007: Nightfire

Working with another agent, Bond uncovers a plot by millionaire businessman Drake. Investigating his supposedly above board operations with Phoenix Corporation, Bond uncovers things that point to a bigger plan that threatens the security of the world as Drake seeks to control the world powers from his outer space base; can Bond save the world again?

Having clocked Agent Under Fire in a few days I went out and hired this thinking that it would be fun but simple like AUF. However this game is much better than the first Bond on the PS2. Nightfire starts well with a title sequence which is cool (despite an awful song) and even a pre-credits stage in the game! The graphics are much improved but still have a real quality `Bond' feel to them. The biggest improvement on AUF is the fact that I didn't finish the game within a few days! This thing is difficult, even on the easiest level. It takes practice and learning what to do whereas AUF was just run in blasting this is the opposite – do that here and you'll be dead quickly in most cases.

A fine example is the sniper level. In AUF all snipers had infrared beams to show you a) where they were aiming and b) where they were! It made them no problem to avoid. In Nightfire (the snipers level in the old nuclear plant especially) the snipers are really hard to get until you start to work out roughly where they are. All you have to go on is the fact that they shout `I see him' and `where'd he go' when you move in and out of their line of sight – but given that you're in an open industrial area that still covers a large area. The stages prior to this are quite easy but still require work. After this it is gets harder and is a good learning curve.

The multiplayer is also better. The levels involve a lot more running around in complex areas as opposed to quite open areas as in AUF. Also, thankfully, you can have computer controlled characters so you can be as sad and lonely as you want but still have this challenge to keep the game alive long after you finish it.

Overall I really enjoyed this game as it was a challenge for me even on the easiest level. The is really only one level that I would class as a simple `run and gun' blasting level where you can just let rip – the rest require a certain degree more finesse – just like Bond himself! I was a little let down by how easy AUF was, with this I had no complaints (apart from yelling at my TV when I couldn't spot the snipers on that flippin' level!)