Quantum of Solace is, for the most part, a first-person shooter, though stealth and cover elements make things a little more interesting. Most of your time is spent shooting enemies, though occasionally you can get in close and use a Takedown Move, which is really just another way to say "Quick Time Event."
The newer elements are interesting, though they add little to the overall experience. Looking at the level designs, it is clear that the cover mechanic wasn't something that was just thrown in, though it also lends a bit of "fakeness" to each level. Cover is a little too convenient at times to the point that levels look less like real world environments and more like videogame levels. Although cover adds a "stop-and-pop" feel, it also kills the generally quick pacing. There are a few "wow" moments, but these are few and far between.
Quantum of Solace spans both Daniel Craig Bond movies, though you wouldn't know it based on the in-game narrative. To say the story is incoherent is a bold understatement; it is nearly impossible to follow unless you know both movies' stories in-and-out. It has been a while since I last saw Casino Royale, and even after seeing Quantum of Solace on the big screen, I had a really hard time following. There are a number of recognizable elements, such as the construction site chase, but without something holding it together, it eventually feels like you are just playing a bunch of random "Bond moments." It is also incredibly short. The entire single-player game can be finished in less than 5 hours and the ending just sort of happens. We all know this isn't Bond's last adventure, but closure is still a nice thing.
On the plus side, multiplayer is a much more satisfying experience. The available maps are culled from the single-player side's better missions and provide a number of interesting modes to play through. Two of the more interesting game types put one player in control of Bond as he tries to evade other players. Bond Versus pits Bond against all of the other players as they try to stop him from disabling bombs. Bond Evasion has players from MI6 escorting the Bond player to an extraction zone while avoiding Organization players. Unfortunately, it is hard to find non-Deathmatch games and the few times I was able to find one of the Bond-focused types being played, they usually turned out to be "Achievement Boost" games. However, this is more of a gasp of personal frustration rather than a problem with the game.
Points are awarded for participating in multiplayer matches. These can then be spent on several upgrades, including gadgets and new weapons (including a set of Golden Weapons). Gadgets add a neat twist to multiplayer matches and act like Perks in COD4. The option of new weapons is nice, even if it is basically just a way to flaunt your experience (you can pick up weapons after killing people).
