The James Bond video game franchise has been really successful. It took the games a few years to become as popular as the films and one release was the one that changed everything. The James Bond video games made their debut in 1983 but the game that changed everything was obviously 1997’s GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64. That game is a classic and there are still gamers who play to set records on the levels.
GoldenEye 007 followed parts of the film and brought a multiplayer, making it a great game to play with friends. The game was a hit and sold more than eight million copies. It is almost 20 years old but no one has forgotten about how good that game was.
Two years later, Tomorrow Never Dies was released. This game was also based on the film but received mixed reviews and was only released on the PlayStation. The series would return a year later with The World Is Not Enough. The game had different developers for the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation, with the two versions being a success. The following games took a different direction as they were no longer related to the films and featured different storylines.
Games Released
A new 007 game for the consoles was released in 2001, the title brought an original storyline and did not feature actor Pierce Brosnan, who was James Bond at the time. The game received mixed reviews but did sell close to five million copies, becoming one of the most successful in the video game franchise.
A year later, Nightfire was released. The game was released on the PC, PS2, Xbox and GameCube. The PC version featured a different story and online play. A Game Boy Advance version was released a few months later.
The game series returned in 2004 with Everything or Nothing. The game, released for the Xbox, PS2 and GameCube, now featured the voices and likenesses of many of the characters from the films. The game received good reviews and was later released for the Game Boy Advance.
But that same year, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent was released. The title was a spin-off and did not do well, with many criticizing it for its disappointing storyline. The series continued with a new game in 2005, this time it starred Sean Connery as James Bond once again. It received good reviews but not all was perfect in the video game series.
Cancelled Game
A Casino Royale game was cancelled in 2006 because the game developer, EA, was not going to have it ready by the film’s release. EA then decided to move away from the video game franchise to focus on other games. Activision then acquired the rights to develop the next James Bond games. The first was Quantum of Solace, which was released on many systems but mostly received mixed reviews.
Latest Release
In 2012, Activision announced 007 Legends, which included a number of storylines. The game did not receive good reviews and it was the last for the video game franchise. A few months later, Activision announced that it would be backing away from licensed games, but the statement never confirmed if they were actually done with James Bond titles.
Game Developers Interested
Since the latest release, other game developers have expressed interest in making the next James Bond game. But no other games have been announced. The series has made appearances on smartphones and tablets, with a strategic game called World of Espionage.
A new game has not been announced but it wouldn’t be surprising to see one soon. The video game franchise has had great games in the past and with the success of the most recent films, it could work again. The last game was not a hit but a new one could be a success if they bring back some of the features that made past games great. Titles like GoldenEye 007, Nightfire and Everything or Nothing had great multiplayer, with Nightfire featuring online play for the PC version. It won’t be easy with all the competition, but fans remember the fun they had with past titles and would probably play a new one.
Would you like to see a new James Bond 007 game? What was the last James Bond 007 game you played? What is your favorite in the series? Let us know in the comments.
They should make an OHMSS game with George Lazenby likeness and Voice!! (I actually want this I´m not being sarcastic!!)
I’d like to see a Bond video game for “The Spy Who Loved Me” or “Live and Let Die” with Roger Moore returning as James Bond one last time. Even though he was underrated, in my opinion, Moore did still have some enjoyable Bond films during his tenure and at least deserves to have one video game added to his work history!
From what I understand, however, Moore was slated to do one Bond video game for “Octopansy” but it ended up getting cancelled for “unknown reasons.”
If they are to make a James Bond game, they should retain the classicism of the EA era Bond games and inject new soul into it, instead of trying to replicate the pathetic ‘Call of Duty’ gameplay with one-way-corridor gameplays and weak level design that tells you what to do every single step you walk by. And remove the damned Quick-Time-Events or automatic Takedowns. Be creative and introduce a manually executed melee combat system as well as be openly imaginative about the game’s storyline, have many ways to tackle assignments and various ways to accomplish missions, depending on your approach, the story would also take different paths. That said, I don’t want an open world Bond game, either. Don’t make it too non-linear, keep it balanced.
Now, what I’d like to see from the story and the characters itself? Jettison the dark and tragic story aspects from the Daniel Craig era, place the Bond back to where Sean Connery and Roger Moore kickstarted, continued by the formula of the Pierce Brosnan Bond adventures, much like how ‘Agent Under Fire’ did it, make the properly intellectual and formal use of words in quips, puns and witty one liners return. No, I don’t want my Bond ‘damaged’ either. Bring back the old school hero secret agent every man wants to become and every woman wants to be with. Brief amount of sci-fi elements would also help… Like WMDs, silos, control rooms, gadgets, etc. Make Bond old school, again. God, I miss the old days.
Sounds good.
wack… so wack
Is that so? Then, tell me how would you have done it?
An Uncharted 4 type balance of linearity and exploration would be perfect for a Bond game. I do fear that the developers would shy away from the cheesy, borderline cringe worthy, moments the old games like Agent Under Fire and Nightfire had (like the one liners) because of the new gaming generation’s obsession with grit and realism. I just hope they realize the gamers of the early 2000’s are in fact still alive and would love another Nightfire. I’m surprised they haven’t jumped on the nostalgia market sooner!
WTF is this article? It literally said nothing and no news in it what so ever.
Blood Stone was the best for me. I want it to happen again.
Everything or Nothing was the best EA era Bond game, it certainly blows the brains out of the Craig era Bond games.
In my opinion, Nightfire was the best, with Quantum of Solace (please don’t lynch me) coming in a close second.
Nightfire WAS the absolute best. Such a great game, such great music and missions.
I think Tell Tale should get a shot at doing a James Bond series of games that put you not only in the action of the story but choosing to make quick desicions in a world of espionage. I loved Golden Eye as my number 1 favorite. Night Fire and Legends were my other two favorites.
The game I like the most was James bond Blood Stone. I was a impresive game. I wise for a new james bond game as a third person shooter
Yes please make a new James Bond game. Make it online compatible — good missions perhaps, too. I played Nightfire for my PS2 back in the day and it is still my favorite game to date. If there are any developers out there — make a new Bond game for Xbox1 or PS4! I’ll buy it.