The long-awaited Source-based HL2 modification GoldenEye: Source was released in beta today to teeming throngs of Bond-hungry gamers. I haven’t tried it yet — the download mirrors are getting pounded, though the torrents seem to be chugging along just fine — but word is the finished (or near-finished) product is pretty damn good.
A ground-up conversion of the classic N64 FPS, GoldenEye: Source looks to bring back the classic feeling of exchanging cheeto-stained high fives with your three friends huddled around the ol’ 64 via classic Bond multiplayer beefed up with a modern engine. Word is that the recreation of the original Goldeneye‘s multiplayer gameplay has remained pretty faithful: all the classic maps and weapons are present and accounted for, and now allow for — dig this — more than four players!
Hey readers, any of you get your hands on this yet? Toss us a comment or two and let us know what you think.
Update: Yours truly just spent twenty minutes in the ol’ Facility. My thoughts so far: a little rough around the edges, but a good start. Despite its flaws, it reinforces the hell out of my belief that first person shooters work best on a PC, or at the very least with a mouse and keyboard. I’ve never been quite this dangerous with the Golden Gun on an analog stick, that’s for damn sure.