Great splitscreen multiplayer sells a solid, but otherwise unremarkable package.
Cons: Controls never quite work how you want them to; Graphics are too dark; A few too many quick-time events late in the game; Terrible AI; Muddled plot; Lack of offline mode variety
If you've read most reviews for Goldeneye 007 on the Wii, you've no doubt seen the trend where they comment on past fond memories of the N64 game and see how the new version holds up against their nostalgia. That won't be the case here, as I've spent very limited time with the N64 original. However, with that said, I can tell you that Goldeneye 007 on the Wii is a game worthy of your time, judged on its own merits.
The primary element of the original Goldeneye remembered fondly is its split screen multiplayer, and this is no doubt what people are curious about in the new version. It's also no doubt the most compelling reason to buy the Wii remake. The process behind this enjoyable mode is that each player chooses their Bond character, their load out of weapons, and then proceeds to shoot the hell out of each other. It's a solid, if unremarkable, idea, and one that is backed up by equally solid shooting.
The local modes are all simple, being some variation on deathmatch or another (the closest thing to an exception being golden gun where the titular gun gives one player bonus points and one-hit kills, in exchange for firing really slow), but the focus on building the game around split screen is a nice change of pace. This goes as far as the maps, which have been carefully tweaked to accommodate four players comfortably and without leaving too much extra room. Despite same-y modes, things luckily don't get too repetitive, thanks in part to the crazy, enjoyable modifiers meant for a party atmosphere. For once, a modern game has been developed with extended LOCAL multiplayer in mind and it shows.
Online is a bit more typical, if just as enjoyable. To put it simply, it's Call of Duty set in the Bond universe. The ranking system, the accolades, the perk system, matchmaking, and so on, are all there. Online also gets the addition of a few more objective oriented modes that the local multiplayer doesn't have (though less of the charm) giving it further legs. It may be generic, but Goldeneye's online component forms what is easily the best online Wii shooter available. Goldeneye's online component would even be considered up to standards if it were on another system.
Single player, much like online, feels very much like Call of Duty set in the Bond universe. The use of cover, aiming down the sights, the heavily scripted, high action action sequences-even slow-motion breaching from Modern Warfare 2 has made it in. This is a good and a bad thing, since energy levels are high, but often tactical options are low. Not that you need much tactics, since enemies in Goldeneye are undoubtedly handpicked from the dumbest individuals available (again, like Call of Duty, just worse). The smartest thing these soldiers do is take cover, and that's only when they aren't running around needlessly, strolling straight up to you, or otherwise standing still.
However, UNLIKE Call of Duty, Goldeneye 007 has significant slower-paced sections that consist of something besides walking. Whereas Call of Duty is always balls-to-the-wall (for better or worse), Goldeneye often takes some time to throw in some light stealth elements. These are arguably the most fun parts of the campaign to play, even if they lack the wow factor that the larger set-pieces provide. Looking for the best way to sneak around enemies or the best order to incapacitate them is a treat, and also where the level design shines.
However, there are some issues with the campaign that keep it from reaching greatness. For one, the controls are tough to get right. Although you have several control schemes available, and they are highly customizable, getting both precision and speed is nigh impossible, which becomes frustrating in some of the larger battles (the other reason why the, more methodical, stealth shines). The good news, however, is that the game replaces these controls with quick-time events for many small actions and late-game fights…which isn't really good news, since those aren't really better.
There's also the issue of plot: Goldeneye sees you (as James Bond) attempting to stop Russian villains (plus a few of their other allies) from using EMPs and other weapons to do bad stuff…or something. The plot in general is never communicated terribly well, leaving more questions than it answers, which is really bad for a movie-based game that already has the plot basically written for it. Perhaps the movie was just as muddled (I never saw it, so I don't know), but the game doesn't stand on its own regardless.
The other big campaign issue stems more from the graphics: namely the game is too dark. Fun anecdote: on the game's brightness setting screen, it tells you to adjust the brightness until you can barely see the logo. After turning the game's brightness up all the way, and even adjusting my TV's settings, I still could not see the logo. This isn't a jab at the appearance of the graphics, which are serviceable, and well animated, although not particularly great. Rather, it's a gameplay issue, since a large portion of the campaign is spent at night or in dark areas. The brightness almost renders the game unplayable, even when night-vision goggles help reduce the effect a little bit.
The brightness, however, is the worst squabble in an otherwise well-presented and well-made game. No, Goldeneye 007 won't blow anyone away the original did, or even really blow anyone away at all. But where Goldeneye fails to revolutionize, it's a FPS well up to the standards of today's shooter market, and the crème of the crop on the Wii.