That Analogue Pocket I brought earlier this year is so good, it keeps begging for more use. While I've been tapping my existing library of games so far to enjoy on it, I've also done some research into any Game Boy "hidden gems" that I might have missed. People post those sorts of lists all the time these days.
One game I saw appear while looking for Game Boy role-playing games was James Bond 007, another licensed Bond game, but not based on any movie past or present. It's a top-down action-adventure similar to The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening, featuring travel to multiple global locations, cool gadgets, and cameos by some previous Bond villains like Oddjob and Jaws. Early in the game, as in the movies, James returns to headquarters and gets to interact with Moneypenny, M, and Q.
Items are assigned to the A and B slots, which was pretty standard, and weapons run the range from bare hands to rocket launchers. Gadgets include the classic watch-with-laser, a primitive mapping tool, a grappling hook, shields, and so forth.
Combat involves using whatever item one has equipped with whatever button it is assigned. There is also a basic but important block ability that can be equipped and used, body armors, and even shields. It’s pretty basic but gets complex when pixel perfect timing is required in a certain boss fight.
Speaking of those, there are a few boss fights scattered around and they’re all unique and fun. Health packs are plentiful enough that being mostly thorough in exploring the game will give the player an ample supply, although it was really really close for me at the end of the game. Searching for hidden items is just a matter of pressing A or B when near it, then it loads itself into the player's inventory. There are no visual cues about what is to be searched, though, leading to just walking along every wall and object in an area pressing A and B to see if something pops out.
I was worried as the first few areas were relatively small, but when the player gets to Marrakesh the map gets really big and meaty, with maze-like city streets and tunnels to navigate. Opening parts of the map may require items and side missions to get there as well. The story unfolds as one explores and plays, and it's standard James Bond stuff. That's a good thing, though, as NPCs are lively and helpful with tips and items. There is humor and innuendo, as one would expect in a James Bond experience. Sound effects are good, and hearing the James Bond theme throughout the game was a treat.
There is also a casino that has Blackjack, Baccarat, and some other basic card game to gamble on. Upon completing the game, these open up to free play. There is one part of the game where James must get to a certain amount of winnings, but the ability to save anywhere (both built into the game by design as well as the option to use the Analogue Pocket to save) allows the player to simply bet everything and if they lose, reload and try again.
It's almost mind-blowing that Goldeneye 007 came out for the Nintendo 64 in August of 1997 and then this Game Boy title followed in February of 1998. One was a state-of-the-art shooter that was a commercial and critical success and has been lauded ever since. The other came out for a nearly decade-old monochrome portable system at the end of its life cycle. These were developed by different companies and had no connection to each other that I could discern. Nonetheless, James Bond 007 on the Game Boy shines as a fun adventure, and those who made this game should be just as proud as the team behind Goldeneye 007.
Spoiler alert: James gets the girl at the end.
