The Arecibo Observatory, a massive telescope that served as the location for the end of 1995GoldenEyefilm and one of the last levels ofGoldenEye 007for the N64, has collapsed. The destruction of the famous observatory prompted fans of theinfluential first-person shooter gameto take to Twitter with memories of the iconic structure.
The Observatory, located in Puerto Rico, was already in bad condition, according to NBC News. In August, an auxiliary cable connected to the Observatory’s platform snapped, damaging the receiver platform and the reflector dish in the process. The structure was completely destroyed in November when the structure’s main cable snapped, causing the 900-ton receiver platform to detach and fall 400 feet, smashing the reflector dish below. The observatory was destroyed as a cinematic affair at the end ofGoldenEye 007, but now it is really gone. Before its collapse, the observatory played an important role in making astronomical discoveries, as it had the largest radio telescope in the world.
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Most people know the observatory as the setting of the last act ofGoldenEye, and gamers know it as the final normal mission ofGoldenEye 007for the N64. Many fans regard theobservatory level as the best in the game, and one of the best 007 levels of all time. In the mission, players control James Bond as he battles his way through the observatory to stop Alec Trevelyan. The mission ends with Bond escaping as the observatory is destroyed in an explosion.
Completing this mission unlocks theCougar Magnumcheat, and clearing the level on Agent difficulty in just two minutes and 15 seconds or less unlocks the Gold PP7 cheat. The level is considered the last normal mission of the game, as the credits role shortly after the observatory is destroyed. Finishing the mission also unlocks two bonus levels, and makes all the characters available in the multiplayer mode.
Fans took to Twitter to share their memories of either watchingGoldenEyeor beating the iconic Rare game following the news.
GoldenEyeis regarded as one of the most influential first-person shooters in gaming history. While it released in 1997, many fans have expressed desire to see the game remade for modern consoles. Earlier in 2020, a YouTuber gave fans an idea of what aGoldenEyeremaster might look likeby using Quixel Megascans and Unreal Engine 4 to recreate one of the game’s levels. However, it is unlikely the game will receive a remaster anytime soon due to complex licensing agreements surrounding 007 titles.
