Treyarch did add in espionage elements such as a hacking mini-game to try and diversify the game mechanics – it’s too bad that they’re lacking and mundane. Treyarch didn’t give players the options to platform for whatever reasons unknown. Rather than climbing up a water pipe manually, Bond will automatically climb up ladders and sections of the environment automatically. What Quantum of Solace boils down to is an action game focused on gunplay. So if you’re looking for the intelligent side of Bond, you will want to look elsewhere.
With the COD4 engine in place, QoS is a mixed bag in the visuals department. On one side you have a fantastic looking Daniel Craig character model and on the other side, you have repetitive enemy models along with the monotonous animations. The enemies react the same and aren’t the brightest bulb in the room thus the game tires about halfway through. The explosions are dull and needed to have more work done, especially for an action game with a humongous license such as Bond.
Completing Quantum of Solace in about five hours or so, players will need to find their replay value within the multiplayer. Up to 12 players can enter into the multiplayer modes that include: Bond Versus, Golden Gun, Bond Invasion and others. Within Bond Versus, there’s one player selected as Bond pitted against members of the Organization as he attempts to diffuse two of three bombs on the level or eliminate all opposing enemies. This game mode reminded me a lot of Splinter Cell’s multiplayer game modes of hunting down spies but it wasn’t as entertaining in the long run. In the end, don’t expect the same level of addiction that you may have received from COD4 or Call of Duty: World at War; there are no perks to unlock or any of the like.
Quantum of Solace would’ve benefited from a lengthier campaign; perhaps they could’ve packaged the whole story arc from Casino Royale into the game to give players more to do with Bond. There are certainly moments where you’ll feel as if you actually are Bond but for the majority of time, you’ll be wondering where all the fun is. Treyarch had all the right ideas, but the execution was sloppy and that won’t sit well for all those Bond fans who demand excellence.
