Exploring GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo 64)
Had seen this text in the game's memory, but hadn't actually had it occur during gameplay...
Bond somehow destroys the computer that Natalya needs to finish the Objective in the Control Center.
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| Roger Moore disguised as a clown. |
One of the most disliked GoldenEye 007 levels is the 17th stage, the Water Caverns.
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| "Open the blast doors!" |
Navigating through a set of locked security blast doors is something that usually snags me on every playthrough.
The collectable keycards are rather counter-intuitive.
Whenever you locate a guard with a key, his particular smart card doesn't seem to open the door that's nearby.
A quick reference map for the final portion of the Water Caverns, illustrating the locked doors, and where to find the corresponding keycards.
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| WATER CAVERNS Color-coded Keycard Map (final portion of the level) |
The guards with cards have blue hats on their heads.
It's also possible that when a guard is killed, his keycard might fly well away from where his weapon lands. Especially in a big open room, sometimes this can prevent players from locating the card and exiting the level.
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| Guard in the Radio Room has no idea we're spying on him... |
The guard carrying Keycard B is in the big open room with the Radio.
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| Guard with the blue hat has Keycard C. |
Just outside the big Radio Room, is another guard who carries the crucial Keycard C.
Incidentally, that guard is easiest to pick off as you can snipe him from a distance.
The guard inside the room that has Keycard B can also be lured out of the room by shooting at the glass from outside.
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| Unlike the Scientists in the Facility or Silo, these labcoats aren't
very keen on leaving their workstations. |
Three objectives focus on blowing shit up.
Bottom line: Several computers to be destroyed - WITHOUT allowing the death of more than TWO Scientists in the explosions.
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| Janus has stockpiled for the Apocalypse, with fuel drums stacked on top of fuel drums... |
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| "Close the blast doors!" |
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| The final stretch... |
Examining the path of a particular guard in the Archives Mission.
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| Bond hits the books to better his odds in the Military Intelligence Archives |
This patrolling sentry is a deciding variable that will make or break a successful speedrun.
The goal is to finish within the Target Time of 1:20 as a 00 Agent (hardest difficulty).
Have previously commented that Super Mario Bros 3 is like a Pinball machine...
GoldenEye 007 is more like a game of Poker.
Even if you play your cards right - The unpredictability of other characters will make the whole run a total bust.
It's possible to finish the mission without even seeing this problem guard...
At the same time, he could be in the worst possible place - And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
The patrolling guards in the Facility are predictable (can almost set Bond's watch by it).
Most of the Facility patrollers don't travel through doors...
Computer-controlled characters often get stuck behind doors in the Archives, turning in circles until the door closes... At which point, they try again.
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| If the guard in the Archives navigates his course properly, he should
arrive at a particular spot at a certain point in time - This seldom
happens. If things go well, you might not even see him. |
Interestingly enough, he's the same guard who patrols during one of the opening Intro Cameras.
(The angle that shows an outdoor area with other guards stationed around)
This area is just down the hall from where Bond stops to meet Mishkin (to complete OBJECTIVE C)
Exploring with Bond Invisible (the very same Cheat that's unlocked in this level with a successful run).
Not quite background ambience or random character animation, exactly...
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| The Russian Soldier guard can even get stuck in the corner with Mishkin before Bond even arrives in the room. |
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| Get there quick enough, and the guard might just be leaving the room with his back to you. |
Sometimes Bond gets to the meeting room, and the far door is wide open - Indicating the guard has just left.
After hundreds of playthroughs of this mission, and I saw something I'd never seen before...
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| It's Ajar. (Normally there's a door here) |
After exiting the meeting room with Mishkin (obtaining the bloody safe key & flight recorder), I raced down the hall to find the last door wide open...
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| There really should be "Push" and "Pull" signs on these Archives doors... |
The only logical explanation is that the patrolling guard must have just finished passing through it.
He must have been stuck turning in circles behind the door while the meeting was in progress.
On another playthrough, the guard happened to catch sight of me just as I was sneaking by the basement bookcases... He technically passes through there for just a brief moment, as he travels from a hallway to enter the "big room".
Being harassed by other guards: Just as the patroller can cause problems, Bond might have a couple other guards that follow downstairs while the important meeting with Mishkin is underway.
Very few of them will manage to track you that far... But a couple of them might (occasionally even one of the black-coated guards who was holding Natalya).
On a separate but related note, all the GoldenEye speedrunning experts will use the additional strategy of looking down at the ground as they run and strafe...
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| Bond's always curious if the curtains match the carpet... |
Apparently this speeds up the framerate, as the game is required to load fewer textures.
The Archives is an excellent mission to practice this technique.
Fewer guards to deal with, and straight, easy tiles and lines on the floors to follow.
While I definitely need more practice to be effective with this method, it's undeniably a time-saver that can shed a few additional seconds.
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| Q is very much looking forward to his retirement - Far away from 007. |
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| GoldenEye 007 "Beta" Stuff Definitely the motivation to acquire a Gameshark. |
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| Destructive Prowess With twenty tanks to be destroyed in the Bottling Room, one rises to the challenge. |
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| Sneaking around with the "Bond Invisible" Cheat in the Facility. There's often a Scientist that gets caught in the crossfire on the first floor. |
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| This guy walks around, looking busy - without doing any actual work. He must be the Supervisor. |
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| The Scientist patrolling the level intro in place of the guard. |
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| OBJECTIVE A: Protect Natalya Guards stand around and swat flies while Natalya stares blankly at the screen. |
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| Overlooking the Control Room To hell with motivational posters in the workplace. Bring in the armed guards! |
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| All six guards lined up and ready to take Natalya out... Fortunately we don't have to deal with all of them at once. |
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| Can even take some of these guards before they even make it downstairs... |
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| Guards are eliminated on the "spiral stairs". Getting preoccupied with one side of the room, another guard is bound to sneak up and attack Natalya. |
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| Light this guy up with all you've got. He's wearing body armor, so aim high and don't stop shooting until he drops. |
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| OBJECTIVE B: COMPLETED |
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| Bond Gets Ghosted... |
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| Can add the Frigate mission in GoldenEye 007 to the list of levels that can be completed in just over 20 seconds on Agent difficulty... |
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| Rescue a few hostages and stick the Tracker Bug on the Pirate helicopter. (Then put away the proper gun and fix your tie...) |
"Q BRANCH: As for the Tracker, you only get the one, so do be careful how you handle the thing."
-Official Player's Guide
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| Without a running start, the Tracker Bug hits the very edge of the upper deck... The target helicopter sits on the helipad just below. |
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| Definitely wanted to figure out how to pull off this stunt. A few
practice sessions using the Maximum Ammo push-button Cheat... This gives
TEN attempts without having to restart. (Enter the code again for ten
more!) |
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| Time it right, and can fill this guy full of lead without putting the hostage in (much) danger. Gotta make it back to the beach bar in time for Martini hour. |
Managed to do the unthinkable.
Cleared the 00 Agent Facility in GoldenEye 007 without taking so much as a scratch.
Still with perfect health, finishing within the Target Time.
Absolutely incredible. Couldn't believe it.
How on earth was this even possible?
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Whoa. "I'm not the one. I'm just a regular guy." |
Wasn't even consciously aware that my health was full.
Knew I had done well, but it wasn't until pausing to access the Door Decoder that I realized my health meter was fully intact.
With practice, I've been able to make it upstairs to the lab in excellent health.
On this particular run, Doak was in the side lab. No good for setting a new personal best time, but still needing some practice in the Bottling Room, I'm always up for it.
Ducked in to start the conversation with Dr. Doak and one of the Russian Soldiers pulls a grenade in the hallway.
Wipes out all of his comrades (without more than 2 Non-Military Personnel).
(Have FAILED the mission many times because of guards killing Scientists!)
Suddenly surrounded by silence, I proceed to waltz right out like I own the place.
Doesn't even feel like it really happened.
Somehow, it made me put down the controller, walk away and reflect...
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| Like something out of Pulp Fiction... Sam Jackson wonders how the hell he didn't get shot and killed by those motherfuckers. |
It was on console, not the ROM.
Recently started using the technique of a tiny piece of paper on the screen to aim while running.
Nailed a few crucial guards with perfect headshots using the Silenced PP7.
Had just hit new best times for the Facility on Agent, Secret Agent, and 00 Agent.
Hit a new personal record for 00 Agent Facility just hours earlier.
Without a doubt, I've never been this good at GoldenEye before. Hadn't played in ten years.
After three months of practice, definitely in the zone.
Of course I'm nowhere near as good as the best players in the world.
Still, it's an unforgettable GoldenEye moment that I was lucky enough to achieve.
Took a break after several dozen runs in the afternoon. Picked it up in the evening, and it happened several attempts in. Had also gone for a nice long relaxing nature walk before dark.
Also cranked down the music - Which I still enjoy, and somehow am not sick of yet...
But it is a bit of a distraction, and I'd rather be in tune with the SFX.
And finally, just switched up to a (slightly) better N64 controller.
Also realized that it was on my original GoldenEye 007 game cart - So worn out that it won't load if fully inserted. Definitely has sentimental value.
For the actual strategy pages, see Blog Posts:
"Speedrun For Invincible" and "Earning Invincible - It's Infuriating!".
Russian Soldier, Russian Infantry, Russian Commandant, Janus Marine Naval Officer, Civilian (1), Civilian (2), Civilian (3) Civilian (4), Si...
