Ep.52 – The Man With the Golden Gun: How GoldenEye 007 Revolutionized Console Shooters

In 1997, GoldenEye 007 landed on the Nintendo 64 and redefined what first-person shooters could be on consoles. Developed by a small team at Rare led by Martin Hollis, it began as a proposed SNES platformer before evolving into a 3D shooter inspired by Virtua Cop, Doom, and even Super Mario 64. Our conversation explores how the team, working without finalized N64 hardware, improvised tools, studied film sets, and expanded Bond’s missions into interactive levels. We highlight contributors like David Doak, Steve Ellis, and composers Graeme Norgate and Grant Kirkhope, as well as the last-minute multiplayer mode that became a phenomenon. From cheat codes to “The Man with the Golden Gun,” GoldenEye became both party favorite and console blueprint. Join us as we revisit Bond’s most legendary mission on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.