The full DF Retro EX treatment.
Despite its impact, GoldenEye’s never had a perfect remaster.
On the surface, what’s here is perfectly serviceable - it’s GoldenEye running on new consoles.
However, both versions exhibit issues - most notably around how the vintage 3D graphics are presented.
By increasing the resolution, the flaws are laid bare for all to see.
For example, the unique tri-point texture filtering inherent to N64 is absent.
They are present on real hardware, but it’s difficult to discern at 320x240.
There are also some oddities to do with the frame-rate.
So overall it’s a weird mixed bag of accuracy combined with obvious inaccuracy that ultimately hurts the experience.
With this in mind, then, the new releases run significantly smoother than the original.
Switch, despite initial impressions, runs more slowly than Xbox with frequent frame-rate dips and unstable frame-times.
Again, it’s faster than the N64 original, but not as stable as it should be.
This is particularly galling when the unreleased Xbox 360 versions offers a completely locked 60fps in all modes.
As well as the litany of visual and performance complaints, there are some other problems in these remasters.
Considering the quality of the game’s music, this is a real disappointment.
The Switch version fares better, with nearly identical sound and music compared to the original release.
But while Switch does well on the audio side, its controls are a bit of a mess.
The thing is, neither release really does justice to this game and its legacy.
There’s no context here - it just feels like a random ROM dump.
I could envisionsomething so much more robustbut it’ll never happen.
With all the licensing nonsense surrounding this game, it’s a miracle it made the jump at all.
There are other options too, but the point is that GoldenEye has never been more accessible.
And despite its dated visuals and subpar performance, my respect for GoldenEye has only increased over the years.
It brings together so many disparate elements into a cohesive and enjoyable whole.
As you learn the maps, your execution improves, almost channeling arcade-like sensibilities.
The multiplayer too, while very simple, remains fun and customisable.
The core of GoldenEye remains as golden as its name implies.
