Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy ^{(Xbox 360)}

Genre: Action RPG Publisher: Vivendi Games Developer: High Moon Studios Players: 1

By Keith B (25th Jun 2008)

The recent Bourne movie was an Oscar winner, and another is on the way. Does the game of the film walk the well beaten path of failed movie tie-ins?

And what a path it is. Movie games have traditionally been poor fare, created for one of a stable of reasons – bringing a brand to a gaming audience, cashing in the movie’s success (the most common one), or because in the modern age of entertainment you just have to have a game for whatever you do. When The Bourne Conspiracy was announced it felt like it was already on the path, but now that I’ve played through it, I see a bright future ahead.

Playing as Jason Bourne certainly appeals, because the movies have built up a reputation for action sequences, great camera work, wispy plot that unfolds the further in you go, and superb locations. The game doesn’t disappoint, and in fact, holds some of the most interesting levels I’ve played in a game. That’s right, because getting involved in a shootout in front of a train station in Eastern Europe, snow drifting through the air as pedestrians run for cover, is brilliant. Later we’ll get to the not-so-great elements of those settings.

Bourne doesn’t know who he is or what he’s doing when the game begins, so neither do you. For the most part it’s a Bourne-by-numbers experience, with all the same elements the movies have, including the mysterious girl that befriends you to inevitable showdown with the bad guys. The plot unfolds in bite size pieces through the game, from mysterious phone calls to out of the blue statements from opponents. The latter usually slips out while you’re punching them in the face, which happens a lot.

The Bourne Conspiracy has a very heavy focus on unarmed combat, which is refreshing in a time of consistent shooter releases. While memory may be a problem, sticking heads through doors certainly isn’t, and like Condemned and Condemned 2, getting up close and personal is the preferred option. And like the Condemned series, bringing the environment into play has its rewards. A finishing technique or mid-fight move involving plate glass or a metal surgical table often either tilts the skirmish in your favour, or ends it there and then.

Because the main character is a super spy, he has a lot of sharpness a normal person wouldn’t. This is represented by a power gauge that climbs with every kill or KO, and it has three levels. Once the bar climbs to the first level, you can unleash a one-off finishing move either with fists or with a weapon. If the bar climbs to the second or third tier, you can chain a few killer moves together. This also applies to firearms – have a three tier bar and you can take out three enemies with one click of a button.

So the location, story, combat and plot are all present and in great shape. What then about the rest ¬– getting between each high point? Well, for the most part it’s fine, but there are things that are poor. Take the whole scenario of pressing buttons after being prompted to on the screen (a la Fahrenheit). I dislike these sessions because they take your eyes of the gameplay and instead make you a pseudo-spectator as your character leaps and bounds from rooftop to rooftop, sniper fire cracking around him and you’re left clicking Y when told to. With Bourne though I could stomach it, because the action on the screen was just so damn intense. It’s not just the actual combat, but the thinking that went into the game, from script to action sequences; they’re all just so polished.

Stuck right in the middle of the game is one driving sequence, and while some have claimed it’s a kitsch throwback to arcade racers, I beg to differ. Just because a driving section has non-existent physics, ridiculous turning circles, practically no pedestrians and looks awful does not mean it’s trying to be like Outrun. It means it’s just crap.

I think by this point you should have grasped the fact that I really enjoyed my playthrough, but why then aren’t I calling it a must buy? Because six or eight hours after you dive in, it’s over. That’s right, a game that you can finish after work and before you go to bed. But it will be some of the most explosive and action packed hours you’ll spend.

Part of the problem is the approach to the game, the Bourne-ness of it all. To make it a 20 hour experience would mean tripling the amount of work, making a Bourne story that’s 20 hours long, and frankly that would be over the top. No multiplayer means you won’t be wringing some life out of the think by moving online, so your six hours is all you get.

It is, however, a great game and well worth a close look. Rent or borrow it if you can.