Review: Quantum Of Solace
Activision's first Bond game, using the COD4 engine. How does it hold up? Related stories (more)007 Review At Midnight
Article written by nofi in PS3 Reviews, on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 0:01.
It’s videogame reviewing law that every Bond game review has to mention, at least once, that the game in question isn’t as good as Goldeneye. When you sign up for webhosting and buy a domain vaguely connected to gaming, they make you sign a legal document that stipulates this; it’s just the way it is. So, let’s get that out of the way first: Quantum of Solace isn’t as good as Goldeneye. But hey, it’s damned close.
Firstly, the game contains levels taken from both Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale, so whilst we’re not going to be spoiling the plot of the new movie in this review, we assume we can safely say that some of the sections from Daniel Craig’s first outing are rather spectacular – the freerunning section in Madagascar especially so, and whilst some of the levels are a little bit drab and the lighting a little flat, when the Call of Duty 4 engine is allowed to flex its muscles Quantum of Solace can look incredibly vivid and solid.
Yes, the graphics tech is starting to show its age, but in terms of texture variety and impressive draw distances thrown around at a rate of knots, there’s more than enough life left in the old dog yet. The character models (Craig’s in particular) look good enough, there’s ample next-gen whizz-bang with things like smoke effects and convincing animation and the weather effects are unrivalled: wait until you see the rain about five levels in. Just don’t do what we initially did and write the game off from the first couple of areas, the game only really kicks in once you start the Casino Royale sections.
If you’ve played Call of Duty 4 you’ll waste no time getting to grips with Quantum of Solace: the controls are almost 100% the same, the guns feel similar and even the enemy AI, which we’re told is improved, still shows some signs of Modern Warfare. No bad thing, really, but much more emphasis has been put on the cover system here than with CoD 4, and in fact it’s pretty much essential to remain behind objects as much as possible: the X button is used to dash to cover and should be applied liberably throughout each level.
In terms of mechanics, Quantum of Solace offers an automatic healing system (just stay out of gunfire for a few seconds and you’ll feel much better), a slightly odd method of gun swapping (it’s never really clear which gun you’ll be swapping out and which you’ll keep) and an oddly convoluted HUD which seems quite happy to bombard you with stuff whenever possible, which isn’t always that easy to manage. Still, if you’re happy running about following an on-screen compass whilst juggling mission objectives, dodging cameras and gunning down the bad guys you’ll have a riot.
Quantum of Solace isn’t subtle. Sure, there are stealth sections and you do need to use the button-based takedowns from time to time, but for most of the game you’ll be spewing bullets faster than Hale and the Master Chief combined; despite the cover system and the options for silencers, this is an all-out first person shooter and it’s all the better for it. Enemies come quick and fast, attempting to flank you if you’re camping, and you’ll rarely be short of bullets and the scripted nature of each level continuously pushes you onwards, often against very tight time restraints. It keeps the game flowing, and works well.
As a Bond adventure, though, it’s missing a bit of the finesse that marks out the movies. The cutscenes are clunky, both the pre-rendered and the in-game, and the mission objectives aren’t always as clearly signposted as some might like. The production values are through the roof, though: all the major actors have lent both their likenesses and their voices to the game which helps with the atmosphere, the load times are quick and covered via briefings and the overall feeling we got from the game once we’d reached the last level was a highly positive one – Quantum of Solace is hugely enjoyable, and a complete surprise.
Please note that due to the limited number of people online this week (for obvious reasons) we’ve not covered the online aspect of Quantum of Solace at this stage, except to test out the various multiplayer levels. Fans of Goldeneye might recognise the Chemical Plant level: it starts in the toilets…
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
CaptainMurdo | 31/10/2008 00:14
Team TSA: Writer
1544 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
I completely agree with this review and I tried the online and it was almost identical to COD 4 online, even had network connection issues as well. Hopefully this will be fixed. Anyway I’m off to save the world.
cc_star | 31/10/2008 00:20
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Is it 12:01 where you are?
stefhutch20 | 31/10/2008 00:23
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Yeah. lol
And damn cos this looks like yet another game I want. Oh well.
oMega-W | 31/10/2008 01:14
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“As a Bond adventure, though, it’s missing a bit of the finesse that marks out the movies.”
I hear reviews of the new film coming to the same conclusion. But still, it IS Bond. Bond = Awesome.
cc_star | 31/10/2008 01:17
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Casino Royale was the best, the opening sequence with that FreeRunner was amazing
ghost5 | 31/10/2008 04:06
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591 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
This was not on my games to get list, there’s too many around at the moment. LBP, COD5, fallout 3, but after reading this review and other promising previews I think I’ll be picking it up. Maybe second hand though.
Anyway I’m off to see the film tonight – hope it’s good
nofi | 31/10/2008 09:20
Wants a custom tag.
3870 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I think seeing the film will make you want the game even more.
cc_star | 31/10/2008 09:52
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I’m going next week sometime, can no one please give the plot away on this site!
GamerRiley | 01/11/2008 10:06
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Getting silly now
kellyonline | 31/10/2008 10:52
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Axis…
Sixth Axis…
Da Da Daaa
Da Da Daaa
Da Da Da Da Da…
colossalblue | 31/10/2008 12:27
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1146 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
You really are quite brilliantly mental.
mcphatty | 31/10/2008 12:58
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Quick question about multiplayer: Is there 4 player split screen local or online or even maybe both?
nofi | 31/10/2008 13:09
Wants a custom tag.
3870 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
The full multiplayer review will come after the weekend, but there was no split screen on the copy we had.
mcphatty | 31/10/2008 13:20
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Ah sod that is a shame, would love to have had mates round to try to relive Goldeneye! Ta for the info
thelastguy | 31/10/2008 16:15
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8/10……….. ?
colossalblue | 31/10/2008 19:02
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How is that a question? I’m confused…
CaptainMurdo | 31/10/2008 17:25
Team TSA: Writer
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There has been a patch, just thought I’d let you know. Don’t know what it does though.
p0Wer | 31/10/2008 23:27
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Is it pretty much the same plot as the movie? =/
CaptainMurdo | 01/11/2008 00:40
Team TSA: Writer
1544 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Mixture between Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. It also has a scene which was due to be put in the new movie but was later decided to be dropped which is pretty cool.
fredrikpedersen | 02/11/2008 21:33
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Any1 tried the MP yet? Is there perks and attachments?
cc_star | 05/11/2008 15:51
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Any more news on the multiplayer?
ADAM_EMM_1 | 05/11/2008 17:32
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i bought this on the release date. (Great game). On the multiplayer i get guns for free :S but then i cant use them if i switch off the game? just wondering if anyone else gets this problem?
jediryan123 | 19/11/2008 14:45
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22 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
well golden eye was before my time, but if it was better than this then it must of been an awesome game. No split screen is may turn me off this game.
fredrikpedersen | 18/05/2009 09:14
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78 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Yeah, it’s very enjoyable – even though it contains a slew of mediocre elements. I achieved my 00 status yesterday! Woohoo
rothbury | 31/10/2008 10:41
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Bond kills Dumbledore.
GamerRiley | 31/10/2008 10:54
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Oh shit really, Dumbledore, Noooooo!
colossalblue | 31/10/2008 12:26
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… and then at the end you find out that M was a ghost all along.
rothbury | 31/10/2008 12:59
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And at the end money penny falls off a cliff and presumably gets killed by the hyenas she framed.
(lion king references ftw!)
Eldave0 | 31/10/2008 13:56
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havent you heard? virtual friends are all the rage these days… :S
kellyonline | 31/10/2008 18:02
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But grown ups couldn’t see him