Super AiG's Guide to Every (old) James Bond Game Ever, Volume 2
Sadly not a real thing that actually exists. |
Game 5 - The Living Daylights (1987)
Formats: Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-Bit, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum.
Commodore 64 |
That's a pretty competent title screen for a C64 game I reckon, though it's a bit lifeless. It could use a little more a little more drama, a little more... emotion.
BBC Micro |
At least it confirms we're playing as Timothy Dalton this time, in case there was any doubt. And if it turns out to have co-op, player two will be playing as a demon straight out of a Japanese horror movie.
Commodore 64 |
I've been shooting these people for a while now though, and nothing seems to be happening. I'm starting to get the feeling I'm doing something wrong.
Amstrad CPC |
This seemed like a good thing, and I was very happy about this turn of events until he suddenly tripped over for no reason (as demonstrated here by his Amstrad doppelgänger), giving the people in the background a chance to pop up and get a couple of free shots in. Apparently I still haven't got the hang of this 'walking' thing.
Atari 8-Bit |
Eventually I figured out if I press up while he's walking he'll do a little jump over them, and then I can carry on with the walking. This has actually been a pretty useful training exercise so far, I've learned a lot.
MSX |
It's just a shame he's so damn hard to see in some versions. By the time I've realised where he is and started dragging the cursor his way, he's already moved.
ZX Spectrum |
Click here to see the answer.
If you got it right, then congratulations! But he's already shot you and moved somewhere else, sorry.
Atari 8-Bit |
Hmm, what weapon should I get to replace my paint gun? I suppose it doesn't matter because I'll never take the time to swap them over in the middle of a shootout.
Atari 8-Bit |
I know I'm being vague, but it's not that I haven't been paying attention, they just haven't explained a single thing that's going on. 'Choose a weapon' was the closest the game's come so far to having a complete sentence.
Commodore 64 |
Oh and see that enemy silhouette in the window? Probably an innocent bystander. The easy way to tell the difference is to stand in the street like an idiot and wait to see which one shoots you. Or you can just run to the exit and ignore them all.
Commodore 64 |
Commodore 64 |
Atari 8-Bit |
I doubt this game was ever considered good, and age has stolen whatever appeal it did have. My professional opinion, as someone who played it for a couple of minutes and got three levels in, is it's a bit rubbish.
Game 6 - Live and Let Die (1988)
Formats: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.
Atari ST |
There was no Bond film this year, so they based this game on one made 15 years earlier instead. All I remember about the Live and Let Die movie though is the Paul McCartney theme tune, and it's not even in the game. Though you know this music it does have isn't actually bad.
Commodore 64 |
I'll think I'll go with the practice course first, taking place in sunny England. Hopefully an assassin won't try to shoot me this time.
PRACTICE COURSE - SUNNY ENGLAND:
Commodore 64 |
Right, it turns out that I'm in a boat and I've got to race down this river dodging rocks and shooting targets.
Amiga |
Though I just respawn again straight afterwards. I don't even seem to have limited lives.
Amiga |
Anyway I've learned the difference between red and black circles, so it's time to take this training to the next level. We're going to the Arctic.
NORTH POLE TRAINING EXERCISE:
Amiga |
Still, it could be worse, I could be playing on the Commodore 64 version.
Commodore 64 |
Can't go wrong with shooting. Well, unless I accidentally hit a fuel barrel, then I'm screwed. It turns out that the C64 game does have limited fuel, just not on the practice course. And the stuff runs out fast.
Amiga |
I'm starting to think that the fuel gauge is actually more like a timer, and fuel barrels are time bonuses. Getting my boat blown up slows me down, which means I've got less time to make it to the next barrel.
Well, I totally fucked that level up, but I think I'm ready for my actual assignment. Well, I mean I'm ready to stop playing these bloody training levels.
NEW ORLEANS DUTY ASSIGNMENT:
Amstrad CPC |
The Amstrad CPC version of the is as fast and slick as any of them, but it's got a bit of a problem in that the barrels are red, and the boats are red, and the logs are red, and at at distance they all look the same. I keep shooting up my fuel and trying to collect enemies.
Amiga |
Uh, actually I think this guy might be on my side, as it seems he's dropped a package for me. Which I missed because I was busy jumping off logs. Damn, that thing probably had fuel in too.
Atari ST |
It seems I'm not quite ready yet for the dangerous life of a secret agent. Time for more practice I reckon.
SAHARA DESERT TRAINING EXERCISE:
Amiga |
At first I assumed it was ridiculous to have a boat level set in the Sahara Desert, complete with pyramids. But apparently you can actually see pyramids from the Nile, so what do I know?
ZX Spectrum |
Oh, and I ran out of fuel and failed this level too.
So yeah, Live and Let Die isn't really much of a Bond game. In fact it apparently started life as a game called Aquablast, and they threw the Bond license on afterwards to sell more copies. Which kind of explains why most of the game doesn't even take place in the US. They could have at least called it 'James Bond: Speedboat Training' so people knew what they were getting into.
James Bond will return in tomorrow's exciting instalment of... my list of James Bond games that I am playing.
Read part three.
Go back to part one.
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