Quantum of Solace (Sony Playstation 3, 2008)

quan·tum (kwŏn'təm) n. pl. quan·ta (-tə) 1. A quantity or amount. 2. A specified portion. 3. Something that can be counted or measured. In Physics;
The smallest amount of a physical quantity that can exist independently, especially a discrete quantity of electromagnetic radiation. 2. This amount of energy regarded as a unit.

I bought this game for my 16 year old son for his PS3 system and have watched him play it twice only since I got it for him over a month ago. In that time, I have observed his liking to this game, but not as much as the football ones or Call of Duty 4. I bought this game because he really liked the movie so I got the dvd for him (at his urging). I figured he would like this game as much as the dvd, but he did not ask for it.

This game requires a specific quantity of time and energy, not to mention mind melding with the universe and the planets have to be aligned and all that fun stuff. If your a gamer who loves a challenge, this is the game to exercise your mind and make you put on your own thinking cap.

There are stategies that require quick thinking and evasive manuevering that other-wise would cause an explosive reaction. The video graphics are truly clear & outstanding, and the game does stay somewhat true to the movie depending on the wrong decisions you make to counteract the poison and how well you fight in the gun battles. And of course there are the obligatory model women who try well to distract the player - as if that was the only play action they'd get in a long time.
Different levels of play have different actions - and reactions, just like any other game. However, the main character being James Bond 007, it is action-packed and jammed with fighting and out-witting the enemy, and sometimes a joke or two. The higher you move up to the next level or next situation, it seems to get more difficult and complex. Sometimes there are times when your quickly pressing the controller buttons and apparently have to get up and shout at your character or the enemy and then you stare at the screen expecting the next play and already knowing what to do; kill or be killed. Oh that's the easy part.

While I can't compare it to any other James Bond game because I've never seen one being played, I'm sure this would top it better than any other spy game as well. I'm not a player, or a gamer, - I don't even know how to work the game controllers - but I did enjoy watching the game being played as well as hearing my son's expletives when he got shot and or had to start the game over (again). I think if I knew how to use the game controllers, I would like to play the game, but my son doesn't want ME particularly to destroy his controller and I don't want to pay for a new one, so we're even. I did like watching the movie unravel, so to speak, and like I said, the video display itself is remarkable.
The PS3 system and its games are a big step waaay up from the PS2 system and its games. I think if I had to rate this game, Quantum of Solace, in particular as a reviewer (and/or mom), I would give it a solid 9 out of 10.

PROS
Using Cover - QoS uses the Call of Duty 4 engine, but unlike COD4, you can position your character behind cover and blindfire. This radically changes gameplay, allowing you to move very close to enemies without being killed. Your character can run and slide into cover as well, making you a hard-to-hit target. Nice!

Voice Acting – Activision went all the way and obtained the original actors for the voice overs, except for perhaps Eva Green. This retains the feel of the Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace movies.

Choose Your Weapon (Online) – Instead of giving you preselected guns as you earn credits (like COD4 or CODW@W), QoS allows you to pick which guns/perks to spend your credits on (like BFBC). My advice? Get the A4 Hutchison Shotgun, a Silencer, Increased Bullet Damage, a Flak Jacket, Proximity Mines and Double Proximity Mines immediately. You will level the competition.

CONS
Multiplayer Enemy Spawning – QoS has the WORST spawning in any online game I’ve played: COD4, CODW@W, Battlefield: Bad Company, you name it. Enemies will constantly spawn directly behind you, assassinating your character before you have a chance to react. It is very frustrating, particularly when playing Golden Gun Mode. Other times, your character will spawn directly in front of an enemy who has a blazing gun. Before you can fire, you are dead. I HATE the spawning of QoS.

Our team lost a game of Territory because the computer randomly chose to start spawning enemies inside our perimeter. We knocked out everyone, then suddenly enemies start appearing out of thin air behind us. It was pure BS. The spawning of enemies kills the replay value for me.

Gimpy Graphics – For a PS3 game, the graphics aren’t very good. MI-6 operatives look like dweebs with their kayak battle helmets.

Poor Server Support – I cannot count the number of dropped games I have been in. After playing through ¾ of a match, the words “Connection Interrupted” appear and that’s it; no more game, and no credit for all my kills. It seriously bugs. Activision and Treyarch just do not have sufficient support for all the QoS matches going on. You will spend a lot of time simply waiting to get into a match.

Limited Online Levels/Lame HUD Radar – The selection of multiplayer levels is limited, and some, such as The Spa or Chemical Plant, are very confusing. You spend half your time trying to figure out where the enemy is, especially in Golden Gun Mode, only to have someone spawn behind you and blow you away. You cannot pause the game and see a larger map for the whole level; you can only use the dinky HUD radar, which is small and not very helpful.

Overall, Quantum of Solace is an OK FPS, but it fails to be great. It is fun, but no challenge to the Call of Duty series.

This game is like many other games I have played. It feels like a combination of Tomb Raider, Far Cry and Metal Gear Solid. The graphics are excellent. The targeting is relatively easy to get used too. It may seem like a remake of other action/adventure games but I am enjoying playing it. It may not be for the hard core gamer but it is entertaining and easy enough to learn the controls. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this type of genre and/or Bond fans.

I have always loved the 007 games no matter what system they are on, I have played nearly all of them and this one is no exception, it has great details, great graphics and very easy to learn to play. It is also jam packed with adventure from start to finish leaving you looking around the corner for what is next. The controls are similar to Call Of Duty 2 and 4 controls, so that made it even easier for me to play the game. All in all I would give this game Five out of Five stars. Congratulations to the designers and I am looking forward to what they come out with next.

I'm not going to jump up and down with excitement over this game, but it's definitely fun to play. If you're like me and you've enjoyed playing games based on James Bond in the past, you will probably like this one as well. If you can take a game for what it is and what you paid for it, this one is worth picking up at a reasonable price. I feel like I've gotten my $15 worth of entertainment for sure!