In handling terms, it’s very much like a traditional arcade racer. As a standalone game, these sections would be middling at best - as a diversion from the shooty-shooty business it’s as welcome as a steaming mug of Bovril on a bitter winter’s day. As well as the handy emergency break for swish 180 turns, flicking on monochromatic ‘Bourne Awareness’ also acts as a rather handy Need For Speed-style Speedbreaker, letting you s-l-o-w d-o-w-n time to nip through those tight spaces,Italian Job-stylee.
Though not quite in the highest echelons of next gen loveliness, Bourne’s Unreal Engine 3 powered visuals sure look gorgeous - especially the highly detailed environments, though Jason’s genero-handsome character model could do with some work. It’s the whistle-stop QTE sequences which stay in the mind long after you’ve finished playing though; Shenmue on steroids does not begin to describe it. Yet blink for a second, or rather mess up, and the illusion is shattered. Cock up a QTE in the Embassy chase for instance and it’s an instant ‘death’ for The Bournemeister and a shove back to the nearest restart point. We say: Bad. Game. Design.
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