'From Russia with Love' Released Today

Visit CBn’s Gallery to view all of the FRWL screneshots.

Level 11: Train

• Train 1
• Train 2
• Train 3
• Train 4
• Train 5

Level 13: Border

• Border 1
• Border 2
• Border 3
• Border 4
• Border 5

This November 01, 2005 sees the US release of EA‘s new James Bond game, From Russia with Love, on the XBOX and PlayStation 2 platforms.

Unfortunately the Nintendo GameCube version has been delayed until November 15. But that’s not too long of a wait considering those in the UK have to wait until 18 November for the games’ release.

Buy ‘From Russia With Love’

• Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.com
• Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.com

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk
• Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk
• Nintendo GameCube:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

To celebrate the games release EA gives us a peek at Level 11: Train and Level 13: Border.

Level 11: James Bond, Tatiana Romanova, Kerim Bey along with the Lektor device hop aboard the Orient Express as they flee Istanbul where OCTOPUS was over powering them. While on the train Kerim Bey gets shot and a fight between Red Grant and James Bond breaks out in the dining car. This level follows the movie closely with a few twist and turns.

Level 13: This is the second/third longest level in the game. James Bond and Tatiana, still in possession of the Lektor device, attempt to get to Venice safely. They travel in the Aston Martin DB5 and battle it out on foot to reach the boathouse where they commandeer a boat. There is a very long boat chase before they reach Italy. Tatiana is at the helm with 007 on the gun fighting against OCTOPUS.

CBn has previously been provided with exclusive screenshots from Level 1: London, Level 2: Hedgemaze, Level 3: Istanbul, Level 6: Gypsy Camp and Level 7: Sniper. As well as a Who’s Who of FRWL photo album.

Gypsy Girlfight!

Ok boys, here’s what you’ve been waiting for. It’s time to thank EA as they’ve provided CBn with nine exclusive screenshots of the classic catfight between the two gypsy girls, Vida and Zora, which is to appear in their new James Bond game From Russia with Love this November.

Click Here for CBn’s FRWL Gallery to view hot Gypsy Girl fight action.

Level 6 (Gypsy Camp): James Bond and Kerim Bay show up at the Gypsy camp only to witness a catfight between two Gypsy girls in love with the same man. The fight is interrupted by the arrival of Keilencu’s men who start ransacking the camp. Bond must join the gypsies (follower & squad AI will watch your back) in the fight against these men and rescue hostage gypsy girls as well.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest breaking news on From Russia With Love.

'From Russia with Love' Level 7 Screenshots

Last week we took a look at the cast of characters of From Russia with Love. While this week we have three more CBn-exclusive From Russia With Love screenshots for you.

EA has previously provided us with screenshots from Level 1: London, Level 2: Hedgemaze and Level 3: Istanbul. This time we have some shots from Level 7: The Sniper Level.

To backtrack a little, in Level 6 (Gypsy Camp) Krilencu, the Russian spy, had nearly succeeded in assassinating Kerim Bey. So Kerim decided that he must kill Krilencu before Krilencu killed him. This leads us to Level 7 (The Sniper Level).

Level 7: Kerim Bey teams up with James Bond to eliminate Krilencu. Both Kerim and Agent 007 must battle through the alleyways and buildings of Istanbul to get to Krilencu. James Bond ends up on the rooftop of a building adjacent to Kerim Bey. 007 must using a sniper rifle to protect Kerim who is being attacked by an onslaught of enemies.

WARNING: The Following Paragraph is a SPOILER

As it turns out Krilencu grabs Kerim Bey and holds him at gun point. It’s Bond’s job to snipe Krilencu through a hotel window which is covered by a billboard size poster advertising the Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg movie, Call Me Bwana.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest breaking news on From Russia With Love.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Who's Who: From Russia With Love

Visit CBn’s FRWL Gallery to view all of the who’s who screneshots:

• Elizabeth Stark
• Eva
• Tatiana Romanova
• Rosa Klebb
• Red Grant
• James Bond
• Kerim Bey
• M
• Moneypenny
• Q

EA has provided us with a look at the who’s who cast of characters from their new James Bond video game, From Russia With Love.

Start saving your money or ask Santa for the game for Christmas as it’s due out out in stores this November 1st (US) and November 18 (UK).

The Bond Girls

• Eva (Maria Menounos):A member of OCTOPUS who assists Red Grant as his driver and henchwoman.
• Elizabeth Stark (Natasha Bedingfield): The Prime Minister of England’s daughter who is kidnapped during a party.
• Tatiana Romanova: A Russian cipher clerk who was unsuspecting pulled into the OCTOPUS plan against James Bond.

The Villains:

• Red Grant: A cunning, dangerous, and brutal antagonist. He lives a very simple life under orders from OCTOPUS.
• Rosa Klebb: A top member of OCTOPUS. She?s diminutive, but extremely lethal and has little regard for others.

007 and His Allies:

• James Bond (Sean Connery): The man himself, Agent 007. With a licence to kill he’s ready for anything.
• Kerim Bey: A joyful ally who assists Bond in Istanbul with the killing of Krilencu.
• M: The head MI6 and James Bond’s tough and resourceful boss.
• Moneypenny: The flirtatious secretary of M who always tries to win over James Bond.
• Q: The gadget man who provides James Bond with all his weapons, cars and gadgets.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest breaking news on From Russia With Love.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube:
  Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Resurrecting Connery's Bond

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (relayed through GameDAILY BIZ), EA executive producer Glen Schofield has revealed what James Bond fans can expect from Sir Sean Connery’s return to the role of 007.

CommanderBond.net confirmed in March that Connery would reprise the role in EA’s From Russia With Love, a reimagining of the 1963 film of the same name. Connery since spent four days in a studio to record dialogue for the game, which is due to hit PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox in November.

A CBn-exclusive screenshot: Sean Connery as James Bond

According to Schofield, Connery’s influence went beyond his inimitable dialogue. In addition to adding a degree of authenticity by providing his voice, Connery also weighed in on how his Bond should move in the game. “He added so much to not only the dialogue, but he also talked about his fighting style, which is much different from other Bonds,” Schofield said. Connery was reportedly paid $1 million for his work on the new game.

Visually, a team of digital character artists have meticulously recreated Connery’s classic Bond appearance for From Russia With Love. Schofield said artists took animation techniques to the extreme in crafting his 3D character model and hand-painting its textures.

Connery’s 1963 co-stars, however, will be voiced by a group of sound-alikes, Schofield revealed, including Robert Shaw’s Red Grant, Daniela Bianchi’s Tatiana Romanova, Lois Maxwell’s Miss Moneypenny, Lotte Lenye’s Rosa Klebb, and MI6 regulars, Bernard Lee (M) and Desmond Llewelyn (Q).

“Millions of people have seen the movies, purchased the DVDs and played the Bond games,” Schofield said. “From Russia with Love came out over 40 years ago, so those that had seen it on the big screen when it was released are at the very outer edge of the age demographic that plays games.”

James Bond saves Natasha Bedingfield’s Elizabeth Stark

To create a balance, Connery will be joined by contemporaries, Maria Menounos as henchwoman, Eva, and British singer Natasha Bedingfield, who plays Elizabeth Stark, the daughter of the British Prime Minister.

Menounos said she was given a lot of scope to create her character. “We don’t know her origin in the game, so I gave her an accent. It’s a blend of Czech and Russian.”

As for what to expect from the game itself, Schofield promises a larger scale for many of the locations, including in and under the Russian consulate, which features in the film. Fans can also look forward to a surprise ending in the game.

From Russia With Love will be released on 1 November 2005. Keep watching CBn for all the latest news leading up to its release.

Pre-order ‘From Russia with Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

'From Russia With Love' Level 3 Screenshots

Visit CBn’s FRWL Gallery to view all of the Istanbul screneshots:

• Istanbul 1
• Istanbul 2
• Istanbul 3
• Istanbul 4
• Istanbul 5

EA has once again provided us with CBn-exclusive From Russia With Love screenshots. They have previously provided us with shots from Level 1: The London Level and Level 2: Hedgemaze.

Today we’ll take a look at one of the blockbuster missions in the game, Level 3: Istanbul.

Istanbul: This is From Russia With Love‘s first driving level which follows and expands upon the movie. Your mission is to transport Kerim Bay safely to Station T. So this level will start out with James Bond (you) meeting Kerim Bay at the airport . Then you’ll speed off through the countryside in your Aston Martin DB5 and eventually end up in the city. You’ll hop out of the Aston and finish the level on foot with guns and gadgets.

Because From Russia With Love will be running off an all new game engine, this level has fully fully integrated driving. You will actually be able to get out of the Aston Martin and proceed on foot without encountering load screens in the game, yay!

Natasha Bedingfield as Elizabeth Stark just rescued by James Bond

CBn learned at E3 that there would be two present day Bond Girls in the game. Now if you haven’t been paying attention both of those girls have been announced: Maria Menounos as Eva and Natasha Bedingfield as Elizabeth Stark.

Elizabeth Stark is the daughter of the British Prime Minister in From Russia With Love. She shows up in Level 1 when 007 flies through a fiery falling helicopter in his jetpack to rescue her. I’ve been wanting to share this screen shot with you all ever since I played the London Level demo at E3 because as the action sequence leading up to this actual shot is fantastic! I finally got my hands on a clear version of the shot… enjoy.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest breaking news on From Russia With Love.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

'From Russia With Love' Pack Art Revealed

The cover art for EA’s upcoming James Bond video game From Russia With Love has been revealed. EA has confirmed for CBn that this “pack art” is 99% final (there may be some subtle changes in the positioning or color of the logos).

From Russia With Love is in development simultaneously across Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. According to Amazon, it will be released in the U.S. on November 1 and in the UK on November 18.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Bedingfield Confirmed for 'Russia' Cameo

As previously leaked, Electronic Arts has now confirmed British singer Natasha Bedingfield will have a role in the upcoming James Bond game, From Russia With Love.

Natasha Bedingfield

Joining the original Bond, Sean Connery and newcomer Maria Menounos, Bedingfield will lend her voice and likeness to an original character named Elizabeth Stark, who is the daughter of the British Prime Minister. 007 is called into action when Miss Stark goes missing.

“I am thrilled to be featured alongside Sean Connery in the game version of one of my favorite Bond films,” said Bedingfield. “It’s not every day you get to become a Bond Girl so this is a great honour.”

“Natasha Bedingfield is an exceptional British talent and was a natural choice for this part,” said Jon Rissik, Senior Marketing Director EA Europe.

Bedingfield has a previous Bond game connection: she performed the end title track for EA’s last 007 game, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.

Meanwhile, EA has unleashed its latest batch of impressive screenshots from the new game.

From Russia With Love is in development simultaneously across Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, and will be released worldwide later this year.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Maria Menounos Joins 'From Russia With Love'

Electronic Arts today announced Maria Menounos will star alongside Sean Connery in the company’s upcoming James Bond video game, From Russia With Love.

Maria Menounos

Menounos will lend her voice and likeness to an original character named Eva, who is Red Grant’s driver and henchwoman. A spokesperson for Pantene hair products, Menounos recently made her big-screen debut in Fantastic Four, and has also had a recurring role in One Tree Hill.

“I am honored to be a Bond girl and be a part of the Bond legacy,” said Menounos. “To star in a video game with Connery, the original Bond, is incredible.”

Menounos joins a growing cast for From Russia With Love (recent reports indicate Natasha Bedingfield may also have a role in the game). After the commercial misfire of GoldenEye: Rogue Agent late last year, it appears EA is attempting to create a game more in the mould of Everything or Nothing, its most critically-acclaimed effort so far (Everything or Nothing featured an all-star cast including Pierce Brosnan, Willem Dafoe, Shannon Elizabeth and Bond regulars Judi Dench and John Cleese).

From Russia With Love is in development simultaneously across Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, and will be released worldwide later this year.

Pre-order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

'Oh good morning, Q… how have you been?'

A CBn-exclusive screenshot: Sean Connery as James Bond

When Sean Connery broke the fourth wall by winking to audiences in the final shot of his last James Bond film, Never Say Never Again, 007 fans felt the actor had finally closed the book on the character that made him famous. Now, following the shock announcement Connery would lend his voice and likeness (circa 1963) to EA’s new Bond game, From Russia With Love, fans can hear the 74-year-old actor utter brand new dialogue in the role of Agent 007.

IGN.com has published an all-new video (Q’s gadgets) revealing Connery’s first line of dialogue as James Bond in over 22 years. The video features James Bond being briefed by Desmond Llewellyn’s Q (voiced here by another actor).

Q: “Good morning, 007.”
JAMES BOND: “Oh good morning, Q… how have you been? Busy inventing things?”
Q: “Not as busy as you’ve been destroying them.”

– ‘From Russia With Love’

Astute Bond fans will note that Connery’s voice has changed over the course of his post-Bond career (perhaps most notable is his trademark “S” pronunciation, which is much more accentuated than in his 60s Bond days). Nonetheless, the voice is unmistakable, and even if the game fails to make an impact (which, looking at impressive early footage appears very hard to believe), Connery’s presence will no doubt give gamers – and in particular, Bond fans – reason enough to pick up From Russia With Love.

In related news, media outlets the world over have picked up on a story with its roots in a New Zealand paper (relayed through Scotland on Sunday), in which Connery once again reiterated he has no intentions to star in another film (his last picture was The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). Scotland on Sunday reports that Connery was rumoured to have been paid $1 million just for his voiceover work on From Russia With Love, coincidentally, the same amount he was paid in his then-record salary for Diamonds Are Forever.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest on From Russia With Love and Connery’s return to the role of James Bond.

Pre-order ‘From Russia with Love’

• Pre-order for Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Pre-order for Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com