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Like most series with a plethora of entries, there have been some instant classics and quite a few absolute stinkers. Let’s take a look at the best games that Bond, James Bond has to offer, according to Metacritic.
Updated September 3, 2021 by Mark Sammut: IO Interactive is working on a new James Bond game entitled “Project 007.” Very little is known at the moment about the title, and it is most likely still a few years away from completion, however, its mere existence is exciting news. Bond has been out of the gaming scene since 2012’s disastrous 007 Legends, and that needs to change sooner rather than later. To fill the time until Project 007 begins to truly take shape, this article has been expanded to include a few more (old) games that are worth tracking down.
Classic James Bond Games That Predate Metacritic
007 existed long before video games become a thing, be it in book form or classic movies such as Goldfinger. As Metacritic launched in 1999, quite a number of old Bond titles are not represented on the site. While a culturally significant release such as 1997’s GoldenEye 007 still managed to find its way onto the platform, the vast majority of the franchise’s pre-1999 games were not so lucky.
That raises the question – are any of Bond’s old gaming escapades worth remembering? Most of them are not, but there are a handful of exceptions.
James Bond 007: A View To A Kill (1985)
A product of a bygone era, James Bond 007: A View to a Kill is a text-based adventure game that mimics the campy goodness of the Roger Moore movies. Raymond Benson worked on the story, and he would go on to pen quite a few James Bond novels, starting with 1997’s Zero Minus Ten.
James Bond 007: A View to a Kill is rough around the edges and not all that enjoyable to play today; however, it is an interesting museum piece from another age in gaming.
007: Licence To Kill (1989)
Based on one of the more polarizing James Bond films, 007: License to Kill holds up better than any other ’80s game released by the franchise. A top-down shoot-’em-up, 007: License to Kill keeps things simple with six quick and largely entertaining levels based on sequences from Timothy Dalton’s movie.
Vibrant and sporadically thrilling, 007: License to Kill is a short and sweet adventure. Although far from brilliant, this was one of the first games based on the license to be truly worth something.
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James Bond 007: The Duel (1993)
Released on the Genesis, Game Gear, and Master System, James Bond 007: The Duel is at its best on the latter system. A side-scrolling action game with five levels that each have three parts, The Duel’s greatest asset is the fact it utilizes an original story.
While the narrative itself is nothing special, it provides the game with the freedom to really diversify its locations. Throughout the campaign, Bond ends up in a volcano, jungle, and even a rocket ship. It is silly, colorful, and pretty fun.
James Bond 007 (1998)
Debuting a year after GoldenEye 007, James Bond 007 is surprisingly effective. Released for the Game Boy, this title offers puzzles, combat, a respectable arsenal of weapons, and an impressive roster of locations worthy of an epic globe-trotting adventure game.
Even on a handheld system that is hardly lacking in good adventure games, James Bond 007 still succeeds in justifying its existence. Bond fans will probably enjoy this one, as will people who are just looking to dust off their old Game Boy and try something different.
10 GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (2004) – 60
When EA announced its next James Bond game GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, not many players would’ve predicted that they wouldn’t be playing as James Bond at all. Rouge Agent instead has players taking the role of a villain named GoldenEye, who has left the MI6 to work for Goldfinger. A decision likely made due to the next James Bond actor being unknown, following Pierce Brosnan leaving the series in 2002 after Die Another Day.
Although the title suggests that it may be a sequel to Rare’s classic 1997 game GoldenEye 007, the two games have no connection. In this game, GoldenEye is the codename of the playable character who is given a literal golden eye after he is shot by Dr. No. This eye isn’t just for show though, it has multiple abilities. From being able to see enemies through walls, to forming a bullet-deflecting shield.
9 James Bond 007: Blood Stone (2010) – 65
With no famous Bond villains and minimal gadgets at the player’s disposal, Blood Stone focuses less on fan service and more on simply being an impressive cover-based shooter. The game is short, with most players seeing the credits roll after just 5 hours. Though it does manage to cram a lot of content into this time. From multiple locations, including Istanbul and Bangkok, to visually stunning and action-packed driving sections featuring Bond’s iconic Aston Martin.
Blood Stone also features an impressive cast of voice actors, with Daniel Craig and Judi Dench playing their corresponding characters. While Joss Stone not only performs the game’s theme song but also voices a key character, Nicole Hunter.
8 James Bond 007: From Russia With Love (2005) – 71
Whereas most Bond games are in first-person, From Russia With Love separates itself from the crowd by being third-person. Similar to Blood Stone, From Russia With Love has an impressive cast of voice actors. With Natasha Bedingfield joining Sean Connery who reprises his iconic role.
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From Russia With Love’s main strength is its bonus content. With a split-screen multiplayer mode that the franchise is famous for and 4 unlockable bonus missions to add to the main stories 14.
7 007: Quantum Of Solace (2008) – 73
Players wanting a Bond game in the style of Call of Duty were in luck with 2008’s Quantum of Solace. The movie tie-in was developed by Treyarch, who released Call of Duty: World at War the same year.
Treyarch did throw one interesting feature into the mix though. With a third-person cover system being added to the primarily first-person game. Along with allowing players to see the impressive Daniel Craig character model, the cover system ensured that the game didn’t feel like a James Bond DLC for World at War. Something that it was always in danger of.
6 James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire (2001) – 74
Agent Under Fire does an excellent job of doing what all games in the series should. It makes players feel like they’re James Bond through its multitude of gadgets, driving sections featuring 007’s Aston Martin, and the iconic Golden Gun that is used for the action-packed gunfights.
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Unfortunately, the game is held back by its short campaign, which can be completed in just 4 hours. Along with a fiddly aiming mechanic that dampens the otherwise solid gameplay.
5 James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002) – 80
Nightfire features the most ambitious campaign in the series, with over-the-top action that the Bond movies are famous for. Missions include a gunfight in space and an underwater driving section that sees Bond’s Aston Martin transforming into a rocket-firing submarine.
Similar to the series’ iconic GoldenEye 007, Nightfire’s main strength is the multiplayer mode. With well-designed maps and an excellent cast of characters to play as. Including Jaws, Oddjob, and Nick Nack.
4 GoldenEye 007 (2010) – 81
After 13 years, Activision excited fans in 2010 with a Nintendo Wii reimagining of the classic 1997 game. If that wasn’t enough to have fans reaching for their wallets, the game also took the classic multiplayer mode online. Allowing players to not only annoy their friends but players all around the world by playing as Oddjob.
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The game was re-released in HD on Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2011, following impressive sales.
3 The World Is Not Enough (2000) – 81
The World Is Not Enough had a lot of expectations on its shoulders, being the first Bond game since GoldenEye 007 to feature on the N64. Developers Eurocom made the wise choice of not trying to fix what wasn’t broken. Keeping the gameplay similar to Rare’s iconic shooter.
Although The World Is Not Enough took a step forward from GoldenEye with its smooth frame rates. It took many steps back with incompetent AI that harmed the linear gameplay, with some AI blankly staring at players as they gun down enemies standing next to them.
2 James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing (2003) – 84
As well as being the best third-person Bond game, Everything or Nothing is also the series most AAA feeling entry. With impressive graphics accompanying a star-studded cast of voice actors. Including Pierce Brosnan, Judi Dench, Heidi Klum, John Cleese, and Willem Dafoe playing key roles.
Along with an excellent campaign is a cooperative mode that lets players take on a separate set of levels with a friend. The game holds itself back from GoldenEye’s high standards though by having a multiplayer mode that disappointingly felt like an after-thought.
1 GoldenEye 007 (1997) – 96
As the score suggests, GoldenEye 007 is not only the best James Bond game but one of the greatest shooters ever. Although the game has an excellent main campaign that still has a thriving speed-running community to this day, it’s the multiplayer mode that the game is known for.
The split-screen multiplayer revolutionized gaming, which at the time was predominantly viewed as a hobby played in solitude. With IGN famously declaring it the N64’s best multiplayer game ahead of Mario Kart 64, it’s no surprise that the original GoldenEye 007 tops this list.
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