James Bond 007: Blood Stone

James Bond 007: Blood Stone is a 2010 third-person action-adventure shooter developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Activision. Uniquely, Blood Stone is not a direct adaptation of a film; instead, it features an entirely original cinematic storyline designed to fit seamlessly into the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond franchise.

Penned by veteran Bond screenwriter Bruce Feirstein (who worked on GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and The World Is Not Enough), the narrative follows a massive international conspiracy. When a bio-chemical researcher goes missing, MI6 sends James Bond to investigate a suspected terrorist plot involving weaponized anthrax. The globe-trotting adventure takes 007 from the luxury yachts of Athens to the glittering casinos of Monaco, the frozen wastelands of Siberia, and the bustling streets of Istanbul. The game features the voice and likeness of Daniel Craig as Bond, Judi Dench reprising her role as M, and Grammy-winning singer Joss Stone portraying the game’s original Bond girl, wealthy socialite Nicole Hunter (Stone also wrote and performed the game’s explosive opening theme song, “I’ll Take It All”).

Gameplay

Blood Stone blends aggressive, cover-based shooting with brutal hand-to-hand combat and high-speed vehicular action, aiming to replicate the gritty, visceral pacing of the modern Bond films.

Key gameplay mechanics include:

• Focus Aim System: Heavily inspired by the “Mark and Execute” system from Splinter Cell: Conviction, Blood Stone encourages players to mix melee with gunplay. Performing brutal, cinematic hand-to-hand takedowns earns Bond “Focus Aims.” These tokens can be spent to instantly lock onto enemy heads during a firefight, allowing players to chain together rapid, highly stylish, slow-motion lethal shots.
• Bizarre’s Driving DNA: Because the game was developed by Bizarre Creations—the legendary racing studio behind Project Gotham Racing and Blur—the driving sequences are highly polished. Players engage in thrilling, high-speed chases involving Aston Martins, speedboats, and tow trucks, heavily featuring the studio’s signature arcade-racing physics and explosive environmental set-pieces.
• The Smartphone Gadget: In keeping with the grounded nature of the Craig era, Bond isn’t equipped with laser watches or invisible cars. His primary tool is an advanced smartphone that acts as a tactical visor. It can scan the environment for intel, highlight enemy weapons and patrol routes, hack security systems, and uncover hidden audio logs.
• Cover-Based Firefights: The core combat is a traditional, over-the-shoulder cover shooter. Bond can vault over obstacles, blind-fire, and utilize a wide array of suppressed pistols, submachine guns, and assault rifles.

Development and Legacy

Following the critical success of Quantum of Solace (which was built on the Call of Duty engine), Activision wanted to expand their James Bond portfolio with an original story. They tasked Bizarre Creations with the project, hoping the studio could deliver a game that perfectly balanced on-foot action with the franchise’s iconic vehicle chases.

Upon its release in November 2010, Blood Stone received mixed-to-positive reviews. Critics praised the high production values, the excellent driving sequences, and Daniel Craig’s voice acting, noting that it genuinely felt like playing a lost, big-budget Bond movie. However, it was also criticized for its highly linear level design, relatively short campaign length, and a lackluster multiplayer mode that felt tacked on.

Tragically, Blood Stone holds a somber place in gaming history. Due to a shift in Activision’s corporate strategy regarding licensed games and the commercial underperformance of Bizarre Creations’ previous racing game, Blur, Activision shut down Bizarre Creations in early 2011, just months after Blood Stone was released. Adding insult to injury, the game’s story ends on a massive cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Due to expired licensing agreements, the game was digitally delisted from storefronts like Steam in 2013, making physical copies the only way to experience this lost chapter of the 007 mythos today.

Key Features:

• An Original 007 Cinematic Experience — Play through an authentic, completely original James Bond story starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, and Joss Stone.
• Lethal Focus Aim — Seamlessly blend brutal martial arts takedowns with rapid, slow-motion precision shooting.
• High-Octane Chases — Get behind the wheel of iconic Bond vehicles in explosive, high-speed pursuit sequences developed by racing genre veterans.
• Tactical Espionage — Utilize MI6’s latest smartphone technology to analyze the environment, hack cameras, and track enemy movements through walls.
• Globe-Trotting Action — Fight your way through beautifully rendered, exotic locations ranging from Istanbul to Bangkok.

Release Platforms:

• PlayStation 3 — November 2, 2010
• Xbox 360 — November 2, 2010
• Microsoft Windows (PC) — November 2, 2010
• Nintendo DS (Developed by n-Space) — November 2, 2010