Online, Where It Belongs

By Alex McLain

Love for the originalGoldenEye primarily stems from its brilliant split-screen multiplayer. While its single-player campaign was a tremendous achievement in its own right, for many, it primarily served as a training ground for the endless rounds of Death Match that old-school gamers played after its completion. A couch, three friends, chips, pizza, soda, an N64, a copy of GoldenEye, and four controllers (preferably with rumble packs) was more than enough to fill any weekend. The multiplayer is what gaveGoldenEye its legs, and there is no greater test for theGoldenEye: Rogue Agent™ claim for spiritual sequel status than its own multiplayer.

Those of us who were around for the "stay up 'til your eyes are bloodshot and your butt is numb" Death Match extravaganzas of the original GoldenEye have sadly grown up. We've gone off to college (and hopefully graduated), started careers and families, and generally moved apart from many of the friends we so enjoyed fragging on a consistent basis.

In many ways, Xbox Live™ has allowed us to keep tabs on our gamer friends of old, and so it is with much joy that we welcome GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. While Rogue Agentembraces its split-screen origins, it does not ignore the present state of multiplayer gaming. Xbox Live functionality is alive and well in Rogue Agent. Let the frag fest reunions commence!

Like the technology that drives our online multiplayer experience, game design for first-person shooters has evolved these last few years as well. But, fret not little ones; EA has not slapped together an online experience that's all nostalgia and no gameplay.Rogue Agent sports all the bells, whistles, and game types you could want. Check out a few of the highlights …

Butter Smooth
It may seem like a small thing, but a first-person shooter that staggers and stumbles in the frame rate department doesn't deserve to be online. Luckily, EA's network code appears to be top notch. There should be no whining about lag kills here.

Modes Upon Modes
Of course, you can't forget about the various game types that are available. There are four major game types, but with all the customization options, it feels like a whole lot more. They are:

Showdown
When you're looking for a stripped-to-the-bone first-person frag-fest, Showdown is what you need. It's an all-out, everyone-against-everyone affair. The rules are simple. Whoever gets the most kills wins (though earning Rogue points for headshots and melee kills is good for the bragging rights, too).

Team Showdown
When you're feeling the urge for a bit of teamwork and tactics, but you still want some basic Death Match, you can partake in the joy of Team Showdown. It's simple, it's quick, and it’s a whole lot funnier to listen to when you've got friendly fire on. Whichever team gets the most kills wins. Just watch out and make sure you're not dead weight for your team. Otherwise, you'll hear about it.

Domination
When you want to run, gun, and still have to think about what you're doing, give Domination a chance. The goal here is to maintain ownership of as many platforms around the map as you can.

Countdown
This mode, which is specific to System Link and Xbox Livegames, asks you to protect different countdown platforms around the map. The more you protect and the more you take over from your enemy, the faster their time will drop. The first team to run out of time loses.

Tug-O-War
This little gem of a game type has each team attempting to move a bomb into the opposite team's base. It's not just a simple matter of picking up the bomb and running with it, though. For example, a game of Tug-o-War on the Transit Tunnel map will have you competing over the controls for a trolley, as each control station will move it one step closer to the other team's base. Firefights around these control panels are brutal.

Mix It Up
The game types are impressive enough, but the ability to infuse each mode with a bevy of your own custom rules is what really tips the scale in this game's favor. Just go to Advanced Setup for a host of different customization options. You'll be able to change the general rule set for Showdown and Team Showdown (e.g. You Only Live Twice, which allows each person only two lives, or License to Kill, which makes every shot lethal). You'll also be able to change the weapons available on each match, which power-ups are available, whether friendly fire is on, and which modifiers (e.g. Turbo Speed) you want available for every game type. It's up to you to modify the game to fit your fancy. There are options aplenty.

The original GoldenEye defined the multiplayer first-person-shooter experience for its day. Rogue Agenttakes its foundation, builds on it, and gives us in the best package possible—complete with Xbox Live play!

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