Quantum of Solace: the other systems
On the heels of Purpleblob’s review of Quantum of Solace for the Playstation 2, I figured I’d lend a hand and share some thoughts on a few of the other versions of the game, having played it on both the Wii and Xbox 360 (the latter of which is comparable to the PS3, as well).
While the PS2 port of the game sported a third-person interface, the “next-gen” varieties used first-person gameplay, with occasional romps into third-person for cover-based shooting and button-press quick-time-events when taking down enemies in a stealthy fashion. The graphics and collision are certainly a bit smoother than the PS2’s version, with none of the wall-bumping problems that Purpleblob mentioned running into (it’s too early in the morning to know if I intended that pun or not, so I’ll just let it go).
QoS on the Wii also features two different control schemes that, although very similar in overall gameplay, do vary the experience slightly. You can use the two-handed, Wiimote + Nunchuck controls that we are all familiar with from Zelda, Super Mario Galaxy, and other such games, or you can plug those two controllers into your trusty Wii Zapper and move around light-gun style. While having the option is cool at times, and at least gives the illusion that there was some variety in the control design, the game is more simple with the basic control configuration, as leaning both arms just to look around the area can get a bit taxing when playing through the entire campaign (rather than just the hand holding the Wiimote).
Online play is another function that was absent on the PS2’s version of Quantum, and while I could take or leave the numerous game modes, the system works fairly well and drops you into a game quite fast (depending on how many players are online, of course). I didn’t notice any lag or stutter when playing on either the Wii or 360, though I did have a few “WTF?” moments, which comes from being unceremoniously dropped in the middle of a game that had already started. Too much of the Halo fan in me, and not enough Call of Duty I suppose (which is where most of the game engine and online function were taken from anyway – hey, Activision can steal their own stuff, it’s cool).
As Purpleblob said, if you really need your Bond fix and you only have a PS2, by all means, pick up that version. If you have options for which console you’re planning to play, though, I’d definitely recommend the Wii for its control scheme and the 360 for its graphics (and the achievements… must… get… achievements…).
Grades: Xbox 360 - 8.6/10, Wii - 8.2/10. Good controls, better graphics, and online functions. Still not a great game, but worth playing, especially for fans of the franchise.
(All screens are from Xbox 360/PS3 versions.)
