Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

007: The World Is Not Enough channels the tight, objectives-driven action of Rare’s GoldenEye 007 while carving out its own identity. Players take on Bond’s pre-mission briefings with M and Q, learning exactly which targets must be neutralized or gadgets deployed. From sneaking through oil pipelines to racing against a ticking clock in high-security labs, each of the 14 missions tasks you with specific goals that reward careful planning and precision shooting.

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The game offers three difficulty settings—Agent, Special Agent, and 00 Agent—each adding layers of challenge and additional sub-objectives that unlock further content. This awards system keeps you coming back; beat target times or finish secondary goals and you unlock new multiplayer skins, secret maps, and extra modes. The core single-player campaign never feels stale, since you can replay stages with fresh challenges or try to shave seconds off your best runs.

Local split-screen multiplayer for up to four players (or any mix of humans and bots) is where The World Is Not Enough really shines. Classic GoldenEye maps mingle with brand-new arenas, and modes like King of the Hill, Capture the Briefcase, and Last Agent Standing keep the carnage varied. The return of the Golden Gun—still capable of a one-shot kill—combined with customizable weapon sets and victory conditions makes each lobby feel like its own unique Bond mission.

Graphics

For a late-’90s console release, The World Is Not Enough delivers impressively detailed environments. Oil rigs, pipeline corridors, and glitzy casinos are rendered with moody lighting and lifetime-style textures that evoke the film’s atmosphere. You’ll spot reflections on water surfaces, dynamic shadows in interior spaces, and occasional smoke effects that heighten the tension during firefights.

Character models are easily recognizable as Pierce Brosnan’s Bond and key villains, even if polygon counts occasionally show their age. Animations for reloads, gadget use, and hand-to-hand combat feel fluid, giving weight to each shot fired. While distant textures can blur and a few levels exhibit frame-rate dips in split-screen mode, most of the time the action holds steady, preserving the game’s cinematic flair.

Cutscenes strike a balance between in-engine sequences and film footage, helping to bridge the gap between the movie’s narrative and the game’s added story beats. Background details like drilling machinery or bustling city streets add authenticity, and the color palette—rich browns, oil-slick blacks, and neon accents—reinforces the espionage vibe without ever feeling overdone.

Story

Following the plot of the 1999 movie, Bond investigates a series of attacks on a British oil tycoon’s pipeline, uncovering a sinister conspiracy along the way. The World Is Not Enough faithfully recreates key scenes—from gliding down a snowy Alps slope to infiltrating a nuclear submarine pen—while introducing new areas and a deeper backstory that never made it to the big screen.

Pre-mission briefings by M and Q not only set the tone but also reveal fresh narrative threads, fleshing out characters like Dr. Christmas Jones. Between missions, brief in-engine cutscenes provide context for the next objective, although some transitions feel abrupt. Voice performances capture Bond’s swagger, even if you’ll occasionally notice a non-Brosnan timbre in the dialogue.

Mission objectives tie directly into the plot, whether you’re defusing a warhead on an oil rig or tailing a villain through London streets. The additional story missions exclusive to the game add depth—uncovering hidden villains or rescuing hostages missed in the film’s runtime—making it a compelling companion piece for fans and newcomers alike.

Overall Experience

007: The World Is Not Enough stands as one of the more memorable James Bond games of its era. It builds on GoldenEye’s legacy by introducing a strong single-player campaign with varied objectives, an engaging awards system for replayability, and a robust local multiplayer suite. For Bond enthusiasts and FPS veterans alike, there’s more than enough content to chew through.

Minor drawbacks—like the occasional AI pathfinding hiccup or the lack of online multiplayer—do little to dampen the fun. If you’re prepared to embrace split-screen showdowns and revisit missions to unlock every secret, you’ll find countless hours of espionage thrills. Even today, its blend of gadgets, gunplay, and cinematic set pieces delivers that unmistakable 007 charm.

Whether you’re a die-hard Bond fan or simply seeking a classic late-’90s FPS with a twist of spycraft, The World Is Not Enough offers a polished, action-packed experience. Its combination of memorable locales, inventive mission design, and local multiplayer mayhem make it a must-play title for anyone looking to don Bond’s tuxedo and take on the world’s most dangerous missions.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10