Goldeneye 007 is getting a second chance in VR as a new Half-Life: Alyx mod. Valve’s Half-life: Alyx has some very advanced VR mechanics and the older Goldeneye 007 was hailed as one of the best shooters of its time, and fans of the old game should enjoy a reimagining with some updated mechanics and graphics – as well as immersion like never before.
Goldeneye 007 was developed by Rare and is based on the 1995 James Bond film of the same name, where players assume the identity of the famous British spy and fight against a crime syndicate. It was a game of firsts, featuring an atmospheric single-player campaign, a stealth component, and a multiplayer death-match mode on console. The game was praised for Goldeneye 007‘s multiplayer mode, as well as its single-player gameplay and visuals.
As shown in Filthy & Free Publishing’s YouTube video, the new Goldeneye 007 mod for Half-Life: Alyx integrates seamlessly with the latter’s mechanics. The Facility level of Goldeneye 007 is shown in the video, with henchmen of the Combine scattered throughout the map. The video also shows an easy weapon management system, where players can change weapons fast and reload in a fluid motion. Some other levels have also been recreated as mods for Half-Life: Alyx, like the Egyptian and Complex maps.
Judging from the video, even in the Goldeneye 007 mod the player still controls Alyx, and all the gear from Half-Life: Alyx is still at the player’s disposal. Those who played the first two Half-Life games twenty years ago have been waiting a long time to play a new game in the series, and Half-Life: Alyx is a huge step up in technology compared to other more contemporary games today.
This VR style of playing can be challenging, with movement often limited in games while activities can sometimes come across as basic due to the difficulties in implementing more advanced mechanics. A single-player first person shooter with a multiplayer death-match mode attached sounds like a pretty standard game in today’s industry, but in VR, that same game can feel refreshing and innovative. Combining one of the best shooters on Nintendo 64 in Goldeneye 007 with a game that has some of the best VR shooting mechanics to date in Half-Life: Alyx is an excellent method in demonstrating the promise that the medium still holds for future console generations – and, of course, for PC gamers too.
