User Reviews (1 - 11 of 15)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

EA thinks you're dumb

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The beginning of From Russia With Love is a pretty indicative sign of the troubles to follow. It not only is incongruous with the story of either the movie or the remainder of the game, it's emabarrasingly easy and dull. I was struck by how restrictive and blocky the environment felt, and insulted by the bright red glowing ammo boxes and blue glowing armor vests. Have I grown stupid since my last Bond game? Do I need neon lights to point out power-ups? No, but I would have appreciated a more thoughtful attempt at this tribute to one of my favorite movies.

The worst crime EA committed was entirely misunderstanding the theme and pace of a classic Bond game. Challenge is presented through wave after wave of charging soldiers, each one as easy to mow down as the last. Exploration and discovery are nonexistent; the few sequences of varied gameplay are constricted to no more than pushing the A button (which alights on the screen for you) in proximity to a glowing onscreen "action" indicator. And the left trigger lock-on mechanic just emphasizes EA's inability to balance gameplay: every level is little more than running and repeatedly tapping the lock and fire triggers. The total lack of challenge in the gunplay evaporated my enthusiasm within the first two levels. This isn't James Bond, this is Sean Connery in "Die Hard". Yawn.

Speaking of Mr Connery, this vocal performance is pretty inexcusable, even for a 75 year old. He sounds less like our robust young hero than an old codger rushing through work just to grab a quick check and hit the Sizzler buffet. Though he may fancy himself as a guy who could still beat up Alex Trebek, the truth is that at this point Darrell Hammond is a better Sean Connery impersonator that Connery himself.

The sights and sounds of the game are impressive. A few of the movie's locales are re-created, and the developers generally did a solid job of conveying the atmosphere of the original sets. Watching the game over the shoulder of a player would give the impression of a fantastic world. Picking up the controller, however, reminds you what a dull and crushing path James must tread. Environments are tiny and heavily restricted, for example crates can be climbed using the action button, but only the ones which the developers deem necessary to advance movement. EA gave a half-hearted attempt at building an "upgradeable" weapons and gadgets system. The player earns "research points" by searching for information strewn thoughout the environment. These points can be used to upgrade your arsenal slightly, though I honestly couldnt see any benefits. And some flaw in the game prevented my from using "special" ammo on my weapons even after upgrade, leaving the excercise largely a waste. Idiotically, EA again used a glowing signal to mark each one of the valuable documents and drawers, completely rendering the search joyless.

I fully understand the need to expand and fabricate large portions of a film's story to build it into a video game. But the way EA butchered and bastardized the movie's plot is unacceptable. The chase scene in the Aston Martin is turned into an endless fragfest, with Bond exploding wave after wave of paper mache enemy cars. (Did I mention how cartoonish and awful the driving mechanics are?) And the climactic, terrifying fight scene in the train car is reduced to a dumb mid-game cutscene in a dining car, where Red Grant escapes and Bond is left to -surprise!- fight off wave after wave of generic henchmen. Grant reappears in what may be one of the dumbest, cheapest, cruelest boss fights I've ever endured.

If FRWL has one saving grace, it's the jetpack. The flying levels feel and sound like a jetpack should, and while little more than a button mashing fragfest like the rest of the game, it at least provides a sense of verticality and creative control that the rest of the game doesnt attempt. So in conclusion, if you love James Bond, Sean Connery, and the classic From Russia With Love...DON'T PLAY THIS GAME.

This Game Is Fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you are a Bond fan that enjoyed Everything or Nothing needs to buy this game as well. The justice that was done to Pierce in EON, the same is done in this one, with improvements on things that were seen in the original game. The newest feature that is on this game is the "Bond focus" that allows you to zoom in on enemies and shoot bombs and radios on the enemy soldier's waist. The story is told, and stays true enough to the movie that all fans will want to play this. The gameplay is very much the same as EON, so that is why this game would probably appeal more to fans of that game. The sweetest part is that Sean Connery himself actually talks for Bond in the game. I used to think that they must have just took his voice from the movie, but Connery actually sat in the studio and did the voice! I couldn't believe it, and it sounds great as Connery gets to be Bond once again in his favorite 007 movie. Overall, you will love the game if you are a fan, especially if you liked Everything or Nothing. The look and feel is just something no fan will get tired of, I love it!

Eh

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Honestly, EA promised a step up from their last third person action adventure, Everything or Nothing. Sadly, what you've got is a rudimentary action game with generic level design and uninspired gameplay. The gadgets are nifty, but I wouldn't say this has much substance. The game has a rather iffy multiplayer game to boot, something I hardly enjoyed with a third person 'fragfest' perspective. The game is relatively easy to breeze through, my save file took around 5 hours of playtime start to finish. For my money's worth, I'd give the nod to Everything or Nothing. As far as the continuation of the story is concerned (and the reprisal of Sean Connery as Bond), that's the only real reason why I bothered to play it. However, FRWL purists take note, some plot elements have been rewritten accordingly. Worth a rental, at most.

So much Love!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

From Russia with Love marks Bond's fourth appearance on the Xbox since Agent under Fire. I'm happy to say Bond's latest outing is a much better game than Agent under Fire and Nightfire, which were both solid enough games. This only means that From Russia with Love is a very, very good game. I would rate it slightly below Everything or Nothing, Bond's 3rd game on the Xbox. This is simply because that game's graphics are a little better and I found there to be more diversity in the gameplay. However, like I said, From Russia with Love is a very sweet game. It offers you the ability to customize your Bond by upgrading his weapons, gadgets, clothes, etc. There is a vintage, retro feeling that comes with playing this game. I felt like I had been transported into the very movie of the same name, although the game offers much more action than the film, the locations are all the same, as is the basic story. Sean Connery's voice acting is a bit raspy but it is good enough, better than anyone else could have done. The action, graphics, sound, and gameplay are all high quality. I stongly recommend this title to any fan of Bond games. To action fans, I'd say rent. As far as action titles go you could do better. But for fans of Bond, this title is great.

There is no point besides killing people

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 10
Date: March 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

There is a plot in this game but really all you have to do is go through all the rooms and kill everybody, and sometimes there are so many bad guys you wonder 'is there a website?' as you mow down 30 bad guys with a machine gun. i give it 2 stars instead of one for the graphics and the fact that you can upgrade your guns and equipment. i have lots of james bond games but this i dont really like becasue if you have tons of ammo with a machine gun you can beat any mission easy. although it is not like slaughtering the bad guys there are alot of ways to kill them from beating them up to shooting the grenade on there belt that will then fall off and blow up, you can gain wall cover and go into "bond focus" for pinpoint acuracy.

A great game! Plus Sean Connery is back as James Bond!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: January 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you are a fan of the "classic" Sean Connery Bond, this game is a MUST. Even if you don't normally play video games, buy an Xbox just to play this game. "From Russia with Love" puts you in the role of maneuvering Connery's Bond through many realistic and elaborate scenes. Sean is to be congratulated for lending his voice and likeness to this game. He actually adds new nuances to his famous characterization which makes it even more interesting in retrospect. I hope this is just his first in a series of classic Bond games. (EA: Are "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds are Forever" in the future?). The missions are loosely based on the original movie, but most of the missions contain additional new characters, weapons, gadgets, and plot elements. The player gets absorbed in the missions, which for me took numerous attempts to complete. There are three levels of difficulty that can be chosen to subdue foes before they subdue Bond. In "From Russia with Love," much of the game's fun derives from participating in the Classic Bond world. Buy It-You'll be glad you did!

Retread

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: January 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is definitely inferior to Everything or Nothing. The auto-aim is pretty cheesy, and makes the game pratically play itself which isn't always a good thing. Additionally the auto-aim can be counter-productive when dealing with multiple distance enemies. The game to me is fun but seems much more linear than Everything or Nothing. Obviously though the main attraction to this title is the vintage 007 Sean Connery, which is the games saving grace. Admittedly it is pretty cool running around as the 1960's bond, and Connery's voice acting is good, if it wasn't for that new angle on 007 this game would be pretty much a bore. I would recommend renting and not buying. One other complaint is that the bonus levels are extremely stupid. Zzzzzzz Boring. However From Russia with Love is far superiour to Agent Under Fire and Night Fire.
Bond Games Rank
1.Eveything or Nothing
2.From Russia With Love
3.Night Fire
4.Agent Under Fire (terribly cheesy and outdated)
5.007 Rogue Agent ( a complete disaster)

It lacks of style!!!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 12
Date: December 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This was supposed to be a game about a classic movie and about an iconic carachter at his best interpretation. The final result is just a repetitive shooter, with exception of sporadic use of some tools. It doesn't render the athmosphere and the spirit of the James Bond's movies, and every mission is the same you played on the level before. Too bad, because an old movie into a new game format it could have been an original and entartaining experience.

Revisiting a classic the right way.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Im a college student, who has grown up learning to appreciate the classic James Bond as played by Sean Connery, and young enough to be very fluent in video games. While this game is not the most immersive shooter out there, it is definetely an amazing interactive cinematic masterpiece.

If you are fond of Sean Connery's portrayal, and love the classic early 60's clean cut intrigue, superpower battles, and cold war mystique, then this game is it. It is an excellent blend of the original movie, and new venues that XBox allowed the developers to create. The atmosphere is perfect, the music is right on, and the era of cold war spies feels just right. The appearance of characters and actors familiar to those familiar with the movie are well placed and well excecuted. If you ever wanted to be Sean Connery and the absolute best James Bond around, drive the Aston Martin, fly jetpacks, and save the world from SPECTRE, then I think that this game is a must have.

Great game,but too easy

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 4
Date: December 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is really fun,but really easy to beat.It could take 2-3 days or less for someone to finish this game.I bought the game and I still play it even though I finished it.The last mission is not even hard.Most of the things that occur or the missions are not in the movie so they have nothing to do with the move.There was no Aston Martin DB5 in the movie.I'm not saying all of the missions have nothing to do with the movie.This is not the best James Bond game but it's not bad.This game has good graphics and sound.

Review Page: 1 2 Next 

Actions