James Bond 007: Blood Stone

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James Bond 007: Blood Stone
Blood Stone cover.jpg
Developer(s)Bizarre Creations[a]
Publisher(s)Activision
Writer(s)Bruce Feirstein
Composer(s)Richard Jacques
SeriesJames Bond
EngineBespoke (consoles and PC)
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA: November 2, 2010
  • AU: November 3, 2010
  • EU: November 5, 2010
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

James Bond 007: Blood Stone is a 2010 third-person shooter video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the 24th game in the James Bond series and is the first game since James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2004) to have an original story, set between Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012). The game was confirmed by Activision on 16 July 2010.[1] The game was released on 2 November 2010 in North America and released on 5 November 2010 in Europe.[2] Activision's remake of GoldenEye 007 for the Wii and DS was released on the same day respectively in each region.[3] Blood Stone features the voices and likenesses of Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Joss Stone.

James Bond 007: Blood Stone received mixed reviews from critics upon release. It was also the final game developed by Bizarre Creations as the studio was closed just a few months later on 18 February 2011. A sequel, developed by Raven Software, was reportedly planned but never produced, most likely due to Blood Stone's poor sales upon release.[4]

Gameplay[]

Blood Stone is a third-person shooter with elements of hand-to-hand combat. Driving sequences also appear in the game. Blood Stone features a focus aim system which allows players to lock onto targets after melee takedowns.[5] There is a multiplayer mode consisting of up to 16 players that will pit spies versus mercenaries.[6] Alongside team deathmatch and other standard game modes there are massive objective-based battles where players have to work as a team to attack or defend various spy-themed goals. The player pilots several vehicle types throughout the course of the game.[7]

Plot[]

In 2010, MI6 uncovers a plot by international terrorist Greco (Luis Soto) to conduct a suicide attack on the G-20 leaders, while attending a summit at the Acropolis structure in Athens. M (Judi Dench) assigns James Bond (Daniel Craig) to prevent the attack. After Greco flees from his personal yacht, Bond pursues him through Athens, before learning that he rigged an SUV with explosives. After deciding Greco leave alive, Bond pursues after the SUV in a commandeered Aston Martin DBS V12, disabling it before it can reach the G-20 summit.

The following morning, M contacts Bond with news that Malcolm Tedworth (Timothy Watson), a researcher who disappeared while conducting top-level work for the Ministry of Defence, has been located in Istanbul. Suspecting he was kidnapped for his research, Bond is assigned to recover both Tedworth and his work. Finding the researcher being held at a construction site, Bond witnesses Tedworth being interrogated by a courier named Bernin (Ramon Tikaram), who seeks access to his USB drive containing his research. After acquiring what he needs, Bernin executes Tedworth and flees across the city, prompting Bond to pursue after him using an Aston Martin DB5. Unable to recover the data as it is fenced, Bond interrogates Bernin before killing him, learning he works for businessman Stefan Pomerov (Laurence Possa). Sent by M to Monaco, Bond works with fellow MI6 agent Nicole Hunter (Joss Stone) to find evidence at one of Pomerov's casinos.

The pair find information that Pomerov has frequented a disused chemical refinery he owns in Siberia, receiving a tip off it is storing bio-weapons, and head out to investigate it. The pair soon discover Pomerov is operating a bio-factory that is manufacturing bio-weapons, prompting them to destroy it. Discovering Pomerov intends to smuggle out bio-weapons he already has, Bond pursues after him to an ekranoplan. Boarding it before it takes off, Bond kills Pomerov and secures the bio-weapons for disposal by Russian Federation troops. After he parts way with Nicole, Bond becomes suspicious of the tip off they received when he reports to M, suspecting it was arranged to secure Pomerov's elimination. Using Bernin's phone that he took, Bond has MI6 trace a number he had received that wasn't a local call. The call turns out to come from Chinese intelligence officer General Ping (David K.S. Tse), who contacts Bond for a meeting in Bangkok to discuss the reason for his communication with Bernin.[N 1]

Meeting at an aquarium, Ping reveals he was investigating a freelance mercenary named Rak (James Goode) who operates in Bangkok and sells stolen information and technology on the black market. Ping suspects him involved in Tedworth's kidnapping, but before he can reveal more, an assassin kills him. Bond attempts to pursue the assassin, only for them to die in an accident. Needing background information from M on Rak while pursued by police, Bond is sent to meet with Silk (Richard Dillane), an associate of Rak's, who provides the location for his hideout in the city. However, Silk betrays Bond after the meeting, allowing him to be ambushed by Rak. Taken to a prison camp in Burma for interrogation by Rak, Bond escapes and pursues after him for information that results in a confrontation over a dam. Although Rak pleads for his life in exchange for his employer's identity, Bond reveals he already knows and kills him.

Returning to Monaco, Bond sends Rak's knife to Nicole, identifying her as a double agent in MI6 and the head of a group that kidnaps prominent researchers, selling their data to interested parties.[N 2] Frightened, Nicole decides to escape the city and country in her Koenigsegg CCXR, only to find herself being pursued by Bond (in his Aston Martin DBS V12), who ultimately corners her on the Millau Viaduct in neighbouring France. Confronted by him, after suspecting she supplied the tip-off on Pomerov, Nicole reveals she works for an unknown man who is rich and powerful, but refuses to identify him, claiming he is bigger than any organisation in the world. Before Bond can interrogate her more, an unmanned drone shoots Nicole dead. With no further clues to follow, Bond reports in to M, advising her to find a new contact in Monaco, before departing.

Cast[]

Recurring characters:

Other characters:

Development[]

The game was hinted at on 21 April 2010 when British store HMV listed Blood Stone as "coming soon".[9] On 23 April, Activision reserved a web domain name called bloodstonegame.com.[10] The game was announced in an Activision press release on 16 July.[11] James Bond film writer Bruce Feirstein wrote the story for the game. The game itself is built on developer Bizarre Creations' Bespoke engine, which was created for the game The Club.[12] Ben Cooke, who is Daniel Craig's stunt double in the films, provided the motion capture choreography for Bond's digital animation and is credited as the game's stunt coordinator.[12]

While Bizarre Creations was finishing development on The Club, they were bought by Activision, who had a license agreement at the time to make video games based on James Bond. Activision allowed the team to move forward with an original title, in order to take advantage of the gap between Quantum of Solace and a then-untitled follow up film, which was later revealed as Skyfall and released in 2012. Bizarre had creative control over the title, letting them design the locations and gameplay the way they wanted. Blood Stone was designed to capture the feel of a blockbuster movie with a "mix of characterization and adrenaline". The driving parts were mostly placed at the end of the chapters, as the developers were trying to make sure they wouldn't be seen as disconnected from the rest of the game.[13]

The game's soundtrack was composed by Richard Jacques. Joss Stone provides an original musical track to the game titled "I'll Take It All", written and performed by her and David A. Stewart.[14]

Reception[]

James Bond 007: Blood Stone received "mixed or average" reviews according to Metacritic.[15][16][18][17]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Nintendo's DS version developed in partnership with n-Space.
  1. ^ In the Nintendo DS version, this occurs at the end of an exclusive level set in Geneva after the destruction of the refinery, in which Bond is captured in a corporate complex he spied in to look for clues about who was trying to contact Bernin.[8]
  2. ^ The knife's design as a piece of jewelry, including its incorporation of a small titular heliotrope, is determined by Bond to be evidence that Nicole, who previously told him that she was a jewelry and fashion designer, crafted it and was allied with Rak.

References[]

  1. ^ Kris Pigna (16 July 2010). "Activision confirms Bizarre's "James Bond Blood Stone"". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  2. ^ Wesley Yin-Poole (22 October 2010). "Activision confirms James Bond 007: Blood Stone release dates". Eurogamer. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  3. ^ Guy Cocker (16 July 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone confirmed". GameSpot. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  4. ^ "First Look At Next 007 Game". MI6-HQ.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  5. ^ Martin Robinson (16 July 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone First Look". IGN. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  6. ^ Andrew Laughlin (16 July 2010). ""James Bond 007: Blood Stone" revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  7. ^ Jerry Paxton (19 October 2010). ""James Bond 007: Blood Stone Driving and Vehicles Trailer" revealed". GamingShogun. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  8. ^ n-Space (2 November 2010). James Bond 007: Blood Stone (Nintendo DS). Activision. Level/area: Geneva - outro.
  9. ^ Tor Thorsen (21 April 2010). "James Bond driving game's cover blown". GameSpot. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  10. ^ Tor Thorsen (23 April 2010). "GoldenEye, Assassin's Creed, Driver, Blood Stone URLs reg'd". GameSpot. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  11. ^ Activision Blizzard (16 July 2010). ""James Bond 007: Blood Stone" Press Release". Activision. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  12. ^ a b MI6 (16 July 2010). "First story, character and gaming tidbits for 'Blood Stone'". MI6.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  13. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (18 October 2010). "Bizarre Creations ('Blood Stone 007')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. ^ Johnny Cullen (16 July 2010). "Activision confirms Bizarre's James Bond: Blood Stone". VG247. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  15. ^ a b "James Bond 007: Blood Stone for DS Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  16. ^ a b "James Bond 007: Blood Stone for PlayStation 3 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  17. ^ a b "James Bond 007: Blood Stone for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  18. ^ a b "James Bond 007: Blood Stone for Xbox 360 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  19. ^ Dustin Quillen (4 November 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone Review for PS3, 360 from 1UP.com". 1UP. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  20. ^ New Game Cross Review - 007/ブラッドストーン (PS3). Famitsū. No.1153. Pg.39. 20 January 2011.
  21. ^ New Game Cross Review - 007/ブラッドストーン (XB360). Famitsū. No.1153. Pg.39. 20 January 2011.
  22. ^ Shaun McInnis (2 November 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone Review, James Bond 007: Blood Stone Xbox 360 Review - GameSpot.com". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  23. ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (2 November 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone Review". IGN. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  24. ^ Gallegos, Anthony (7 December 2010). "James Bond 007: Blood Stone DS Review". IGN. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  25. ^ Hayward, Andrew. "James Bond 007: Blood Stone". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2011.

External links[]

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