Quantum of Solace is a 2008 James Bond video game based on the films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Several different versions of the game were released across seven platforms, with the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii designed as first-person shooters and the PlayStation 2, PC and Nintendo DS as third-person shooters.
The first James Bond title published by Activision, Quantum of Solace was primarily developed by Treyarch and was ported later to other platforms by three other companies: Beenox, Vicarious Visions and Eurocom. It is powered by the Call of Duty 4 game engine.[1] The game was released on October 31, 2008 in Europe and November 4, 2008 in North America. A separate single-player platforming mobile game of the same name was developed by Javaground and published by Glu Mobile in November of the same year.
Plot
Gameplay
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
The core gameplay in Quantum of Solace is that of a first-person shooter. Throughout the game, however, the view will switch to a third-person view to emphasize that the player is playing as James Bond. This third-person view will be used with a cover system and quick time events, among other scenarios. An example is using quick time events to chase Mollaka during a level that is a recreation of the construction site chase at the beginning of the Casino Royale film.
Nintendo DS
The DS version of the game is drastically different from its console counterparts. The game is played with the DS sideways and as such is not a first person shooter. Actions (such as firing a weapon) are done by pressing icons on the touchscreen, while the DS's buttons are relegated to primarily initiating hand-to-hand combat. Bond's movements are controlled in a similar fashion to The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, where the player drags the stylus around the touchscreen.
Wii
The Wii version of the game is developed by Beenox and features up to 4 players in a split screen offline multiplayer. Online mode allows for a maximum of 4 players in a choice of 4 modes: Conflict, Rush, Team Conflict and Team Rush. These have different ratings for each individual mode based on Mario Kart Wii's rating system. The Wii version also uses Friend Codes which allow players to create games just for themselves and friends. The online mode uses Miis in a manner similar to Mario Kart Wii as well.
Playstation 2, PC
The PlayStation 2 and PC versions of the game are an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter, much like 007: Everything or Nothing. The PlayStation 2 version excludes missions such as "Miami Airport" and "Train", but it adds missions such as "Docks", the Port-au-Prince part of the movie.
Multiplayer
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
- Bond Versus: A lone Bond plays against six other members of the 'Organization'. Bond will win if he defuses two of the three bombs, or else eliminates every member of the Organization. To make the game fairer Bond has two lives, can see all enemies, and can use any weapon set (whereas the members of the Organization have only 3 basic options). The Organization wins if Bond dies twice or if he cannot defuse two bombs in the time limit.
- Team Conflict: Basic Team Deathmatch of MI6 versus the 'Organization'.
- Golden Gun: This is a standard free-for-all conflict, which the main aim is to score 100 points. One point is scored for a kill with normal weapons, or for picking up the Golden Gun, while kills while holding the Golden Gun (or killing the person with it) scores 6. The winner is the first to score 100 points, or the highest amount of points in the allotted time limit.
- Bond Evasion: There are two teams, MI6 and The Organization. One player from the MI6 team is randomly designated as Bond, and therefore as the VIP. MI6 wins the round if Bond can get to the escape point, or if all of the Organization are eliminated. The Organization wins if Bond is prevented from escaping within the time limit, or if he dies.
- Territory Control: Basic match of one team having to control a point to gain points for their team.
- Classic: You start with a GF 18 A (Glock 18). Weapons and explosives are spawned around the level for you to pick up.
When playing in Multiplayer, credits are earned based on the number of points acquired. These are used, in a currency format, to purchase further enhancements and upgrades. These can be spent on unlocking new weapons, explosives, gadgets (such as increased health or better accuracy) and attachments for weapons. The upgrades can be accumulated in any order, instead of in a set order, and are able to stack.[2]
Wii
- Conflict: This is a death-match. Up to four players compete versus each other to score as many kills as possible in a selectable number of minutes.
- Rush: This is a mission death-match. All players (up to four) are against each other, and are assigned certain missions to complete in a selectable number of minutes.
- Team Conflict: The goal is to get the most kills for your team (Organization versus MI-6). The teams can be constructed in any way (3 vs 1, 2 vs 2, 4 vs 0, in a four player match). There is a time limit of 15 minutes.
- Team Rush: This is a team play game. The goal is to do specific missions before the other team does, all while staying alive. 15 minutes is the time limit.
The Wii's ranking system is the same as Mario Kart WiiTemplate:'s online. Players start at 5000 points, and can gain or lose points depending how well they played. The 5000 points are separate for each game mode, for example: A player can have 5350 points in Conflict, and have 5000 points in Rush or Team Rush.
Development
In May 2008 an official site for the game went live. Currently the site features video, pictures, weapons, story, concept art, and news regarding Quantum of Solace movie and game and more will be added as development continues and the release date nears. Treyarch has said that multiplayer will be a big part of the game and will reveal the multiplayer for the new Bond game later in the year. Leaked screenshots surfaced in early July. The official trailer appeared online July 15. A single-player demo was released exclusively for the PC on October 6, 2008, sponsored by Coke Zero, which is also featured in the game's pre-awareness online marketing campaign.
Music
The music for the game was written by composer Christopher Lennertz, who recorded the strings for his score overseas, but then recorded brass, percussion and guitar with members of the Hollywood Studio Symphony in Los Angeles at the Capitol Records Studios.[3] The game features a different theme song from that of the film, "When Nobody Loves You" (written by Richard Fortus and Kerli; performed by Fortus, Kerli, and David Maurice; produced and arranged by David Maurice). The song plays over an opening title sequence in the Bond tradition that is proprietary to the game, but is based on the (pre-credits) car chase sequence from the film.
Cast
| Character | Likeness | Voiced by |
|---|---|---|
| James Bond | Daniel Craig | |
| M | Judi Dench | |
| Bill Tanner | Nick Jameson | |
| Dominic Greene | Mathieu Amalric | |
| Camille Montes | Olga Kurylenko | |
| Mr. White | Jesper Christensen | Enn Reitel |
| General Medrano | Joaquin Cosio | Alex Fernandez |
| Le Chiffre | Mads Mikkelsen | |
| Vesper Lynd | Eva Green | |
| Craig Mitchell | Glenn Foster | Fred Tatasciore |
| Mollaka | Sébastian Foucan | Ike Amadi |
| Steven Obanno | Isaach De Bankolé | Greg Eagles |
| Carter | Joseph Millson | |
| Guy Haines | Paul Ritter | Adam Godley |
| Adolph Gettler | Richard Sammel | Kai Wulff |
Reception
The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have received mixed reviews, ranging from average to favorable, the Wii edition has been criticized for frame rate issues and sluggish IR. The DS version has received average reviews, but has been praised for the unique perspective in which the game is presented.
Media
Images
Video
References
- ↑ IGN: Activison Plans to Overhaul Tony Hawk. Xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-15.
- ↑ Quantum of Solace Guide & Walkthrough - PlayStation 3 (PS3) - IGN. Guides.ign.com (2008-09-30). Retrieved on 2012-11-15.
- ↑ Dan Goldwasser. "Christopher Lennertz scores the Quantum of Solace Video Game", ScoringSessions.com, 2008-11-04. Retrieved on 2008-11-04.
External links
Trivia
- Quantum of Solace is the first James Bond video game to be released on a seventh generation console as well as the first to feature Daniel Craig's voice and likeness, as well as those of Eva Green, Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, Olga Kurylenko and Mathieu Amalric.
- It's the only Bond game to feature both first person and third person mode. (Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii only).
See also
