From Russia With Love (PSP)

Original Release: 2006
Developer: Rebellion
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PSP

The handheld version of From Russia With Love went to the PSP instead of the DS – and was the only Bond game to do so. It’s essentially a highly compromised version of the home console game, so I’ll be going through the things that are different in this version – the graphics are an obvious point, with Sean Connery’s dead, unblinking eyes staring at you whenever he faces the camera.

The game’s opening and you get the exact same level layout as the home console version, it’s initially very impressive how it captures the lighting and style of the home console version. However, Bond’s movement is incredibly stiff (partly due to only having one analogue stick), and he often gets stuck on objects. Bond’s targeting is much more accurate though, which was useful as I had no idea how to activate the Bond focus mode at this point.

The jetpack is back and also feels very clunky. It does the job somewhat, but is nowhere near the fun as the main version, and turning is not nice at all – it isn’t a problem in this mission, but is later on. Strangely, you can blast away the clock faces around Big Ben.

Another thing about the level is that sections are broken up, with loading scenes in between them. It’s not too bad here, but the game feels a lot more disjointed.

Reaching the start of the film, I was impressed with regards to the flow of the game between missions: choose to save then the next mission starts, a big improvement over the many more button presses due to returning to the menu of the home console games.

As the sections of the hedge maze is small, the camera issues start to become evident. I eventually worked out that Circle and Square rotate the camera, but it still likes to get stuck on things and is very slow to move, especially when enemies are behind you. I found myself just constantly tapping the lock on button to help with moving the camera. Another thing is that vaulting is also removed, although I can’t see any reason why.

After the section at MI6, it’s now onto the Gypsy camp. The four missions in Istanbul have been reduced to a few clips of cutscenes (partly because the vehicle sections have been removed completely). The cutscenes are from the home console version, to remind you about how toned down the graphics are. Incidentally, I got the most enjoyment from the game by crouching because the animation for it is so bad.

In this level you’ll encounter more frustrations: the gas mask is something Bond puts on straight away, with the short timespans it lasts depleting from that point. It’s also very difficult to see the gas itself.

You’ll reach the sniper sections and the aiming is horrendous, just completely stiff and not easy to adjust. The one saving grace in these levels is that the enemies spend most of the time ignoring Krenim and instead just sit down and take wild pot shots at Bond instead.

In terms of weapons, some of them just appear in your inventory at the start of levels. You can also upgrade them – a little bar in the weapon icon shows your progress to the next unlock and when it’s full, you can do one upgrade.

In the Russian consulate, I actually figured out how to use Bond focus – it’s the same button as turning the camera left. This was useful for long distance targets, but headshots don’t seem as deadly and due to how slow it is, you’re better off mindlessly blasting people up close (which is most of the game).

The train level is mostly the same, although in one part it just throw multiple waves of enemies at you for padding. The armour piercing rifle is in your inventory early, which makes dealing with the train a lot easier.

After dealing with Red Grant, we get one of my favourite levels from the main version, but this one is no fun at all. The outside section is removed completely and the level feels so disjointed due to skipping large chunks. The level again tries to compensate for its length by throwing a few waves of enemies at you for no reason.

After you finish this, the rest of the film portions become a cutscene, missing some fun vehicle missions but also avoiding the awful boat level. It does feel a bit strange that the main parts removed are sections based on the actual film.

In terms of matching the home console version, the Octopus base is one of the best conversions. The route through the mission is partially streamlined (which is an improvement), but the whole level is there. One issue is that the camera and aiming is your main enemy in the central room, with enemies appearing from all sides. You sabotage the nuke and defeat both villains in the same way.

While this version is lacking multiple levels (including all the bonus levels), it does have something new: challenge missions. These are simple objectives (kill enemies as quickly as possible, survive for x time, finish a section quickly) that take place in parts of the levels.

From Russia With Love shows how the PSP can somewhat replicate a home console experience, but at the same time, this game is incredibly compromised that its also an example of why it shouldn’t be done.