The Games We Played – GoldenEye 007 (N64) – Also Known As The Greatest Game I’ve Ever Played

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GoldenEye 007 (N64) (Image courtesy Moby Games)

GoldenEye 007 (N64) (Image courtesy Moby Games)
By Andrew Liszewski

Last week I wrote about the type of game that players hopefully only ever experience in their nightmares, so this week I thought I’d take a look at a game that sits on the other end of the greatness spectrum. Now before I begin, let me say that I recognize the brilliance of such games as Halo, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto and countless others that I’ve played over the years, but for me, nothing provided as much sheer enjoyment and downright fun as GoldenEye 007 for the N64 did.

Before the game was released, I remember reading a small blurb about it in a now defunct gaming magazine, and they kind of brushed it off as another movie-to-game conversion that probably only Bond fans would appreciate. But little did they (or any of us) realize that Rare would not only create a game that was remarkably true to a pretty decent Bond flick, but also show the gaming industry that the first-person-shooter could work outside of a PC. In fact, for being the first real console FPS, I still think Rare knocked it out of the park. Sure, there were some compromises, like having to stand still in order to precisely aim and what-not, but I never considered them a downside, just a new and unique challenge that made the game even more interesting.

GoldenEye 007 (N64) (Images courtesy GameFAQs)

And while the single person game stayed remarkably true to GoldenEye the movie and was quite fun, I don’t think any fan of the game will deny that the true greatness of GoldenEye 007 came with its multiplayer. There were a couple of Summers I can remember where 3 friends and I spent a vast majority of our waking hours behind a big TV in my parent’s basement playing GoldenEye 007, and to be honest it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. If I remember correctly, the multiplayer aspect was actually a last minute addition to the game, but thankfully Rare didn’t do a last minute job, and added a good level of customizability as well as a fantastic collection of weapons. I mean come on, how fun was it being the guy who was the first to find the RCP-90 or the Cougar Magnum in a 4 player match?

It’s been quite a few years since I’ve actually played GoldenEye the game, but I managed to catch the movie on AMC a few weeks ago, and I have to say I was surprised how often it reminded me of the video game, rather than the other way around. And for a game based on a movie to transcend the original film is a pretty impressive accomplishment in my opinion.

[ Wikipedia – GoldenEye 007 ]

10 COMMENTS

  1. Come on, Perfect Dark was the ultimate. this was just a prelude to the kiss of many hours down the chute with many many many different people in 4 player mode on a 53″

  2. This is truly a classic- I can't count the hours that I “wasted” playing this game, both alone and with friends. I never could beat that boss in the skytower or whatever it was, but the game had so many great features that were cutting edge at the time- enemies that reacted differently depending on where you shot them, semi-destructible environments, dual wielding, etc… I remember sneaking up behind a guard and shooting him in the nads just to see how he would react.

  3. GoldenEye the best game ever made!!!
    Somehow the controls really worked, facing an enemy and shooting him down.
    Firing the PP7 so fast that it looke like a machine gun.
    Today all of the fancy graphics FPS games there are out there for the xbox/ps3 miss the GoldenEye controls/ n64 controller to make you feel good when shooting an enemy.

    But nothing beat's the PC's mouse for precision aiming.
    And combining that with the Best Game Ever Made brings you: “GoldenEyeSource” a full game mod.

    http://www.goldeneyesource.com

    old 007 GoldenEye n64 game but revised to the modern gamer's needs.

    check it out!

  4. Yeah, I figured I'd get a few comments like this. And not that I need to defend my position, since it's just MY opinion, but I'm an avid gamer who has pretty much played (and enjoyed) anything of note since GoldenEye 007 was released. But I noticed that you failed to mention your favorite game so that other people could have a chance to point out why you're wrong.

  5. N64 seriously had the best lineup of games, period. I don't care what anyone else says. Between Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Mario 64, Zelda Ocarina of Time, Zelda Majora's Mask, Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, StarFox 64, Mario Kart 64, Shadows of the Empire, Rogue Squadron, and Super Smash Bros (sorry if I missed some awesome ones), what other system can compare, even by today's standards??

  6. Oh man, what a walk down memory lane.
    We usually had 5 guys, so someone always had to sit out. Our rule was, if you came in last place you gave up the controller.
    This worked pretty well, and assured that no one had to sit more than 1 game in a row.
    We also did this for Mario Kart, Starfox, Perfect Dark …. Holy crap what a great system!

  7. Oh man, what a walk down memory lane.
    We usually had 5 guys, so someone always had to sit out. Our rule was, if you came in last place you gave up the controller.
    This worked pretty well, and assured that no one had to sit more than 1 game in a row.
    We also did this for Mario Kart, Starfox, Perfect Dark …. Holy crap what a great system!

  8. Oh man, what a walk down memory lane.
    We usually had 5 guys, so someone always had to sit out. Our rule was, if you came in last place you gave up the controller.
    This worked pretty well, and assured that no one had to sit more than 1 game in a row.
    We also did this for Mario Kart, Starfox, Perfect Dark …. Holy crap what a great system!

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