Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Almost, but not quite"

2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise, making it the longest running film franchise ever. 23 movies have graced the big screen, including the newest hit, Skyfall. To add on to this accomplishment, Activision and Eurocom have released 007 Legends, a Bond shooter that is flawed in many places, but a blast for Bond fans.

The single player campaign begins with the opening sequence of Skyfall, where Bond is chasing a data drive in the hands of an enemy mercenary. A field agent attempts to assassinate the mercenary, but accidentally hits Bond, and he plunges into the river below. As his body washes away, he has flashbacks of his previous missions.

007 Legends takes five of Bond's movie outings (Goldfinger, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Moonraker, Licence to Kill, and Die Another Day), and translates them into a more modern version of the hits, this time starring Daniel Craig's likeness. Hardcore Bond fans will notice the nods and stories from these missions, but those unfamiliar with Bond history will likely be confused throughout.

The game can be played in two main ways. Much like 2010's GoldenEye remake, players can choose to use stealth to eliminate enemies and infiltrate bases. However, if that's not your type, you can run in, guns blazing. The former gameplay mechanic is hard to accomplish successfully, due to enemies spotting their fallen mates since bodies cannot be moved.

As well as the campaign, single players can also enjoy the Challenges mode. It is there where they can tackle 10 missions with several types, including Assault, Infiltration, and Defense. You can change the settings to make the mission harder, which awards you more stars upon completion, as does finishing as quickly as possible.

Multiplayer is also present in 007 Legends, both local split-screen and online. You can choose from several game types, although the community refuses to play anything other than Legends (free-for-all with Bond characters) and Team Conflict (team deathmatch). Gameplay-wise, the game is nearly an exact copy of Call of Duty: custom loadouts, small, maze like maps, and leveling up with XP.

All together, 007 Legends is a mixed bag. The single player campaign can be amusing, as can the challenges and multiplayer, but those who aren't familiar with the James Bond franchise will not enjoy it as much as those who do. It may not have been what was expected, but 007 Legends is an enjoyable game nonetheless.