Summary
- Release Year: 1988
- Genres: Racing, Shooter
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Publishers: Domark Software, Elite Systems
Live and Let Die: The Computer Game (1988)
Introduction
Live and Let Die: The Computer Game is an action-adventure game developed by Elite Systems and published by Domark in 1988. The game is based on the 1973 James Bond film of the same name, and follows Bond as he investigates a drug smuggling operation in the Caribbean.
Gameplay
Live and Let Die is a side-scrolling action game in which the player controls James Bond from a third-person perspective. Bond can walk, run, jump, and shoot, and he can use a variety of weapons and gadgets to defeat his enemies.
The game is set in a variety of locations in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, and New Orleans. Bond must travel to each location and complete a series of missions in order to progress through the game. The missions involve tasks such as rescuing hostages, destroying enemy vehicles, and collecting evidence.
Development
Live and Let Die was developed by Elite Systems, a British video game developer founded in 1984. The game was designed by David Jones, who had previously worked on the Commodore 64 conversion of Elite’s previous game, The Way of the Exploding Fist.
The game was originally released for the Commodore 64, Amiga, and Atari ST home computers. It was later ported to the MS-DOS and ZX Spectrum platforms.
Reception
Live and Let Die was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and faithfulness to the source material. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies worldwide.
Legacy
Live and Let Die is considered to be one of the best James Bond video games ever made. It was one of the first games to successfully capture the excitement and action of the Bond films, and it set a new standard for future Bond games.
The game has been re-released several times over the years, including on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. It is also available on digital download services such as Steam and GOG.com.
Plot
The game follows the plot of the 1973 James Bond film of the same name. Bond is sent to investigate a drug smuggling operation in the Caribbean, and he soon discovers that the operation is being run by the evil Mr. Big.
Bond must travel to a variety of locations in the Caribbean in order to gather evidence against Mr. Big. He must also rescue several hostages who have been kidnapped by Mr. Big’s henchmen.
Characters
- James Bond: The protagonist of the game. Bond is a British secret agent who is sent to investigate a drug smuggling operation in the Caribbean.
- Mr. Big: The main antagonist of the game. Mr. Big is a powerful drug lord who is responsible for the drug smuggling operation in the Caribbean.
- Solitaire: A tarot card reader who helps Bond in his investigation.
- Tee Hee: Mr. Big’s right-hand man. Tee Hee is a skilled martial artist and a deadly assassin.
Weapons and gadgets
Bond can use a variety of weapons and gadgets in the game, including:
- Walther PPK: Bond’s signature pistol.
- Beretta 92: A semi-automatic pistol that Bond can use to take down multiple enemies at once.
- M16 rifle: A powerful assault rifle that Bond can use to take down enemies at long range.
- Grenades: Bond can use grenades to blow up enemy vehicles and structures.
- Jetpack: Bond can use a jetpack to fly over obstacles and reach new areas.
Locations
The game is set in a variety of locations in the Caribbean, including:
- Jamaica: Bond’s first destination in the game. Bond must travel to Jamaica to investigate Mr. Big’s drug smuggling operation.
- The Bahamas: Bond’s second destination in the game. Bond must travel to the Bahamas to rescue several hostages who have been kidnapped by Mr. Big’s henchmen.
- New Orleans: Bond’s third destination in the game. Bond must travel to New Orleans to confront Mr. Big and put an end to his drug smuggling operation.
Conclusion
Live and Let Die: The Computer Game is a classic James Bond game that still holds up today. The game’s graphics, gameplay, and faithfulness to the source material make it a must-play for fans of the Bond franchise.
Review Score
8/10
