Why save the world, when you can rule it! That was the tagline that sold me on this portion of the Bond franchise from EA. Rogue Agent is an exploration of the darker sides of the bond world. You get to play for the other team in this. The opening stage takes place in Fort Knox, a memorable scene from Goldfinger. The opening sequence leads you into the game, and then smacks you hard in an attempt to start the ball rolling. The plot of the game is you are an ex double-o agent who has been deemed too brutal and violent by her Majesty’s secret service, but one of my favorite bond villains has designs for an ex agent such as yourself. After being equipped with a new synthetic eye, and labeled with a new nickname you’re off to work for Auric Goldfinger.
First Person shooters usually take me a while to warm up to. I blame this on an overabundance of them in my sordid gamer past. Goldeneye was a regular weekend thing at the local gaming store, multiplayer, after multiplayer was running almost 72 hours over the weekend, you just needed to sit down and wait for the next set. Those times are hard to copy, and Rogue Agent made an attempt to do so, but I just felt the multiplayer was lacking, part of this could be from the lack of people I know willing to sit down and play for hours on end like we used to, but in either case, most of this review will be based off of the single player game.
The first gripe I can give is the total lack of a jump function. How can there be this many buttons and button configurations, but a total lack of an ability to lift two feet off the ground at the same time, maybe the class that Goldeneye missed at the OO academy was jumping? Hey look, there is a log in my way, got to go around it! Okay frustration vented! Other than that, this is a well designed game, the stages flow easily from task to task that you need to accomplish, as well as the more than occasional hairy situation. Whereas the past Bond games have revolved around give Bond an option to either sneak or strong-arm his way through portions of the stage, you will find yourself using a rather large show of force to complete a given task. Several of the weapons are familiar from the franchise, and translate over well. Movement can be a bit shaky at times, but this is a good attempt at a Bond movie game, but it seems like it was a little hurried to production at times.
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The sounds of the game are accurate, but the one shining moment for me was hearing Christopher Lee return to do the voice acting of Mr. Scarimanga, the Man with the Golden Gun! I like Bond movies, and anytime they can give me continuity like that I am happy. Music wise it was what is to be expected from another franchise game, there are just sounds you associate with the Bond movies, and as long as those are in there, I am happy.
In the end Rogue Agent is a good value for the price you will find it at your game store. If you are a fan of the franchise, and first person shooters, it can give you the challenge you want on several of the stages, as well as the fun of the occasional multi-player games that are very reminiscent of the old Goldeneye days of the N64. So go out there, and cause some strife for Mr. Bond!
