Rare's prolific N64 output is the stuff of legend, but one title tends to stand out from the rest, primarily because it was such a curve-ball at the time that it took the entire gaming world by surprise.
Prior to the release of GoldenEye 007, two things were true: licenced James Bond games had been pretty forgettable and consoles had struggled to match PCs when it came to gripping and original FPS titles. Rare's release changed all of that overnight, delivering not only one of the best first-person shooters of the period, but also rehabilitating Bond's standing with gamers.
GoldenEye 007's legacy is keenly felt today - the regard in which it is held is reflected by the fact that it has recieved two "semi-sequels" in the form of GoldenEye: Rogue Agent and the 2010 remake, both of which featured no involvement from Rare and were pretty transparent attempts to cash-in on the legendary reputation of the 1997 offering.
Thankfully, fans like Jude Wilson are paying tribute in a more suitable manner. Wilson - a 3D game artist and Masters student at Sheffield Hallam University - has used Unreal Engine 4 to painstakingly recreate the iconic facility stage from the N64 release. The video features no gameplay but is rather a tour of the level, and looks absolutely stunning.
So stunning in fact, that former Rare staffers have picked up on it, including composer Grant Kirkhope:
Kirkhope's seal of approval was followed by that of Martin Hollis, the designer of the original N64 game:
Let us know what you think of the video by posting a comment below.
Comments 25
Looks nice. That music. Brings back some memories. I wonder how many hours were put into just this level? If it were remade like this, I would hope it would keep the gameplay like the original as well since I don't really care for how shooters moved to the call of duty style.
AWESOME! I would prefer they make it play like the original and not like the remake. I hated that COD style gameplay.
Not sure anymore, but this is the game where you could also play as "Ojob" and kill others with his hat? Or was that only in 007: Nightfire on the Gamecube? xD
anyway, this looks nice
@ChromXsome It's the N64 game. You could play as Oddjob in the multiplayer only but he couldn't throw his hat. This game was followed by Perfect Dark, a new IP but very Bond-like and, IMO, a major improvement on the solid foundation that this game provided. They're both great, love them both, but PD had the better guns and enemies. I also rather enjoyed a futuristic setting involving aliens, but that may not suit some people.
No way was PD better than GoldenEye.
I loved the original and liked the remake. I don't know why everybody says that Perfect Dark was better, both games were as good, in my opinion. Slightly more appealing was Goldeneye 007 back in the day.
Great game, would do wonders on a remake. Not just a 1:1 but slightly better designed levels and more realistic look/feel but still with the classic gameplay.
Goldeneye ... I remember carrying a 14" tv & my N64 across the road to my friends house for 8 player (4v4) Goldeneye sessions every Thursday - veterans on the big tv, bottom two players relegated to the mini tv lol
Off topic but relevant: exclusive games like these were what made Nintendo the reason for owning their consoles.
As unfortunately seen with Wii U, a system can't grow with just exclusive content (and great indie titles too) no matter how good, it does need the backing of major 3rd party games as these days that's what sells systems. If all the consoles had the same 3rd party games then add in their 'own console only' range, Nintendo would definitely be back in the Wii sales figure range.
I've had all the major consoles/handhelds from day one, Wii U has been the only one I've 'felt' let down by but I'm excited for NX & hopes it brings back that old feeling of Nintendo magic for this older gamer.
That game really DOES need a remake.
@Riff-the-Don I had similar goldeneye parties as a kid, was lucky enough to have 2 tv's at home though so nobody had to use a tiny screen at mine though good times!
It had the sort of the sort of gameplay balance that made it amazing in BOTH single and multiplayer equally. Something which is rarer than anything now, even games like splatoon aren't even in the same league!!
Yeah, it's one of the few modern takes on a classic game that doesn't change the entire feel of the visuals and turn them into some dar, grimy, and gritty style with OTT bump/normal mapping and a shiny metal/plastic look to everything. It actually looks how I imagine a modern version of the facility level in GoldenEye looking.
It's nice when someone just gets it.
@NTELLIGENTMAN I actually liked both, but I felt the original game's level designs where slightly better sandboxes relative to its limitations. The new one still had some great gameplay and level design. The multi-player was actually a lot of fun too. It was really only the more forced/scripted CoD moments that let it down. It was great fun on the Wii, using the Wiimote to aim, and thrusting your hand forward to smash windows as you jumped through while running through a level.
But yeah, basically just remake the original exactly as it was but with these kinds of graphics Although, make it dual analogue, which was actually an option in the original game.
I'd be right up for playing a GoldenEye like that.
@ULTRA-64
Nah, play well & get a big square - lose & sit inches from the smaller one made it more competitive!
I don't my mother would of been too happy with me trying to lug a 32" CRT tv down two flights of stairs, across a road then up three more flights - then getting woken up at 4am by me & the police to prove its our tv 😂😂
Good times & that's what Nintendo have always been for me.
Would literally soil myself with Glee if Hollis, Doak and Kirkhope joined Playtonic Games and re-made goldeneye or a "spiritual" successor if this would be contractually impossible.
To me, Rare dies a long time ago and Playtonic is very strong possible re-birth of the real Rareware Ltd coming back into the game.
Yooka Laylee followed by a multiplayer FPS would be AMAZING!!!!
Normally I don't like unreal engine remakes (I feel the creator should use original content ) but since we got the activision remake I can say : Why didn't activision make it look like this? (and pay whatever licensing fee to get Pierce B's likeness?)
Still frustrated Nintendo blocked the release of the original game on XBLA/Virtual Console. The XBLA version of Perfect Dark is flawless.
Awesome work! I often find myself wondering what the Rare remake on Xbox 360 would've been like had it been released.
@DESS-M-8 Seeing Doak and Hollis work with Playtonic would be amazing. Steve Ellis and Graeme Norgate too. Luckily Grant Kirkhope is already making some jolly tunes for Yooka Laylee.
@Ryu_Niiyama Simple - Nintendo has to approve also along with Microsoft, and as of yet Nintendo are the ones who continue to hold out any such remake.
In fact there has been videos and screenshots from a Microsoft remake in the same style of they did with Perfect Dark going around but Nintendo pulled out the deal and thus it never came to be.
@Churchy when did kirk hope join!? I've backed yooka layee but not been reading my update emails
I've gotta say, that demo looks amazing.
@DESS-M-8 Well he hasn't joined as a member of the team per se, but him and David Wise have been confirmed that they will be contributing to the soundtrack. In fact, one of Grant's tracks is already revealed and available for streaming and downloading. Enjoy!
https://grantkirkhope.bandcamp.com/album/yooka-laylee
@Dezzy Maybe it's a definition difference, but technically we have had a 2010 COD style Goldeneye 007 Remake for Wii and then Reloaded on PS3/360. I think a remaster is what most people want, and what you are referring to. The original game is left intact and just updated on it's visuals. A lot of the humor in the first game would have to be left intact such as everything including tables being able to explode.
Microsoft was able to do this in 2010 for Perfect Dark on the Xbox 360 because they own Rare and it was therefor their IP. The problem with Goldeneye is that it is owned by Nintendo, developed by Rare, and then because it's 007 has MGM rights that they last gave to Activision for game development. So if any 007 game is to be made on a console it would be by Activision, and we've already had their take on the game.
Loving the chemical facility music
This is nice. I wonder if he used the movie imagery as a help. I remember the first time I watched the movie again after playing the game incessantly and the quick shots in "facility" in the opening were surreal. The designers had access to the actual blueprints for stages and layouts used in the movie so some of it is uncanny.
Facility is the most re-playable FPS stage ever created. For me at least.
Once we finished the game and unlocked all the options, we'd just play that one over and over with different weapons and buffs.
It's cool to see Hollis copied Playtonic Games into his reply. They really don't make FPS games like this anymore.
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