In the end what you wind up spending your forty bucks on is an extremely short solo experience that has three difficulty levels and nothing else in the form of replay value. That's made worse by the total absence of multiplayer. Much like other Quantum of Solace renditions, the single-player is extremely short. The other lacking portion of the PS2 version is its length. They fit a bit better with the PS2's mold for QoS but still don't land quite right. There are also mini-games built around hacking and quick-time events, and they play out identically as they have in other versions. There were also times when the finicky DualShock analog stick made aiming a chore, but there's a precision zoom mode that helps ease the pain.

I witnessed a few bugs that sent them running in endless circles and other times when they would mistakenly think they were in cover. First, the artificial intelligence of the bad guys is pretty bad. So while Quantum of Solace on the PS2 has the best core gameplay of the bunch, there's no doubt that there's still plenty of room for improvement. Again, this style of gameplay is much more in line with the Bond franchise and feels less like the military incursion that other QoS efforts present. The PS2 version delivers this with some occasionally frustrating missions that require you to keep quiet and out of sight while triggering environmental distractions to lure baddies into your sights. As we all know the man is a spy and as such should use some semblance of stealth on his missions. The story arc is the same stuff that we've seen before, but the levels that are wrapped around it feel much more in tune with being James Bond. Instead, things are a bit more open - though not quite as expansive or detailed - but instead are more conducive to third-person shooting. Thankfully QoS doesn't cling to the same levels or designs as the other console versions. Again, turns can be a bit hit or miss, but for the most part the cover system works well. Bond can, however, pull off some neat SWAT turns and go around corners while still staying in cover. There are moments when it doesn't work as it should and you won't be able to shoot over or around certain objects despite it looking like it should be possible. The - flawed - cover system is still there. This impacts gameplay for the better and enables some slower, more methodical encounters that feel more in touch with the Bond franchise. You can rotate which side of the screen he's on, but you're always staring at his back (something ladies should love). Unlike every other version of Quantum of Solace, the PS2 version's camera is entirely over Bond's shoulder. First things first, this is not a first-person shooter.

007 quantum of solace ps2 manual