Bond: Dies right away

Ah yes, a new year, a new Bond movie. With the so-so "Die Another Day" finishing up it's run in the theaters and the miserable "Die Another Day" theme by Madonna happily fading from radio playlists, we find Electronic Arts trying to foist off another mediocre Bond game on us. \nThe story of "NightFire" revolves around the Phoenix Corporation. The company is ostensibly in the business of deactivating old nuclear power plants and nuclear missiles, but in a stunning plot twist, the CEO is a criminal mastermind and wants to take over an orbiting weapons platform and destroy the world. Caught unaware by this unpredictable event, the British Secret Service details our hero, 007, to go kill absolutely everyone involved with the Phoenix Corporation. For a video game, the plot is passable, though anyone familiar with the first-person-shooter genre or the Bond movies is going to be thrown for a loop plot-wise. The storyline for the game is told primarily through brief in-game mission updates or conversations, with the rest of the plot playing out in cut scenes using the in-game graphics that play between your missions. It's worth noting that while the storyline is on the weak side, the graphics in "NightFire" (the characters in particular) are visually impressive. The animation is top notch and proves that despite its age, the PS2 still packs a considerable graphics punch.\nGameplay features are impressive. The level design is superior, with realistic and interesting architecture and lighting, but this eye candy is no substitute for the fact that the game is essentially like every other first person shooter. The single player features some nifty Bond gadgets, like sunglasses with different vision modes, along with a rather exceptional collection of weaponry (the guided rockets are especially enjoyable). Multiplayer is good, though many of the matches were on the bland side due to the obscenely overpowered weapons. Plus, gamers who want to play four-player games, don't forget to buy or rent a controller hub, since the PS2 only supports two players out of the box. Four player games are fun, but beware; unless you have a large TV, a four player match can be extremely difficult due to the reduction in screen size. "NightFire" includes some impressive multiplayer features, some of which, as in "GoldenEye" for N64, must be unlocked by meeting goals in single player.