Review: 007 Blood Stone

[Woodsey]

Quite generous in my opinion.

Whilst I did thoroughly enjoy the game and I did feel like Bond, the story and dialogue are terrible(this is apparently the guy who wrote the Goldeneye film, and if that's true he should be ashamed beyond belief), as is the acting (except Judi Dench and Daniel Craig, who were really good), I still can't work out why the hell it's called Blood Stone, the investigation sections are pretty dull and the cutscenes too often display the things I should be doing.

Oh, and if there's blood surrounding the screen I know I need to stay in cover, and I know the when the ammo is flashing I need to reload, and I know what the button is to do so; stop treating me like a moron!

HOWEVER, it is a step in the right direction: the takedowns feel great (if a little disconnected), the focus aim works better than Conviction's mark and execute, and the investigation sections at least display the knowledge that Bond does more than hit things and go vroom vroom in his car.

What these games really need are a new publisher, and a collaboration between the guys who made Hitman: Blood Money, Splinter Cell: Conviction and Arkham Asylum.

3/5 for me.

 

[LordLoudmouth]

Dude, they´ve already done this once.
Anybody remember "Everything or Nothing"?

 

[Norix596]

This looks like Bourne Conspiracy + Splinter Cell Convition

 

[Blind Sight]

I still can't work out why the hell it's called Blood Stone, the investigation sections are pretty dull and the cutscenes too often display the things I should be doing.

I haven't played the game, but I assume Blood Stone refers to blood diamonds from Africa? Do they play a role in the story?

 

[Pwner]

Russ, great job on the video, fun to listen to.

 

[Woodsey]

I still can't work out why the hell it's called Blood Stone, the investigation sections are pretty dull and the cutscenes too often display the things I should be doing.

I haven't played the game, but I assume Blood Stone refers to blood diamonds from Africa? Do they play a role in the story?

No xD

That's what I thought it'd be about, but Joss Stone's character (big mistake by the way) mentions them once, and a villain has some diamonds attached to a knife he uses.

The rest is about biological warheads.

 

[Falseprophet]

I didn't think anyone outside of the US military had access to the Osprey yet. How the hell is the Burmese army going to afford it?

 

[duchaked]

I rented this game just looking for some Bond action but hey the game itself didn't turn out half bad. Got some gunfight action, some stealth objectives, and some insane vehicle set pieces.
Nothing that's gonna blow other games out of the water though...but still, it's Bond...James Bond.

Though I gotta say, the ending was kind of anticlimactic (my friends predicted it too)...

Spoiler

the girl is actually bad and you chase her down in a car chase and stop her with a bump from behind (fnar fnar) and an unmanned drone guns her down...personally I thought instead the drone should fire a missile that blows up the bridge you're confronting her on, and you as James Bond leap off the bridge and land on a passing yacht or something. brush off your shoulders, straighten your clothes, check your gun, pose for the camera dundunDUNdunDunnnn Bond theme roll credits then reassure the audience that the Bond movie will come eventually

 

[ImprovizoR]

As a huge Bond f an I can't be very objective. But I'll say my piece anyway. This game rocks. It's like a Bond movie all the way through. Sure the game lacks some gameplay elements of more modern shooters but who needs them anyway? It has everything a good Bond game needs. I'm already replaying the game on 007 difficulty. It may look bland, but it's not. It's very immersive especially if you're a Bond fan like I am. Also the game has phenomenal soundtrack. Music is very Bond-like. Especially the opening sequence song which is actually better than most Bond movie songs. I can't stop listening to it. If Activision advertized this game like they advertize CoD I'm sure it would get a 9.0 score from most reviewers. It's a shame this game will be overlooked by so many because it's not advertized. It is the best Bond game ever made as far as single player is concerned. I don't regret buying it for PC. Also, the game features 0 glitches!

I agree with Woodsey about cutscenes. A lot of cutscenes could have been actual gameplay and it's noticeable. I wrote a review about the game on the official Blood Stone forum and I mentioned that. You can see my review here: http://www.bizarrecreations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=19860&sid=c53418894b246c1b91324bce4d9d8877
It's mostly about things that they can improve for the sequel. If devs by any chance take my review into consideration next game would be great.

 

[smearyllama]

It looks like a solid title. I never got around to watching any of the films, and this looks like some fun to be had when the price goes down a little more.

Maybe I'd spend a weekend with this and play it occasionally after that. It looks like Uncharted, which I enjoyed, and it has multiplayer, too.

 

[Hippobatman]

Interesting, my brother has a Wii, maybe he'll get the game at some point. After which his Wii might disappear for a day or two... Sad.

And that last pun + your giggle really split my sides. Seriously. Spontanious laughter xD

 

[F-I-D-O]

Yay! Boats!
That made me laugh a LOT more than that last pun. A lot more.
Anyway, this looks like an add to my Christmas list. Dang it, I've got about 7 Download titles, and 10 disk titles, plus one more in January. Hopefully this makes up for my Wii being messed up and unable to play GoldenEye

 

[Zero_ctrl]

So is this as good as Everything or Nothing?
Because that was the best Third-Person Bond game I know.

 

[binvjoh]

This game looks pretty good, I might get it.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

This game has been getting mixed reviews. Perhaps one more over-positive review like the one Mr Pitts just provided us with will be enough to push it over into "definitely descent" territory.

 

[Luciano Silva]

I don't know why those puns hurt, I'll buy the game whens its cheaper.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Might I ask where the missing star in the overall score came from? From the review, you seemed pretty impressed with the game overall, and you didn't really give a clear defined reason for the slightly lower rating, so what brought it down. The slightly bland stealth portions? Or the fact you didn't get to fly the Osprey?

OT: I am also wondering why it was so low. You seemed like a kid in a candy store that had a jar of peanut butter (see, I actually read the article). The only flaw that I could see is that its linearity would bother you.

At a guess, I'd say because he claims it doesn't really break any new ground. A five star game should denote true excellence, whereas the impression I got from the review is that the game is functional, and certainly fun to play, but not the kind of true greatness that deserves a 5-star rating.

Then again, considering that many reviewers grade based on a game's hype rather than the game itself, the amount of stars in a review doesn't mean all that much

 

[daavisb]

great bad puns

 

[Gralian]

Looks like another regurgitation of the travesty that was Quantum of Solace. For me, that's where the Bond franchise died off.

I'll take Goldeneye for the Wii over Blood Stone any day.

Although i'd take a HD remake á la the same treatment Perfect Dark for Xbox Live Arcade over the lot.

I can't really get behind Daniel Craig as James Bond. I know it's a niggling issue that shouldn't affect the game itself, but he's just too sullen and srsface. Bond is meant to be suave, 'Mr. Cool'. An espionage master, a ladies' man, a smooth talker, someone who can swagger into the villain's hideout like he owns the joint. Daniel Craig comes off more Agent 47 than James Bond.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Oh wow. that joke...was terrible!