Back at E3 2010 Activision announced a GoldenEye 007 remake that was, at the time, exclusive to Wii, and I was freaking pissed. How dare they put a remake of the best manly man mature shooter on the poopy babby Wii system for babbies. Then, a year later, GoldenEye Reloaded was released for Xbox 360 and PS3 and all was forgiven. So, for our final Bond game (for now), here's GoldenEye 007 for Wii. Read on for more and to watch gameplay.
Activision's GoldenEye is interesting because it is not only a remake, but a full re-imagining of the original. The movie was made in 1995 and the original game in 1997, so Activision chose to drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. This means changes to available technology (Bond has a handy smart phone now), slight changes to the plot, and big changes to the cast. Pierce Brosnan is swapped out for Daneil Craig, Sean Bean is no longer Trevelyan, and everyone else is different as well (besides Judy Dench as "M"). Locations changed. Levels changed. Objectives changed. It was kind of a lot to adjust to for hardcore fans of either the Rareware N64 game or the original movie.
But it all works. Everything is just familiar enough that you know exactly where you are and what is going on, but now it looks much better and more detailed (and the PS360 versions look even better) like you're in real places with real people rather than trapped in blocky ugly N64 land. The game plays more like a Call of Duty than anything - complete with snap to target - and feels good. It took a lot of effort to modernize and remake GoldenEye and you have to give Activision props for actually trying something new and innovative and risky.
I don't think I would say it is better than the N64 original - nostalgia is a hell of a drug - but it is at least equal to it.
