From Russia With Love

A fun game that does a really good job of making you feel as if you are taking part in a classic-era Bond film. Unfortunately, the overall linearity and lack of a significant multiplayer mode ensures that this is a game that will be played through once, and then left on the shelf.

The only thing that was holding this game back was its limitations put upon it by having to follow an established movie.

From Russia With Love isn't the most challenging or in-depth game in the world, however what it lacks in both of these categories it more than makes up for by simply being a highly entertaining and authentically cinematic shoot'em-up game.

A rather straight-forward action game. There are a few minor quibbles, but on the whole the action is smooth and frantic. Looks, sounds and feels like Bond. [Nov 2005]

Boasts a fantastic sneak system with incredibly gratifying yet super-easy stealth kills. [Jan 2006, p.76]

There are predictable missteps--the driving sequences are awkward and twitchy, and the camera doesn't always behave itself--but on the whole, From Russia With Love is a convincing and enjoyable ride on the sixties Bond rollercoaster.

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.

Drive the Goldfinger DB5, fly the Thunderball jetpack and fight some classic baddies in challenging environments. It's enough to make you toss your trilby on to a hat-rack in delight.

When we look back on it the levels in "Everything or Nothing" bordered on great. In comparison, some of Russia's missions are longer, but generally they're average in design and effect.

Solid entertainment for a weekend or Connery junkies, but people looking for the next great third-person shooter shouldn't stop their search.

Even with the man who created the 007 persona back in the starring role, this sequel just can't measure up to the standards of excellence set by the Bond films or by the action game genre in general. [Dec 2005, p.160]

An enjoyable gaming experience even though it is a rather short one. The easy difficulty takes away from some of the enjoyment of the game.

EA made a daring attempt at trying to portray the 1963 film, which for the most part, reached its goal despite the small lack of fluidity in level selection and plot transitions. However, gamers who enjoyed "Everything or Nothing" will be extremely disappointed to find out that From Russia With Love doesn't even come close to its previous predecessor's gameplay innovation and fast-moving action build-up.

While the general gameplay is fun, the aiming system needs to offer a bit more manual control. Additionally, the AI should have received an upgrade this time around.

I enjoyed the shooting action on foot but found the driving to be a little lacklustre.

A great game if all you want is a man with a gun shooting some bad guys. But if you want a Bond game, stick with "Everything or Nothing."

While it lasts, Bond fans should fall head over heels for From Russia With Love.

Things get stale rather quickly, largely in part to the game's propensity to confining players to a single path through the campaign. The multiplayer doesn't help things along very much.

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.

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.

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?

Like the films lately, the series is getting a bit stale no matter who dons the Bond moniker.

An immersive game, but it's just too bad that the gameplay at the core of it is so ho-hum and bland.

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.

Here's the difference between "Everything or Nothing" and From Russia With Love: whatever you thought of its approach, "Everything or Nothing" had to be invented; From Russia With Love just had to be filled. And it has been - with stuff from "Everything or Nothing."

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.

In a lot of ways, these games are starting to mimic the films. They get released semi-regularly and right from the get-go we know what to expect; a reasonably engaging time that we'll quickly forget about as soon as we put the controller down.

If From Russia With Love could be solely judged on its sheer Bond-ness, it would receive high marks thanks to the stunning music, the incredibly detailed in-game Sean Connery and the excellent voice acting. However, as an actual game, this one just doesn't do enough to impress.

So take a chance, stop with this utterly average scripted nonsense and dare to be different, EA. You owe it to the nation. England expects... [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Far too easy and unsatisfying to do justice to the source material.

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