On Friday, August 12, the team behind “GoldenEye: Source” launched the 5.0 version of the community-made PC game online for free. The announcement marks the latest major update of the game since at least three years.
“GoldenEye: Source” is a fan-made adaptation developed by the community using Valve’s Source Engine to remaster, expand, and enhance the original Nintendo 64 game.
Development for the game started all the way back in 2005 and it has been continuously available to play. Update 5.0 brings with it major enhancements and content not previously included in previous versions.
What’s new in GoldenEye: Source?
For over ten years the developers have worked to bring players a revamped experience based on the original “GoldenEye”. At first glance, this new version of the game is most striking thanks to its redesigned visuals. The graphics, textures, maps, and characters have all received an overhaul that makes “Source” look better than it has in years, with high resolution and 60 fps compatibility.
In terms of content, “GoldenEye: Source” features 25 maps recreated based on the original game and film starring Pierce Brosnan, enhanced for a better multiplayer experience. Update 5.0 adds 4 new maps that include “Archive Classic”, “Dam”, “Depot”, and the iconic “Bunker” level.
The list of game modes now reaches ten different styles, including two new modes: “A View To Kill”, in which players earn points for how long they manage to stay alive; and “Gun Trade”, a mode that introduces weapon swapping mechanic once you kill a player.
Other than that, the developers have included two new originally designed playable characters: Russian Infantry and Russian Soldier. Furthermore, over 20 music tracks have been added, besides 40 new achievements and a Community Contributor Rank.
It is worth noting that “GoldenEye: Source” is a PC game and that it is multiplayer exclusive. Plans to include a solo campaign in the future have not been specified, but it is unlikely that developers with such limited resources plan on doing so.
The Managing Director & Lead Programmer of the non-profit venture stated on the official game site that the update was originally conceived as a quick patch to some bugs in previous versions. However, he found the team had the potential to deliver something much greater soon enough. He marked the release of the game with a seemingly iconic phrase he uses during development: “this is good, kill each other”.
