From Russia With Love (Sony PlayStation 2, 2005)

Yes, you get to use the PPK. And yes you get to drive the DB5. However, the most interesting part of this game is customising your gameplay.

Starting out you get the standard Bond white tuxedo jacket and black slacks (and poofy red flower), armed with a PPK. As you progress, not only do you pick up new weapons and ammo, but different outfits, weapon upgrades, and new gadgets. Rappeling using the special gadget belt is easier than before, and the special bond focus option alsos the player more of a chance to do the game with some stealth. Three levels of difficulty as usual, I found 00 agent to be challenging enough to make the gameplay fun hands down.

If you need to see for yourself how this game preforms, I would recommend at least renting it to see what I'm saying. Previous Bond games had you do missions with what was available on that one perticular level. This game does a better job of letting you "make" your own James Bond.

...one last thing, you want to test drive the wheel spikes on the DB5. >:D

I hate to say it, but this is one of my two least favorite Bond games to date. The concept was good, take an old movie and turn it into a game. Even got the old actor to do the voice, which sounded good at first, but not in the game itself.

This is yet another 3rd person shooter. I really don't like that fact, and found that I enjoyed the 1st person Bond games much more. Sure you can roll and stuff, but that's really not a big deal to me.

While the idea of using Connery for the voice overs was good on paper, it didn't come out as well in the game, in my opinion. Why? He is an old guy now and is voice doesn't sound like it did back in the 60's and so on. It was really weird hearing the old Connery doing the part of his young self having watched the Bond movies many times myself. For those who have never seen them, you won't know the difference.

The game play is sort of fun. Jet packs, boats, etc. That all makes for some fun times, but the 3rd person and voice really annoyed me. The training missions did to, as I am more of a jump-right-into-the-game-and-p​lay typer person.

Overall, a 3 out of 5. Any Bond fan will want to have this game, but I highly recommend getting Agent Under Fire or Nightfire first. I enjoyed playing those two games much more than I did this one.

The problem with all James Bond games post-Goldeneye is that they all essentially played the same. With one exception: they were not near as fun. From Russia With Love actually delivers a fun, challenging, and deep third-person shooter. The story mode is pretty long and offers multiple difficulties to beat it on. There are also challenges in each mission that allow you to earn medals that unlock bonus levels that don't directly pertain to the story. The multiplayer mode is the highlight of the game and features unlockable characters like Goldfinger and Dr. No (obvious omissions from Goldeneye).

Too bad killing people in this game is SO EASY it's ridiculous. Some people will like the arcade style of locking onto someone and shooting them and watching them go down. Others will be very bored by blowing through enemy after enemy without having to aim (unless you want to score Bond points to buy unlockable things). The AI is not the smartest either so there are no fun shootout moments. There are also "Bond Moments" that you can do in each mission. This is a double edged sword.

Example

Cool Bond Moment - Using a grappling hook to swing across a building, through a window, and smashing into an enemy guard!

Wtf Bond Moment - Walking into a room with extra ammo and body armor...


Overall, this is a fairly easy game with not a lot of challenge for seasoned shooter fans. Some parts feel very "Bondish" while other parts seem very "Wow Sean Connery really sounds old...that's kinda weird." On the other hand, this game would have rocked my world had I never played Socom, Splinter Cell, or Resident Evil 4. But if for no other reason get it for the multiplayer mode which can even entertain you and one other friend for a few hours. I can't even say that about Socom.

I love the James Bond character. The guy gets to do every thing and gets to use the neetest stuff. And he gets the girl at the end of the movie. What guy walking the face of the earth wouldn't want to be James Bond? Well now I can thanks to my ps2. I have all the Bond games now, and From Russia With Love is my favorite since I can play as Sean Connery. I always thought that he brought the most class to the character of Bond. I'm really enjoying From Russia With Love.

Look up Sean Connery on IMDb.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

Like me, you'll find that one of Connery's last listings before "retirement" is his work in this video game. And good thing, too, because what better way for Connery to end his celebrated career than by returning to the role that brought him international fame.

In addition to seeing (and hearing) Connery as Bond, "From Russia With Love" is an excellent Bond game — one of the best since "Goldeneye." The game has all the cinematic value of "Everything Or Nothing," but with simpler controls and an improved interface.

While the multi-player mode leaves something to be desired, you'll have as much fun playing the game as you did watching the classic movie.