One fan of GoldenEye 007 gloriously recreates the classic first-person shooter's level "Facility" using the Unreal Engine 4 game development software.
Many gamers who grew up playing the Nintendo 64 would more than likely attest that GoldenEye 007 is one of, if not the most influential first-person shooter of all time, while developer Rare initially thought it would be a disaster. Naturally, when compared to today's modern crop of releases, though, its graphics leave something to be desired, so taking that into consideration, a fan recently decided it was high time that one of the best video games based on a movie got an update with Unreal Engine 4's visuals.
As an assignment for his Master's degree program at Sheffield Hallam University, student and budding video game environment artist Jude Wilson re-imagined a segment of GoldenEye 007's “Facility” stage to give it a true-to-life flair. Explaining the artistic aims of the designs for the graphical overhaul, he wrote:
"I have combined the N64's original layout with the film's look and feel using Unreal Engine 4. I have tried to get it as realistic as possible, using the film's interiors, props, and lighting, but remaining true to the original game at the same time."
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On a more technical note, Wilson makes it clear on his website that all of the actual assets seen in the video above were created from scratch using a combination of 3DS Max, Marmoset Toolbag 2, Photoshop, nDo2, Substance Designer, and of course, Unreal Engine 4. That said, his hard work is definitely on display, as the final product looks gorgeous. If anything, the original music from the “Facility” theme ought to strike a chord with GoldenEye fans.
GoldenEye 007 is far from the first video game to get an upgrade with Unreal Engine. As it happens, a lot of other Nintendo properties have been brought up-to-date with the software, but results have ranged from beautiful to horrific. In the former camp, some fans made a Pokemon mod with Charmander, Squirtle, as well as Bulbasaur, and they all looked absolutely adorable. Then, on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, when HAL Laboratory's beloved pink blob Kirby was created in Unreal Engine 4, the outcome was totally terrifying, albeit extremely realistic.
At any rate, Jude Wilson's "Facility" level recreation is a great example of a tasteful and accurate homage, so it should definitely bring back some fond memories for GoldenEye 007 fans. And if his artwork is any indication of the rest of his portfolio, game developers would do well to hire him when he's finished with his university studies.
What do you think of GoldenEye 007 in Unreal Engine? Does it make you want an official remaster of the game for current generation consoles? Let us know in the comments below.
GoldenEye 007 is unquestionably one of the most memorable games in existence, and is available for Nintendo 64.
Source: Jude Wilson Game Art 1, 2 (via GameSpot, NeoGAF)