GoldenEye: Rogue Agent

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
Developer(s)	EA Los Angeles (PS2, Xbox, GC) EA Tiburon & n-Space (DS)
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Distributor(s)	MGM Interactive
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 Xbox GameCube Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	PS2 & Xbox NA 20041122November 22, 2004 EU 20041126November 26, 2004 JP 20050113January 13, 2005 GameCube NA 20041122November 22, 2004 EU 20041203December 3, 2004 JP 20050113January 13, 2005 Nintendo DS NA 20050613June 13, 2005 EU 20050701July 1, 2005 JP 20050804August 4, 2005
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Media/distribution	2 × Nintendo optical disc 1 × DVD

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is a first-person shooter video game developed by EA LA and published by Electronic Arts. Set in an alternate timeline of the James Bond universe, the player takes the role of an ex-MI6 agent Jack Hunter, who is recruited by Auric Goldfinger (a member of a powerful unnamed criminal organisation based on Ian Fleming's SPECTRE) to assassinate his rival Dr. No. Several other characters from the Bond series make appearances throughout the game, including Pussy Galore, Oddjob, Xenia Onatopp and Francisco Scaramanga.

Despite its name and being part of the James Bond universe, the game has no relation to the 1995 film or the 1997 video game of the same name. In this setting the game's protagonist is given the name 'GoldenEye' after he loses his eye and receives a gold-colored cybernetic replacement.

Plot

The opening scene consists of a recording from M (head of MI6) revealing that: "Three years ago, while on assignment, the agent was severely wounded by Dr. No and subsequently lost the use of his right eye. Consumed with vengeance, he frequently resorts to violence and brutality, and is no longer fit for service with MI6."

Three years after losing his eye on that mission the agent (Jack Hunter) is re-evaluated by MI6 in a holographic simulation. He is paired with 007 in a mission to stop Auric Goldfinger, a member of the global terrorist organisation SPECTRE, from detonating a suitcase nuke inside Fort Knox. Hunter is held directly responsible for the failure of the mission, and the "death" of 007, after failing to act after a helicopter crash left 007 hanging from a cliff. Hunter is dismissed from MI6 on the grounds of "reckless brutality", and upon leaving the building is seen to be reading an invitation from Goldfinger to join his branch of SPECTRE.

Upon accepting the offer Hunter is recruited as Goldfinger's enforcer, and meets with him at Auric Enterprises. Goldfinger's scientists have developed a weapon, known as the O.M.E.N. (Organic Mass Energy Neutralizer), which releases energy capable of disintegrating organic matter on an atomic level. In recognition of his previous battle with Dr. No (the head of a rival branch of SPECTRE) who has declared war on Goldfinger and his team, Hunter is given the golden-colored cybernetic eye. The eye, created by Francisco Scaramanga (another official in Goldfinger's branch), leads to Hunter's codename "GoldenEye". Throughout the game Scaramanga provides four upgrades for the eye; MRI Vision, EM Hack, Polarity Shield, and Induction Field.

After surviving an attack by Dr. No's men on Goldfinger's hidden base (Auric Enterprises) GoldenEye is sent on various missions for Goldfinger. The missions cover various locations such as Hong Kong, the Midas Casino, the Hoover Dam, an underwater Black market known as the Octopus, and a Jamaican island called Crab Key. Each mission sees GoldenEye fighting Dr. No's henchmen, protecting Goldfinger's assets (such as the O.M.E.N.), and along the way kills Xenia Onatopp, Oddjob,and eventually Dr. No himself. The final confrontation with Dr. No. takes place on Dr. No's island Crab Key. During their duel, GoldenEye uses his mechanical eye to sabotage the island's nuclear reactor, causing it to electrocute Dr. No. to death. Goldfinger then contacts GoldenEye to inform him that he is too dangerous to be left alive and reveals that he plans to take over the volcano lair, leaving GoldenEye to die in the impending nuclear meltdown. GoldenEye escapes the island in Dr. No's Osprey before the reactor overloads, leaving the island to be destroyed in a large explosion.

GoldenEye heads to the volcano lair, intent on killing Goldfinger for his betrayal. Pussy Galore informs GoldenEye that Goldfinger has used the O.M.E.N. to wipe out most of the guards in order to take control. Scaramanga provides the mechanical eye with a computer virus that he can use to overload the O.M.E.N.

GoldenEye fights his way through the Lair and uploads the computer virus. Goldfinger manages to trap GoldenEye inside an airtight chamber that will soon run out of oxygen. However, the computer virus then activates the O.M.E.N. causing it to explode, killing Goldfinger and his remaining troops. GoldenEye and Pussy Galore leave the lair aboard Galore's helicopter. A final cut-scene depicts Scaramanga and Number One (Ernst Stavro Blofeld) congratulating themselves on having successfully played Goldfinger and Dr. No off one another, suggesting that GoldenEye was just a pawn in their game. They then discuss what to do with GoldenEye, deciding to see what he does next before proceeding - leaving the story-line open to be picked up in a sequel.

Characters

Both the Campaign missions and the multiplayer game feature characters based on characters in the film adaptations of Fleming's Bond novels.

• Jack "GoldenEye" Hunter
• Dr. No (likeness of Joseph Wiseman but voiced by Carlos Alazraqui)
• Ernst Stavro Blofeld (likeness of Donald Pleasence but voiced by Gideon Emery)
• M (likeness of and voiced by Judi Dench)
• Francisco Scaramanga (likeness of and voiced by Christopher Lee)
• Pussy Galore (likeness of Honor Blackman but voiced by Jeannie Elias)
• Auric Goldfinger (likeness of Gert Fröbe but voiced by Enn Reitel)
• Xenia Onatopp (likeness of Famke Janssen but voiced by Jenya Lano)
• Oddjob (likeness of Harold Sakata)
• James Bond 007 (likeness of and voiced by Jason Carter)

Multiplayer

The game featured a highly customizable multiplayer component with four-player split screen play, as well as online play on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. On November 26, 2006, the servers for both versions were shut down due to "inactivity" online. Players can unlock additional customization options, skins, maps, and gametype variations by playing through Story Mode earning Octopus tokens based on performance. There are some locked skins such as Oddjob, Dr. No, and Xenia Onatopp. There are also locked maps such as the Pump Room, Carver's Press, the Bath House, the Vault Core, the Lower Turbine, Dr. No's reactor, the Fissure Platform, and GoldenEye's Retreat.

Sequel (Cancelled)

A sequel was originally planned but scrapped due to the poor sales and reviews the present game received. The game's ending also hinted at a sequel. According to various sources, the sequel would have included vehicles and a longer story mode. On the EA website for GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, a questionnaire asking what fans wanted to see in the next game was available.

Reception

Scores
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	(GC) 64.25% (Xbox) 63.64% (PS2) 59.01% (NDS) 57.57%
Metacritic	(Xbox) 61/100 (GC) 60/100 (PS2) 60/100 (NDS) 58/100
Review scores
Publication	Score

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent received mixed reviews. Results of the aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic are shown in the table to the right. Reviewers criticized the game's lack of innovation and personality, despite its unique premise, and mediocre gameplay. Several reviewers also disliked its departure from James Bond canon in its introduction and killing off of characters. It was largely considered to be an attempt to recreate the success of one of the best-selling video games in recent history, GoldenEye 007, which was a first-person shooter for the Nintendo 64 based on the Bond film GoldenEye. Aside from the character Xenia Onatopp, the Uplink multiplayer level, and the fact that both involve a good agent going bad (although in the case of the original, not the protagonist). It had nothing to do with either the film GoldenEye or its video game adaptation, although the protagonist's scarred appearance considerably resembles Sean Bean's portrayal of rogue agent, Alec Trevelyan.

The game was, however, noted for showcasing certain levels and multiplayer maps based on locations from the Bond movies, such as Fort Knox from Goldfinger, the space shuttle base from Moonraker, and Scaramanga's hideout from The Man with the Golden Gun.

See also

• Outline of James Bond

External links

• GoldenEye: Rogue Agent at MobyGames