From Russia With Love

There are some minor gameplay issues, and the weak multiplay -- with no online gaming -- hurt the overall game, but the single-player story is strong.

It lacks any measure of challenge, playing out more like a shooting gallery in spots than a proper action game. And above all else, it simply lacks that spark--that thrilling feeling that wasn't just one key part of "Everything or Nothing," but rather, was the entire essence of what made that game so enjoyable.

In an effort to appeal to a wide range of gamers the gameplay is less than difficult. It's a lot less than difficult but it's not so much challenging as it is meant to be entertaining. Do I have to bring up the phrase "interactive movie" again?

Everything that was in "EoN" is back albeit with a contemporary 1960s setting including the gadgets, yet there’s something distinctly lacking that fails to bring the game close to living.

The game is way too easy to blow through, and some additions come at a cost of some of the more crucial elements in the film.

At the end of the day, it has quite a compelling story and where else are you going to hear Sean Connery in a videogame?

Anyone nostalgic for the glory days of the Bond film franchise will love the inclusion of a classic film as well as the return of Sean Connery. However, it doesn’t try anything new, multi-player stinks, it’s too linear, and it’s too easy, so it’s not worth more than a rental.

It all makes for an action game kinda like your typical Bond girl: fun to look at but shallow. With simple mission objectives, cinch puzzles, and autoaim (that you can tweak for more skillful shots if you like), this game practically plays itself.

An overly liner, repetitive action game with very little personality.

Though challenging, it's also sometimes pedestrian, with a host of uninspired levels and dim bad guys ruining what could have been the triumphant return of 007.

Sure, the production values are a bit better in FRWL (I particularly like shooting grenades off of the enemies' belts) and there are some decent gameplay tweaks (such as the "Bond focus" aiming for precise shots and the lack of stupid stealth levels), but the overall game is just plain easier and more sedentary feeling when compared to the previous game.

Unfortunately, the cut-scenes throughout the game just rub salt into the wound, their slick animations contrasting with the clunky in-game action. Yes, From Russia With Love creaks like the 75-year-old Connery's knees, but it still has style. [PSW]

There's not much here that's more challenging than slicking your hair into a Pierce Brosnan pompadour. [Feb 2006, p.93]