007: Nightfire review – PC Gamer issue #107 (US, February 2003)
From the archives: The review below appears as originally written, with only minor changes in formatting and newly taken screenshots. By Chuck Osborn
(Image credit: EA)
In a curious twist of fate, it seems that the games which take playful jabs at the iconic Bond franchise, such as No One Lives Forever and its sequel, have managed to outshine the official entries featuring the legendary superspy. 007: Nightfire, while aiming to capture the essence of Bond, stumbles in several areas that leave players yearning for a more polished experience.
The artificial intelligence in Nightfire is notably flawed, presenting a peculiar dichotomy. Guards exhibit an alarming lack of awareness, failing to react to the chaos unfolding around them, yet they possess an uncanny ability to detect Bond the moment he enters their line of fire. This inconsistency can lead to frustrating gameplay, particularly during stealth missions where the objective is to alert guards without triggering a failure state. Despite the manual suggesting players shoot out lights to remain hidden, the reality is that these lights seem impervious to damage, adding to the overall sense of disillusionment.
Combat mechanics also leave much to be desired. The damage model appears erratic, allowing for one-shot kills with a sniper rifle while multiple shots from a pistol barely faze enemies. Boss battles, too, lack creativity, featuring a predictable lineup of adversaries that require little more than basic shooting tactics to defeat.
Views to a kill
However, not all is lost in Nightfire. The game excels in its set design, transporting players to a variety of intricately crafted environments—from serene Japanese estates to bustling rocket hangars and the lavish quarters of the villain, Drake. Some sequences, like the tension-filled elevator scenario where players must eliminate threats before their cable snaps, showcase moments of ingenuity.
The multiplayer component offers standard fare with modes such as deathmatch and capture the flag, featuring recognizable Bond characters. Yet, the execution of these likenesses can be hit-or-miss, leaving players wanting more authenticity.
In the grand scheme of spy adventures, No One Lives Forever 2 stands tall, leaving Nightfire feeling somewhat lackluster in comparison. The portrayal of James Bond in this iteration lacks the charisma and depth that fans have come to expect, rendering him a rather bland version of the iconic character.
007: Nightfire review (2003)
Special commentary on this classic PC Gamer review provided by:<span class="personstrapline”>Archive Spelunker<figure class="image-wrappedwrapper” data-bordeaux-image-check=”false”><source class="personavatar image-wrappedimage imageimage” type=”image/webp” srcset=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R-140-80.png.webp 140w” sizes=”99vw” data-normal=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-original-mos=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-pin-media=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-pin-nopin=”true” data-slice-image=”true”/><source class="personavatar image-wrappedimage imageimage” type=”image/png” srcset=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R-140-80.png 140w” sizes=”99vw” data-normal=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-original-mos=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-pin-media=”https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLoGHTuSZDFZX6QdzCTj4R.png” data-pin-nopin=”true” data-slice-image=”true”/>
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007: Nightfire review – PC Gamer issue #107 (US, February 2003)
From the archives: The review below appears as originally written, with only minor changes in formatting and newly taken screenshots. By Chuck Osborn
In a curious twist of fate, it seems that the games which take playful jabs at the iconic Bond franchise, such as No One Lives Forever and its sequel, have managed to outshine the official entries featuring the legendary superspy. 007: Nightfire, while aiming to capture the essence of Bond, stumbles in several areas that leave players yearning for a more polished experience.
The artificial intelligence in Nightfire is notably flawed, presenting a peculiar dichotomy. Guards exhibit an alarming lack of awareness, failing to react to the chaos unfolding around them, yet they possess an uncanny ability to detect Bond the moment he enters their line of fire. This inconsistency can lead to frustrating gameplay, particularly during stealth missions where the objective is to alert guards without triggering a failure state. Despite the manual suggesting players shoot out lights to remain hidden, the reality is that these lights seem impervious to damage, adding to the overall sense of disillusionment.
Combat mechanics also leave much to be desired. The damage model appears erratic, allowing for one-shot kills with a sniper rifle while multiple shots from a pistol barely faze enemies. Boss battles, too, lack creativity, featuring a predictable lineup of adversaries that require little more than basic shooting tactics to defeat.
Views to a kill
However, not all is lost in Nightfire. The game excels in its set design, transporting players to a variety of intricately crafted environments—from serene Japanese estates to bustling rocket hangars and the lavish quarters of the villain, Drake. Some sequences, like the tension-filled elevator scenario where players must eliminate threats before their cable snaps, showcase moments of ingenuity.
The multiplayer component offers standard fare with modes such as deathmatch and capture the flag, featuring recognizable Bond characters. Yet, the execution of these likenesses can be hit-or-miss, leaving players wanting more authenticity.
In the grand scheme of spy adventures, No One Lives Forever 2 stands tall, leaving Nightfire feeling somewhat lackluster in comparison. The portrayal of James Bond in this iteration lacks the charisma and depth that fans have come to expect, rendering him a rather bland version of the iconic character.