Software:James Bond 007: Nightfire
James Bond 007: Nightfire | |
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Developer(s) | Eurocom Gearbox Software[lower-alpha 1] (PC) JV Games (GBA) |
Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
Director(s) | Tim Rogers Landon Montgomery (PC)[1][better source needed] |
Producer(s) | Morgan Roarty Randy Pitchford (PC)[1] |
Programmer(s) | Simon Mills Patrick Deupree & Sean Cavanaugh (PC) |
Artist(s) | Dave Carson Jeremy Cook (PC) |
Writer(s) | Danny Bilson Paul De Meo |
Composer(s) | Steve Duckworth Ed Lima (PC) |
Series | James Bond video games |
Engine | GoldSrc (PC) |
Platform(s) | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, Mac OS X |
Release | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox Microsoft Windows Game Boy Advance Mac OS X [2] |
Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
James Bond 007: Nightfire (sometimes stylized NightFire) is a 2002 first-person shooter video game published by Electronic Arts for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows, with additional versions released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003, and the Mac OS X in 2004. The computer versions feature modifications to the storyline, different missions and the removal of driving sections used in home console versions.
The game's story involves fictional British secret agent James Bond, as he undertakes a mission to investigate the operations of a noted industrialist, uncovering a plot by them to conquer the world via a major defence satellite created by the United States. The game uses the likeness of James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, although the character is voiced by Maxwell Caulfield.
The home console versions received positive reviews from critics, while other versions received mixed reactions.
Gameplay
Nightfire features two game modes for use - a single-player mode featuring a variety of missions and focused on the game's story, and a multiplayer mode where players can engage with other players, as well as AI bots. The game operates from a first-person perspective and features a variety of weapons all based on real-life models, but, much like previous games involving James Bond, have alternate names. The game features a similar arrangement to monitoring health as with GoldenEye 007, in that players have a health meter that decrease when they take damage, with the player's character killed when it is fully depleted, though armor can be acquired to absorb the damage during gameplay.
In the single-player mode, players must complete a set of objectives, which requires navigating around each mission's level dealing with hostiles and making use of gadgets. Completing a level is done by completing all objectives and reaching the level's exit goal. Each level has a number of unique tokens, referred to as "007 tokens", which unlock special rewards in the game, and are acquired by completing certain actions in a level. Players may also carry out "Bond Moments", utilizing gadgets and parts of the level environment to dispatch enemies, open secret paths, and destroy obstacles, the act of which will contribute to the player's performance rating for that level. At times, the player also engages in driving sections during certain levels - these stages function in a similar style to those used in the Spy Hunter series of video games, in which the player uses offensive weapons and gadgets to deal with enemies, while following a linear A-to-B route from the start to the finish of the level. Completing a level allows the player to receive a score that denotes how well they performed.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer mode focuses on players battling with each other and AI bots across a variety of stages - while some stages are based on levels from the game, others are based on settings and fictional locations based from the James Bond film franchise, including Fort Knox, from Goldfinger (1964), and Atlantis from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Players can choose which characters to play as, including a selection taken from the film franchise such as Jaws, Baron Samedi, Max Zorin, Auric Goldfinger, and Renard. Players can customise settings before a match, such as length of play, conditions for winning and so forth, as well as the setting for any AI bots used in the match - alongside players, bots can be used (four for PlayStation 2, and six for GameCube and Xbox), which can be customised with different reaction times, speed and health.
PC/Mac gameplay
Computer versions of the game function similar to the console versions, though with some differences:
- There are no driving stages used in single-player.
- Some weapons are changed for different models.
- Multiplayer mode allows for online gaming and the use of 12 bots; console versions mainly offer split-screen multiplayer.
Plot
British MI6 agent James Bond works alongside French Intelligence operative Dominique Paradis to prevent the use of a stolen nuclear weapon within the city of Paris by a terrorist group during New Year's Eve. The pair manage to thwart the terrorists and prevent the device from being detonated before Bond and Dominique spend the evening celebrating the new year. Shortly after returning, Bond's boss M reveals news that a missile guidance chip, intended for the Space Defense Platform (SDP) - a new militarised space station built by the United States - has been stolen. MI6 suspects the theft is linked to Phoenix International, a company owned by industrialist Raphael Drake - and that the head of Drake's Asian division, Alexander Mayhew, is due to bring the chip to him during a party at his castle in Austria.
M sends Bond to recover the chip during the exchange and investigate Drake's motive for its acquisition. Infiltrating the party, Bond meets with CIA agent Zoe Nightshade, his contact sent to assist in the chip's recovery, but is surprised to find Dominique within the castle, learning that she is working undercover as Drake's mistress. After reaching the meeting room where Drake and Mayhew intend to meet, Bond overhears the men discussing a project codenamed "Nightfire" before discovering that Zoe had been captured. Bond recovers the chip before going after and rescuing Zoe, whereupon the pair make their escape down the mountain for a rendezvous with Q, while dealing with Drake's men and his Head of Security, Armitage Rook. Following the incident, Mayhew contacts MI6 to offer information on Drake's operations in exchange for protection.
Bond is sent to Japan to extract Mayhew at his Japanese estate, but shortly after being introduced to his bodyguard Kiko, Drake's men attack the building. While Mayhew is killed, Bond finds important information that leads him to Phoenix's Tokyo offices and a nuclear power plant being decommissioned. After gathering evidence, Kiko turns on Bond and brings him to Drake, who exposes Dominique as a spy for helping Bond escape his security teams and has her executed. Before he is killed himself, Bond breaks free and escapes to the ground floor of the Phoenix building, where he is rescued by Australian Intelligence agent Alura McCall. Upon leaving Tokyo, Bond finds himself sent to an island in the South Pacific alongside Alura, learning that Drake owns it and is using a jamming signal to conceal what he has stationed there.
Sent ahead of a joint taskforce of United Nations , EU and NATO forces, Bond and Alura deal with the island's defences, while eliminating Rook and Kiko. Discovering that Drake built a launch facility on the island, Bond determines that he plans to capture the SDP and use its weapons to dominate the world. While Alura remains behind, Bond pursues Drake in one of his space shuttles. On reaching the station, he proceeds to sabotage it so that it will destroy itself and then kills Drake as the station begins to break apart. Bond swiftly escapes in an escape pod moments before the station is destroyed and returns to Earth. Upon his return, Bond reunites with Alura and spends a romantic evening to celebrate another successful mission.
Development and release
The game had been in development as early as September 2000,[3] and was announced as James Bond 007 in May 2001.[4] By February 2002, the game's working title was James Bond in... Phoenix Rising.[5] The game's final title was unveiled three months later.[6] In July 2002, James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan had his head scanned with a laser digitizer to create the player character,[3][7] who is voiced by Maxwell Caulfield.[8]
Eurocom developed the home console versions,[9] while Gearbox Software handled the Windows version.[10][11] Gearbox utilized the GoldSrc game engine by Id Software and Valve Corporation, though it was heavily modified for Nightfire.[11][12][10] Driving levels were developed by Savage Entertainment and a team at Electronic Arts.[13] These levels were excluded from the Windows version so Gearbox could focus on the first-person and multiplayer modes.[14] Nightfire marked the first time a James Bond video game featured an original song: "Nearly Civilized" performed by Esthero.[15] Its original score was composed by Steve Duckworth, Ed Lima and Jeff Tymoschuk.
In North America, Nightfire was released for home consoles around 18 November 2002, coinciding with the theatrical release of the Bond film Die Another Day.[9][16] The Windows version was released a week later.[17] In January 2003, Electronic Arts announced that a Game Boy Advance version of the game was in development by JV Games.[18] A Macintosh version, by Aspyr Media, was released in June 2004.[19]
Reception
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Home console versions of James Bond 007: Nightfire received "generally favorable" reviews, while the Game Boy Advance and PC versions received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[20][21][22][23][24] It was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Shooter on GameCube" award, which went to TimeSplitters 2.[62] In 2008, PC Games Hardware included Alura McCall, Makiko Hayashi, Dominique Paradis and Zoe Nightshade among the 112 most important female characters in games.[63] During the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Nightfire for "Console First-Person Action Game of the Year".[64]
By September 2003, the game had sold five million copies across all platforms,[65] with the Xbox version achieving Platinum Hits status for selling at least two million copies.[66] In the United States, the computer version sold 230,000 copies and earned $5.3 million by August 2006, after its release in November 2002. It was the country's 93rd best-selling computer game during this period.[67] The PlayStation 2 version received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[68] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[69]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "007: Nightfire (2002) Windows credits". https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/007-nightfire_/credits.
- ↑ https://www.mobygames.com/game/37796/007-nightfire/releases/#macintosh
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NightFire Developer Diary: Entry 1". 2002-08-09. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/09/nightfire-developer-diary-entry-1.
- ↑ "The Ultimate GameCube Preview Guide". 2001-05-02. http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/02/the-ultimate-gamecube-preview-guide?page=4.
- ↑ "Eurocom Develops Next James Bond Title". 2002-02-12. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/12/eurocom-develops-next-james-bond-title.
- ↑ "007 NightFire Screenshot". 2002-05-09. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/09/007-nightfire-screenshot.
- ↑ Mirabella, Fran (2002-07-18). "Pierce Returns to Bond". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/18/pierce-returns-to-bond.
- ↑ Holub, Christian (5 April 2019). "'Empire Records': Where are they now?". Entertainment Weekly. https://ew.com/gallery/empire-records-where-are-they-now/. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ajami, Amer (2002-10-18). "James Bond 007: NightFire Updated Preview". http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/jamesbond007nightfire/preview_2895091.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ajami, Amer (2002-07-18). "James Bond 007: NightFire Preview". http://www.gamespot.com/articles/james-bond-007-nightfire-preview/1100-2874776/.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Asher, Mark; Brown, Ken (August 2002). "Bondage". Computer Gaming World (United States) (217): 40.
- ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (2002-05-22). "E3 2002: James Bond 007: Night Fire impressions". http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/jamesbond007nightfire/preview_2867383.html.
- ↑ "NightFire Developer Diary: Entry 2". 2002-10-09. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/09/nighfire-developer-diary-entry-2.
- ↑ Brown, Ken (November 2002). "James Bond 007: Nightfire". Computer Gaming World (United States) (220): 88–96.
- ↑ Harrington, Richard (28 October 2005). "Esthero, Mixing It Up Again". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/10/28/esthero-mixing-it-up-again/02b88377-b203-4317-924d-0c6872792685/.
- ↑ Parker, Sam (19 November 2002). "007: NightFire ships for consoles". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/007-nightfire-ships-for-consoles/1100-2898006/.
- ↑ Sulic, Ivan (20 November 2002). "Nightfire Ships Next Week". https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/20/nightfire-ships-next-week.
- ↑ "James Bond 007: Nightfire". 2003-01-07. http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/07/james-bond-007-nightfire-8.
- ↑ "James Bond 007: Nightfire". 13 June 2004. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/13/james-bond-007-nightfire-5.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "James Bond 007: Nightfire for GameCube Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/james-bond-007-nightfire/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "James Bond 007: Nightfire for Xbox Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/james-bond-007-nightfire/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "James Bond 007: Nightfire for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/james-bond-007-nightfire/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "James Bond 007: Nightfire for Game Boy Advance Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/james-bond-007-nightfire/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "James Bond 007: Nightfire for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/james-bond-007-nightfire/critic-reviews/?platform=pc.
- ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "007: NightFire (GC) - Review". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39037&tab=review.
- ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "007: NightFire (Xbox) - Review". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39036&tab=review.
- ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "007: NightFire (PS2) - Review". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39035&tab=review.
- ↑ Frankle, Gavin. "007: NightFire (GBA) - Overview". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=42337.
- ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "007: NightFire (PC) - Overview". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39040.
- ↑ Edge staff (December 2002). "007: Nightfire". Edge (118).
- ↑ EGM Staff (January 2003). "James Bond 007: Nightfire Xbox Review From EGM". Electronic Gaming Monthly (163): 196. http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1488255,00.asp. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ Taylor, Martin (2002-12-02). "James Bond 007: Nightfire Review (PC)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_nightfire_pc.
- ↑ Helgeson, Matt (January 2003). "Bond 007: Nightfire (GC)". Game Informer (117): 102. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200301/R03.0730.1642.36534.htm. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ "Bond 007: Nightfire (Xbox)". Game Informer (117): 108. January 2003.
- ↑ Reiner, Andrew (January 2003). "Bond 007: Nightfire (PS2)". Game Informer (117): 90. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200301/R03.0730.1351.27918.htm. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ Simon Limon (2002-11-19). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/27177.shtml. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ Air Hendrix (2002-11-19). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/27179.shtml. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ DJ Dinobot (2002-11-19). "James Bond 007: Nightfire Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/27178.shtml. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ DJ Dinobot (2003-03-20). "James Bond 007: Nightfire Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/28600.shtml. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (2002-11-25). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/james-bond-007-nightfire-review/1900-2898571/.
- ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (2002-12-06). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review (PC)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/james-bond-007-nightfire-review/1900-2901142/.
- ↑ Williams, Bryn (2002-12-06). "GameSpy: James Bond 007: NightFire (Xbox)". GameSpy. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/james-bond-007-nightfire/546790p1.html.
- ↑ Williams, Bryn (2002-12-04). "GameSpy: 007: Nightfire (GC)". GameSpy. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/james-bond-007-nightfire/547313p1.html.
- ↑ Williams, Bryn (2002-12-04). "GameSpy: 007: Nightfire (PS2)". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/james-bond-007-nightfire/563764p1.html.
- ↑ Osborne, Scott (2002-12-04). "GameSpy: 007: Nightfire (PC)". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/james-bond-007-nightfire/563743p1.html.
- ↑ Giacobbi, Kevin "BIFF" (2002-12-08). "James Bond 007: NightFire - PC - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2002/12/08/james_bond_007_nightfire_pc_review.
- ↑ Romano, Natalie (2002-12-04). "James Bond 007: NightFire - PS2 - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2002/12/04/james_bond_007_nightfire_ps2_review.
- ↑ Surette, Tim (2002-12-10). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review - GameCube". GameZone. http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20312.htm.
- ↑ Raymond, Justin (2002-12-15). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review - Xbox". GameZone. http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20312.htm.
- ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (2003-04-19). "James Bond 007: NightFire Review - Game Boy Advance". GameZone. http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20312_GBA.htm.
- ↑ Casamassina, Matt (2002-11-18). "James Bond 007: NightFire (GC)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/james-bond-007-nightfire-2.
- ↑ Casamassina, Matt (2002-11-19). "James Bond 007: Nightfire (Xbox)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/19/james-bond-007-nightfire.
- ↑ Casamassina, Matt; Smith, D.F. (2002-11-18). "James Bond 007: NightFire (PS2)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/james-bond-007-nightfire-3.
- ↑ Sulic, Ivan; Casamassina, Matt (2002-11-25). "Nightfire Review (PC)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/25/nightfire-review.
- ↑ Harris, Craig (2003-03-31). "James Bond 007: NightFire (GBA)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/31/james-bond-007-nightfire-6.
- ↑ "James Bond 007: Nightfire (GC)". Nintendo Power: 170. January 2003.
- ↑ "James Bond 007: Nightfire (GBA)". Nintendo Power: 137. May 2003.
- ↑ 1UP Staff (January 2003). "James Bond 007: Nightfire". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 130. http://www.1up.com/reviews/james-bond-007-nightfire_2. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
- ↑ "Review: James Bond 007: Nightfire". Official Xbox Magazine: 63. January 2003.
- ↑ Osborn, Chuck (February 2003). "007: Nightfire". PC Gamer: 61. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/007_nightfire.html. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ Walk, Gary Eng (2002-11-22). "James Bond 007: Nightfire Review". Entertainment Weekly (683): 84. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20431259_390666,00.html. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
- ↑ GameSpot Staff (December 30, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002". GameSpot. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/.
- ↑ Bayer, Thilo (2008-01-01). "PCGH history: The most important female characters in games". PC Games Hardware. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/%26menu%3Dbrowser%26image_id%3D754266%26article_id%3D626856%26page%3D4%26show%3Doriginal.
- ↑ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details James Bond 007: Nightfire". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2003&idGame=398.
- ↑ "Bond Delayed to 2004". 17 September 2003. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/17/bond-delayed-to-2004.
- ↑ Calvert, Justin (22 August 2003). "Next wave of Xbox Platinum Hits coming". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-wave-of-xbox-platinum-hits-coming/1100-6073712/.
- ↑ Edge Staff (25 August 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century". Edge. http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/.
- ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3944.
- ↑ Caoili, Eric (26 November 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php.
External links
- James Bond 007: Nightfire at MobyGames
- James Bond 007: Nightfire (Microsoft Windows & Mac OS X) at MobyGames
- James Bond 007: Nightfire (Game Boy Advance) at MobyGames
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James Bond 007: Nightfire.
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