007: Nightfire

🎮 Overview

• Title: James Bond 007: Nightfire

• Platform: Xbox (also on PS2, GameCube, PC, and GBA)

• Release Year: 2002

• Developer: Eurocom (console versions), Gearbox (PC version)

• Publisher: EA Games

• Genre: First-Person Shooter with stealth, gadgets, and vehicle missions

• Style: A cinematic, original Bond adventure inspired by the Pierce Brosnan era.

📖 Story

Nightfire tells an original James Bond tale not directly tied to a movie, but styled like a 007 film:

• Bond investigates Raphael Drake, head of Phoenix International, a corporation secretly stockpiling nuclear weapons and building an orbital weapons platform.

• The plot takes Bond around the globe — Austrian castles, Japanese skyscrapers, snowy military bases, tropical islands, and even a space station.

• Pierce Brosnan’s likeness is used for Bond’s model, but he does not provide the voice (Bond is voiced by Maxwell Caulfield).

• As usual, Bond is supported by MI6 allies like M and Q, and opposed by femme fatales and eccentric henchmen in classic Bond fashion.

🕹 Gameplay

Core Mechanics

• First-Person Shooter Action:

  • Traditional 007 combat with espionage elements.

  • Bond can wield pistols, sniper rifles, SMGs, shotguns, rocket launchers, and futuristic Phoenix weapons.

• Gadgets:

  • Wristwatch laser (cuts locks, hacks systems).

  • Grappling hook (reach high areas).

  • Pen dart gun (tranquilizer or poison).

  • Q-tech glasses (night vision/infrared).

• Bond Moves: Special points awarded for stylish spy actions (e.g., stealth takedowns, gadget usage, avoiding alarms).

Missions & Structure

• Single-Player Campaign:

  • 12 main missions, blending stealth, shooting, and cinematic set pieces.

  • Levels are varied, from sneaking through castles to storming enemy facilities.

• Driving Sequences:

  • A few missions put Bond behind the wheel, including:

    • The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.

    • The Pontiac GTO.

    • The Pacifican Armored Vanquish (with missiles and gadgets).

  • Gameplay here is arcade-like, with missiles, machine guns, and fast-paced chases.

Multiplayer

• Local Split-Screen (up to 4 players):

  • A major highlight of the console version.

  • Modes: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and others.

  • Bot Support: AI opponents could be added.

• Characters: Wide roster from Bond films, including:

  • Oddjob, Jaws, Baron Samedi, Goldfinger, Scaramanga, Renard, May Day, and more.

• Maps & Weapons: Dozens of arenas, with gadgets, vehicles, and an arsenal of classic/futuristic Bond weapons.

• This made it a fan-favorite party game, often compared to GoldenEye 007 on N64.

🎨 Presentation

• Graphics (Xbox):

  • Sharper textures and smoother performance compared to the PS2/GameCube versions.

  • Stylish cutscenes and Bond-like cinematic transitions.

• Sound:

  • Orchestral soundtrack incorporating the iconic Bond theme.

  • Solid voice acting (though not Brosnan).

  • Great weapon sound effects and over-the-top explosions.

• Atmosphere:

  • Very “Bond film” in tone: suave, dramatic, and globe-trotting.

📝 Reception

• Praise:

  • Varied missions with a mix of stealth, shooting, and driving.

  • Excellent split-screen multiplayer with bots and classic Bond characters.

  • Fun gadgets that added depth beyond standard shooters.

  • Faithful to the James Bond style.

• Criticism:

  • Campaign was relatively short (~8–10 hours).

  • AI could be inconsistent (especially in stealth).

  • PC version was very different and often considered weaker than the console editions.

✅ In short:

James Bond 007: Nightfire for Xbox is a classic Bond shooter blending spy gadgets, stylish gunplay, and cinematic missions with a standout split-screen multiplayer mode. While the story was original and not tied to a film, it captured the Pierce Brosnan-era Bond atmosphere perfectly. It’s often remembered as one of the best 007 games after GoldenEye 007.