Just another mediocre licensed title to add to the pile.
If you’re looking for a James Bond game that plays like poor man’s Call of Duty then Quantum of Solace (2008) is the perfect game for you.
The main/seventh-gen (PS3, 360, PC) version of Quantum of Solace uses Infinity Ward’s IW 3.0 engine which was also used for COD4: Modern Warfare and World at War. As a result, the game plays and feels like any modern Call of Duty, including the dreaded aim-assist system that borders on auto-aim, just not as polished.
You’ll spend the vast majority of your time in rectangle-shaped arenas shooting AI enemies that aren’t particularly bright, though occasionally they’ll throw a grenade or two and attempt to rush you to give off an impression of having some resemblance of tactics. The game also features some stealth segments and set pieces. Stealth here is as basic as you can get away with but it’s mostly inoffensive and optional anyway, whist the set pieces feel rather uninspired and cookie-cutter.
The game’s title is also a bit misleading. Despite being based on a Bond movie of the same name, two-thirds of Quantum of Solace’s levels are based on Casino Royale framed as part of a long flashback. That said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing given that Quantum of Solace (the movie) felt like a somewhat dry epilogue to its vastly superior and more action-packed prequel. As a result, you can understand why developers chose to go down this route and, frankly, they made the right choice.
If I had to summarize the entire experience in a single word, it would be “formulaic”. All of the elements present function as intended but they simply don’t stand out on their own and lack the polish of similar segments featured in Call of Duty titles. At the end of the day, it’s a licensed title made quickly and cheaply, published by Activision. What you see is what you get.
While this review has been mostly negative, I actually enjoyed the game for what it is. As long as you know what you’re going into, it’s an inoffensive title to pass the time with. I think the developers did the best they could with the resources allocated to them, knowing how licensed game productions usually go. That said, the game is entirely skippable and you’re probably better off getting your James Bond fix elsewhere, even the PS2 release of Quantum of Solace which is a different game entirely made by a separate development studio. If you're interested in my thoughts on that version, you can find my Backlogged review here: https://www.backloggd.com/u/DarkDante14/review/594075/
Note: This review is based solely on the single-player campaign played on normal. Online servers are down and multiplayer is inaccessible through normal means.
If you’re looking for a James Bond game that plays like poor man’s Call of Duty then Quantum of Solace (2008) is the perfect game for you.
The main/seventh-gen (PS3, 360, PC) version of Quantum of Solace uses Infinity Ward’s IW 3.0 engine which was also used for COD4: Modern Warfare and World at War. As a result, the game plays and feels like any modern Call of Duty, including the dreaded aim-assist system that borders on auto-aim, just not as polished.
You’ll spend the vast majority of your time in rectangle-shaped arenas shooting AI enemies that aren’t particularly bright, though occasionally they’ll throw a grenade or two and attempt to rush you to give off an impression of having some resemblance of tactics. The game also features some stealth segments and set pieces. Stealth here is as basic as you can get away with but it’s mostly inoffensive and optional anyway, whist the set pieces feel rather uninspired and cookie-cutter.
The game’s title is also a bit misleading. Despite being based on a Bond movie of the same name, two-thirds of Quantum of Solace’s levels are based on Casino Royale framed as part of a long flashback. That said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing given that Quantum of Solace (the movie) felt like a somewhat dry epilogue to its vastly superior and more action-packed prequel. As a result, you can understand why developers chose to go down this route and, frankly, they made the right choice.
If I had to summarize the entire experience in a single word, it would be “formulaic”. All of the elements present function as intended but they simply don’t stand out on their own and lack the polish of similar segments featured in Call of Duty titles. At the end of the day, it’s a licensed title made quickly and cheaply, published by Activision. What you see is what you get.
While this review has been mostly negative, I actually enjoyed the game for what it is. As long as you know what you’re going into, it’s an inoffensive title to pass the time with. I think the developers did the best they could with the resources allocated to them, knowing how licensed game productions usually go. That said, the game is entirely skippable and you’re probably better off getting your James Bond fix elsewhere, even the PS2 release of Quantum of Solace which is a different game entirely made by a separate development studio. If you're interested in my thoughts on that version, you can find my Backlogged review here: https://www.backloggd.com/u/DarkDante14/review/594075/
Note: This review is based solely on the single-player campaign played on normal. Online servers are down and multiplayer is inaccessible through normal means.