content-rich title with plenty of action to wade through. In the end, From Russia With Love is decent fun and a perfectly serviceable video game, but with basic combat stunting both challenge and enjoyment factor, it’s unlikely to leave you shaken or stirred.
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VERDICT
Visual: 7/10
Audio: 7/10 Gameplay: 6/10 Longevity: 7/10 OVERALL: 6/10 |