[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nightfire/cover.jpg[/floatleft]While playing 007 Nightfire the only thing I can say about this game is that it is the most entertaining game I have ever played. Now what I mean by entertaining is that there are so many fun factors about this game that keep you on the edge of your seat. There are many games out today that are cool to play and are semi fun but this one really has so many different aspects in the mission mode that it’s just pure fun. Now because I am a FPS (first person shooter) fan this automatically makes my A-list, but oddly enough if this game was in a different category, I would still put it on my A-list as a fun game. Now before I begin to explain the different factors and aspects of this game, I will make it a point to not compare it to its predecessors N64’s Goldeneye and Playstation 2’s Agent Under Fire. Although we all enjoyed N64’s Goldeneye, lets give the next generation of Bond games a chance.

To begin, let’s talk about the game’s storyline and its gameplay. Of course it goes without saying you are an MI6 operative known as 007 James Bond. Phoenix International Corporation is helping the world in its destruction of nuclear warheads. Phoenix Int. Corp led by Raphael Drake, is known to have stolen some of the warheads and MI6 Intelligence has sent 007 to infiltrate Drake’s domain and gather intelligence. Along the way you meet many hot women spies, and encounter the obvious enemies that will try and stop you from your progress.

[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nightfire/ss01_thumb.jpg[/floatright]As 007, you are given an insane amount of Q gadgets to work with throughout the length of your missions. For example you are given thermal imaging glasses, a zippo that turns into a micro camera, a palm pilot that’s also a decryptor, a cell phone that’s a grapple, a shaver that’s a grenade, the keys to your car give an electric stunner, and your watch is a laser. Not only do you get crazy gadgets, but you get some really deadly weapons to help you out on the missions. Your arsenal consists of your standard golden PP7 and other pistols, your sub-machine guns, laser guns, sniper rifles, grenade and rocket launchers, sentinels, and a crossbow. As far as explosives go, you can choose, flash grenades, smoke grenades, frag grenades, satchel charges, remote mines, and laser trip bombs. All weapons have modifications during the missions as well as during multiplayer mode. Let me take you on a detour here for a second. The multiplayer mode is really fun to play. Since this game is not Live enabled, or link play enabled, Nightfire is only limited to four players. There are several games that you can choose from, i.e. CTF, deathmatch, etc. Customizable weapons, bots, and mods are given to you as an extra bonus as well. Now back to weapon mods. You can switch from fully automatic to burst, or grenade launcher to rapid fire. All weapons have their own characteristics that make the options to this game very unique. Needless to say anywhere you go throughout the game, you will be massively packing. And finally, you are given the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish to roll in during mission mode. This bad boy is filled with massive Q gadgets that do some real damage on the road and under water as well.

Since I have just mentioned the serious amount of weaponry you will be carrying throughout the missions, you are probably wondering how you are going to manage your equipment and use it effectively. Well don’t fret, Nightfire has nine different controller set-ups, and a special self customizable set-up if you don’t like any of the games default settings. The control management in this game is very easy, slick, and extremely helpful. I personally cannot stand inverted controls; therefore I use the Goldeneye set-up for my controller. I found it very helpful to have your mod buttons be the white and black buttons, while your D-pad is used for you Q-gadgets and switching weapons. Your B button is also used to cycle through your weapons a little faster during a shootout. You have your standard reload, jump and crouch buttons, while your left trigger is for aiming and your right trigger is for shooting. Your D-pad is also used for zooming in while using sniper rifles and the such. Overall I find the controls in this game to be very flexible and extremely simple.

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nightfire/ss03_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]Nightfire’s AI seems to flow very smoothly throughout, given the games simplicity. Although stealth is not a major factor to complete the missions, it still gives you some sense of challenge. During mission mode on certain levels, it won’t matter if you come out guns blazing and shooting up the entire population. Every mission has its objectives, and each objective is automatically carried out in order. Only when it’s necessary for a mission you can blow out lights and other small details that could aid in your mission. Headshots are very effective but any other shots to the body seem just as effective. Some of the dialogue is repeated when encountering the enemy, at the same time their movements seem to be very limited on some levels. The enemy characters seem to be running within an invisible box when tracking you down. The graphics in Nightfire don’t seem to play an intricate role as it seems to me that many of the characteristics from N64’s Goldeneye and Agent Under Fire are very present in Nightfire. Shadows are cut and straight edged, along with many of the buildings and structures that surround you. Colors and scenery in all levels are very appealing. Considering the amount of traveling you’re going to be doing, you will discover the amount of change in color and depth. Unfortunately, the details of the characters faces and bodies are very rigid, squared, and edgy. The games cinematics are pretty entertaining, but the graphics are no different than game play.

This is where things start getting a little hairy. I was not pleased with the amount of annoying music this game has. Some of the music that is in this game just does not fit the environment and the game play what so ever. Sound was not a major factor in Nightfire’s agenda, and personally I was not impressed by the game’s sound at all.

I believe Nightfire is one of the most entertaining Bond games that I have played since N64’s Goldeneye. I love FPS and I love Bond, so playing this game was a total enjoyment for me. Many of the different aspects of this game were totally mind blowing, which made things a lot more interesting. If you love Bond games I think you will really enjoy this game. I would suggest everyone give this game a chance, if you’re not interested in buying it then at least rent it.