Nintendo’s ‘Golden Eye 007’ Could’ve Been Much Less Violent

BEACON TRANSCRIPT – What is a very important videogame in the first-person-shooter genre, Nintendo’s ‘Golden Eye 007’ could’ve been much less violent if the words of Shigeru Miyamoto were heeded. In fact, game designer, Martin Hollis, explains how the violence had been toned down. But not all the way to zero.

Hollis revealed, during the GameCity talk, that the groundbreaking FPS (first person shooter) game on Nintendo 64 was much more different initially. Apparently, it was a “fountain of blood” before he reconsidered that he might’ve been too generous with the red textures.

It’s perhaps hard to imagine such a game on the family-friendly Nintendo platforms, which is precisely what Miyamoto was likely thinking. The excess of violence was found to be both “tragic” and “sad”, two things that were not meant to experience through Nintendo 64. The company has become known for their colorful, light, and fun characters and gameplay.

On the other hand, perhaps no one can imagine a friendly James Bond. For a series that is filled with killing, fighting, and other adult-oriented themes, it was unlikely that the violent content could be eliminated completely. The quintessential factors of the franchise itself are the fighting, the gadgets, and the femme fatales that he inevitably seduces. Along with the generally genius villains.

It seems difficult to picture a more family-friendly type of James Bond. Miyamoto also suggested that the famous spy should even take a break from his usually busy schedule to visit his enemies at the hospital. After shooting them down, Bond could’ve entered their rooms to end it all with a friendly handshake. That might seem a little silly, but it’s well in line with Nintendo’s family-oriented games.

Hollis decided not to follow in that direction, but found a happy middle, where both of them would be satisfied. While the ending did not end in handshakes and hugs, he added a disclaimer at the end of the game. It introduced the characters and explained that those were not really killed off.

Miyamoto also suggested that there too many close-up killing. Perhaps that added an extra factor and more cause for concern, as he found it “horrible”. According to Hollis though, that was one thing that he didn’t correct.

Regardless of the disagreements on graphic content, the ‘Golden Eye 007’ game based on the movie starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond, was highly successful. It sold over 8 million copies for the Nintendo 64, and it was the introduction to FPS games for many gamers today.

On the other hand, Hollis stated that they were approached again by Nintendo to make a sequel, but the team refused.

Image source: goldeneye.wikia.com