Anyone searching for the definition of a legendary franchise need look no further than James Bond. The charismatic secret agent has been entertaining fans with his spectacular brand of ladykilling, technology-driven espionage for nearly seventy years, ever since the promiscuous superspy’s introduction in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale.
A slew of movies has been released over the years, with six different actors assuming the role of James Bond on the silver screen. However, with the latest cinematic installment No Time To Die giving Daniel Craig a proper send-off, and receiving praise from fans and critics alike, now feels like the perfect time for a new 007 outing in games. Thankfully, IO Interactive, creators of the Hitman games, are working on an as-yet-untitled James Bond project which fans hope will satisfy their cravings for more 007.
Why James Bond Is Already a Legendary Video Game Character
James Bond is no stranger to video game incarnations. He first appeared in text adventure Shaken Not Stirred way back in 1982 for the ZX Spectrum, although his first properly licensed appearance wasn’t until 1983’s side-scrolling shooter James Bond 007 by the Parker Brothers, developed for various machines including the Atari and Commodore 64.
Many other games followed, some of which were more successful than others. Released in 1997 on the N64 to tie-in with the GoldenEye movie, GoldenEye 007 is one of the best-selling games in that console’s history and one of the most popular movie tie-ins ever released. It is also regarded as an important historical milestone for first-person shooters, heralding a transition from Doom-style mechanics to more realistic presentation and gameplay that influenced modern franchises like Call Of Duty, and regularly appears in "greatest games of all time" lists.
In stark contrast to that game’s success, 2012’s Eurocom and Activision release 007 Legends was considered a major flop. Despite ambitious plans to showcase every actor that had portrayed Bond, the game itself was badly reviewed, with its gameplay considered dull and derivative, and its story unimaginative. The game was such a commercial and critical failure that Activision decided to remove it from some digital stores, and Eurocom was forced to lay off over 100 employees.
The abject performance of 007 Legends shows that, despite the enduring popularity of James Bond himself, the inclusion of the character in a video game does not guarantee its success. IO Interactive’s upcoming release, known only as Project 007, will therefore need to deliver quality and innovation if it hopes to remedy its predecessor's shortcomings and redeem James Bond's video game reputation.
Why IO Interactive’s Project 007 Is Perfectly Timed
Thankfully, IO Interactive may be the perfect developer to tackle this illustrious franchise. Its Hitman games have been selling well and delighting fans with their blend of stealth and assassination mechanics, as well as gripping storylines, for over twenty years. This expertise in stealth and combat gameplay could make IO Interactive ideally equipped to deliver a memorable Bond experience.
IO Interactive is undoubtedly taking a risk by putting Hitman on hiatus to focus on Project 007, but the blockbusting performance of the new movie means the developer has a great opportunity to capitalize on the franchise’s popularity. Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the iconic character throughout his run has received praise for bringing a more human, fragile and fallible side to James Bond, rather than the suave and unflappable playboy fans have seen in the past. With audiences getting excited for Bond more than ever before, a new James Bond game has an opportunity as golden as Mr. Scaramanga’s favorite firearm.
Furthermore, with modern video game hardware reaching unprecedented levels of graphical capability, the developer undoubtedly has a chance to create the most cinematic Bond experience to date. However, simply including high-fidelity likenesses of movie stars won’t be enough to succeed, and IO Interactive knows it needs to leverage the best game design paradigms to bring slick and entertaining gameplay to the forefront of its new title. With video games steadily maturing as an industry, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the most cutting-edge innovations.
The developer has also announced that Project 007 will feature an original new story. Given how important the implausible, chaotic, and twist-laden plots are to the success of the Bond movies, this decision is likely to be well received. However, the quality of the writing will dictate whether gamers appreciate the narrative that IO Interactive creates. IO Interactive's experience with Hitman should provide a solid foundation for Project 007 in that regard.
Fans may also judge the game harshly if it is perceived to be not more than a re-hash of Hitman, clad in a James Bond skin. To ensure the approval of players and fans of the franchise, IO Interactive must think carefully about which elements of its Hitman games will work for James Bond.
For example, if it chooses to eschew the first-person approach that made GoldenEye 007 such a success, the comparisons to other third-person shooters will be inevitable. If Project 007 will use a third-person perspective like the games in the Hitman series, IO Interactive must ensure that its title is sufficiently differentiated from a host of other third-person action adventures already on the market. Competing with behemoths like God Of War and The Last Of Us 2, or even just the Hitman reboot alone, will be far from straightforward.
Many challenges lie ahead for IO Interactive in developing a successful new James Bond video game, but the developer’s pedigree makes it well-placed to deliver. Fans look forward eagerly to more news on the mysterious new title.
Project 007 is currently in development.