FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND (IF YOU ACTUALLY LIKE HIM): JAMES BOND 007

GOLDENEYE
DEVELOPER | ACTIVISION
PLATFORM | NINTENDO WII
RELEASE | 11.2.10

Only a handful of games spark assassin glee and genuine joy in every male aged 22-35 when mentioned. Goldeneye is the champion of this realm. Utter words of the 007 game, and everyone has an epic story of boyhood battles with friends. I recall my buddy, Dave Stevens, always being enormously pouty over not being “the man with the golden gun.”
This wasn’t the first game to feature battle modes, but it stood out with the split screen and being able to stealthily kill your friends as Bond. My initial feelings when they brought it to the Wii were, “Those jerks! Why not release this on the virtual console and keep it cheap?” My grumpy disposition was quickly set aside. Guiding Daniel Craig, the game’s pace and style are noticeably better. The sound effects of a good kill are gratifying thuds as you lurk your way through enemy compounds and air vents undetected. As for the Wii remote, directing your shots with more than a handheld remote has never felt more right on this platform. With increased action and dynamics, this maintains its legacy as one of the finest in first person shooter games.