Quantum of Solace has no place in the current holiday line up of action games. It’s not an all out blockbuster, it’s not a focussed stealth game and there’s no pretence of strategy or thoughtful, tactical gameplay. The identity pieces it could have claimed are the inclusion of the very protagonist you control (James Bond) as well as the fact that the game spans the duration of the two most recent Bond movies, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, but these hooks are squandered on poor implementation of the stories from the movies and what seems like downright amnesia on the part of the developers, never taking advantage of Bond’s assumed access to all manner of skills and gadgets.

We need to forget these things, however, as assumed knowledge is a dangerous thing. The game presented and the content provided is the extent of the experience and thinking about what’s not in the game will always give us a poor impression of the final product. Instead, we can focus on what is included on the Quantum of Solace disc, such as the solid, visceral first-person and over-the-shoulder gunplay, reliable cover mechanics and what amounts to a pretty fun, 6 - 7 hour adventure through a diverse selection of locations. Not without its qualms, Quantum of Solace won’t be remembered beyond the end of the year, or even the end of the credits, but it’s the kind of game you could easily dip back into once you’ve finished it, with multiplayer options to add a bit of longevity.

Continue reading El33tonline’s Xbox 360 review of Quantum of Solace.