“Did you know there were going to be fireworks?”

I’m probably one of like three people who would enjoy more Bond games in the style of Everything or Nothing just as much as I would further attempts to update the GoldenEye formula. This notion is supported by the fact that Blood Stone was met with critical indifference. Developed by Bizarre Creations—who made the delectable, unique circuit-shooter The Club, not to mention the Project Gotham Racing series and Blur—Blood Stone combines smooth cover-based shooting, stealth, hand-to-hand-combat, clue-finding, and vehicle chases. Most of this is solidly crafted, if a bit by-the-numbers; one notes a conspicuous inability to crouch during stealth segments, a lack of any in-game crescendos (boss battles occur entirely in cutscene form), and a dearth of nifty gadgets (Bond’s smartphone has an Arkham Asylum–style scan mode that does everything from cloning harddrives to disabling security cameras to tracking enemy movements). While playing through the game, the flow of combat reminded me of The Bourne Conspiracy and Splinter Cell: Conviction, but it’s been about fifteen years since I played both of those, so make of that comment what you will. Anyway, this pleasant blend of modes is all framed by a wild pulp storyline about megalomaniacal billionaires that trots around the globe and unfolds in a variety of opulent and exotic settings befitting the iconic character. It’s a touch too outlandish and incoherent to have been made into a film, nevertheless, the main actors voice their characters and provide their likenesses (Daniel Craig, Judi Dench) and the whole thing is presented with popcorn cinema flair. In the final analysis, Blood Stone is a nicely polished product to enjoy for a weekend even if it doesn’t set a new high bar for its series or its medium.