Finding GoldenEye’s Spiritual Successor on Steam: A Deep Dive
So, you’re looking for a game on Steam that captures the magic of GoldenEye 007. It’s a tall order. GoldenEye wasn’t just a game; it was a cultural phenomenon. Replicating that exact formula is nearly impossible. However, if you’re chasing that feeling of intense, objective-based missions, satisfying gunplay, and a healthy dose of stealth, look no further than TimeSplitters. TimeSplitters is an old-school first-person shooter inspired by games like TimeSplitters and GoldenEye. With all Reviews: Very Positive (115) – 97% of the 115 user reviews for this game are positive.
While GoldenEye source isn’t available on Steam due to legal reasons, the TimeSplitters series provides the closest experience.
The Quest for GoldenEye: Why It’s So Difficult
Before we dive into specific recommendations, let’s understand why finding a true “GoldenEye” successor is so challenging. GoldenEye, released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, was groundbreaking for several reasons:
- Objective-Based Missions: Unlike many shooters of the time, GoldenEye emphasized completing specific objectives within each level, often requiring stealth and careful planning.
- Strategic Gameplay: It encouraged players to take a more strategic approach, using stealth and utilizing cover to complete objectives.
- Local Multiplayer: The legendary split-screen multiplayer was a social experience unlike any other, fostering intense rivalries and countless hours of fun.
- Innovation: A big part of its appeal was its innovative gameplay, which deviated from the traditional run-and-gun style of most first-person shooters at the time.
- Iconic Levels: The levels in Perfect Dark might be more complex and have more moving parts coming together to create a cohesive environment, but GoldenEye’s levels are just iconic. It helps that most of them are recreating classic locations from the movie.
Few games have managed to capture all of these elements in the same way. However, some titles on Steam come close, offering a similar blend of gameplay, atmosphere, and overall experience.
Examining TimeSplitters: A Worthy Heir
The TimeSplitters series, particularly TimeSplitters 2 and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, are often cited as spiritual successors to GoldenEye. Here’s why:
- Fast-Paced Action: TimeSplitters delivers the same frenetic, run-and-gun action that made GoldenEye so engaging.
- Diverse Characters and Settings: Both games feature a wide variety of characters and environments, ranging from historical periods to futuristic landscapes.
- Robust Multiplayer: TimeSplitters boasts a fantastic multiplayer experience, with a plethora of modes and customizable options to rival GoldenEye’s legendary split-screen battles.
- Level Design: While the levels are not recreations of a classic film, the level design gives you the opportunity to explore and discover the maps.
- Character Design: Each game in the franchise has a plethora of characters ranging from funny to serious. This provides players with endless opportunities to explore different gameplay styles.
While TimeSplitters 2 has yet to release a definitive remaster on Steam, it’s likely that it will come to the platform.
Other Games with GoldenEye Vibes on Steam
While TimeSplitters is arguably the closest you’ll get to GoldenEye, other games offer similar elements that might scratch that itch:
- Perfect Dark: The two last games mentioned are directly connected to each other since they are both first-person shooters. GoldenEye came out first and Perfect Dark, though not a James Bond game, directly builds off the ideas Rare toyed with in GoldenEye. While it has futuristic elements, it has that old-school gameplay vibe.
- Receiver: Focused on realism and tactical gunplay, Receiver emphasizes precision and calculated movements, similar to GoldenEye’s more deliberate pacing compared to other shooters of its time.
FAQs: Your GoldenEye Questions Answered
1. Is GoldenEye source on Steam?
No, GoldenEye Source is not officially available on Steam. This is due to complex licensing issues surrounding the James Bond franchise and intellectual property rights. Whilst the game both requires and runs through Steam, the mod is not available for download via the Steam store due to legal reasons.
2. Why isn’t GoldenEye remastered?
A GoldenEye remaster was planned, even set to introduce online multiplayer, the remaster was inevitably canceled because a licensing agreement was unable to be finalized by all stakeholders, even though it only required a couple of months to be ready for launch.
3. Is Perfect Dark similar to GoldenEye?
Yes, Perfect Dark is very similar to GoldenEye. It directly builds off the ideas Rare toyed with in GoldenEye. It features objective-based missions, stealth elements, and a focus on gameplay over pure run-and-gun action.
4. Is GoldenEye still worth playing?
I’ll be brief: this is still the GoldenEye you have loved for the past twenty-five years, with just enough quality of life improvements to make it feel at home in a modern console. It runs well (though not at 60fps), its new controller scheme is a godsend, and the godlike soundtrack remains intact.
5. Why was GoldenEye banned?
Germany banned sales of GoldenEye 007 for Years. The death scenes and perceived glorification of violence were huge sticking points for the country’s authorities, especially since it could potentially be played by minors.
6. What makes GoldenEye so good?
“A big part of its appeal was its innovative gameplay, which deviated from the traditional run-and-gun style of most first-person shooters at the time. Instead, GoldenEye encouraged players to take a more strategic approach, using stealth and utilizing cover to complete objectives.”
7. Which is harder, GoldenEye or Perfect Dark?
Perfect Dark is harder, because the AI is much better. In GoldenEye there was that glitch where enemies wouldn’t be able to shoot you if you went real close to them. Try that in Perfect Dark, and you’ll get kicked in the face.
8. How can I play the original GoldenEye?
Iconic Nintendo 64 video game GoldenEye 007 is now available on Nintendo Switch Online and Xbox Game Pass.
9. Why is GoldenEye not on PS5?
There’s no GoldenEye 007 PS5 remaster via PlayStation Plus, and that’s not unexpected news given the fact that Sony was never a license holder of the original game (like Nintendo) or owner of the developer that made it (like Microsoft).
10. What is the hardest level in GoldenEye?
The Aztec complex is a profoundly confusing place to navigate and is considered the most difficult mission in GoldenEye 007. Other levels like Control, Bunker 2, and Caverns were notoriously difficult.
11. Who was the villain in GoldenEye?
Alec Trevelyan (006) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, the first film to feature actor Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Trevelyan is portrayed by actor Sean Bean.
12. What age is GoldenEye 64 appropriate for?
This “Teen”-rated video game is a first-person shooter, so much of the gameplay has you aiming a gun and firing at enemies, tossing grenades, or using your hands as weapons (such as pushing an enemy’s head against a wall).
13. How many hours is GoldenEye?
When focusing on the main objectives, GoldenEye 007 is about 7½ Hours in length. If you’re a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 36½ Hours to obtain 100% completion.
14. Which version of GoldenEye is better?
But it turns out the Xbox version of the game also has an exclusive feature which might have an even bigger impact on your enjoyment: modern first-person shooter controls. Nintendo has taken a purist approach with the Switch version of GoldenEye.
15. Can I play 007 GoldenEye on PC?
Goldeneye Xbox Game Pass for PC Version – Beta Cloud Streaming (Facility) – YouTube. Title says it all, a quick play of the Goldeneye Facility level from the version that just dropped via Xbox Game Pass. Seeing as it’s not available on PC, you can still cloud stream the game as we showcase here.
The Enduring Legacy of GoldenEye
GoldenEye 007 remains a cornerstone of gaming history. Its impact on the FPS genre is undeniable. While finding a direct replacement on Steam is impossible, understanding what made GoldenEye special can help you discover new experiences that evoke a similar feeling of excitement and nostalgia.
For those interested in further exploring the educational aspects of gaming, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The GamesLearningSociety.org is dedicated to studying and promoting the use of games in education and learning.