Perfect Dark Zero found its place to shop shelves as part of the Xbox 360 launch line-up. Bringing with it with it a considerable amount of heritage. Having spawned from the GoldenEye 007 phenomenon, Perfect Dark was the half-blood sequel to Bond’s videogaming masterpiece. This prequel was discussed not too long after the original’s launch. Yet, it skipped an entire console generation before release. 18 years on and the upcoming reboot is still not in sight, but is the Xbox 360 original still worth playing?
A Brief History
Rare have been creating games for quite some time. Originally known as Ultimate: Play The Game, their biggest titles include Battletoads in BattleManaics on the SNES, Super RC Pro AM on the Game Boy and, of course, the inspirational Nintendo 64 line-up of Blast Corps, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie and Conker’s Bad Fur Day to name a few. The company become increasing quiet post-Nintendo 64 and the purchase of the company during 2003. In that time, Rare’s output was but two titles for the original Xbox, yet three for the Game Boy Advance. The delivery on Xbox 360 wasn’t much better, in all truth.
However, back on 2000, Perfect Dark was accredited as one of the best games ever produced. With an extensive list of features and level design that remains inspirational to even this day. Acting as the prequel to the first title, Perfect Dark Zero slipped away from the GameCube. Then away from Nintendo altogether. Along with Kameo: Elements Of Power, it was now set to appear on Microsoft’s new powerhouse entry into the market, the Xbox.
Well, that of course never happened. Another few years down the line Microsoft were back with another new console, the Xbox 360. Yet, RARE’s two projects originally intended for the GameCube launch line-up only now surfaced. Simply through the company’s past performance a lot is demanded of these titles. However, with the story of the Perfect Dark saga having been very much in the public-eye, times would be even tighter for one of the most anticipated games of 2005.
Not So Perfect Dark
As an FPS following traditional genre-formulaic rules, Perfect Dark Zero fails immediately. The title is built entirely around distancing the player from tradition, creating a uniquely intriguing adventure tailored by the individual. Anyone looking for a Serious Sam II style blast-everything-on-the-screen game should realise that they’ve made the wrong decision before the title screen makes it’s exit. The story hinges on the origins of Joanna Dark’s relationship with Daniel Carrington and his institute. It creates a back-story and a personality for Jo quite distant from the prim-and-proper, stiff-upper-lip girl you experienced in the original title.
The game presents itself as an open-ended experience within the first few Levels, disillusioning the player into a non-linear play-table. The levels expand and contract throughout the player’s progression and provide the vital suspension-of-disbelief. This organisation of play has certainly taken years to develop within each map. Yet the player’s interaction within levels has been minimised to the point of a withdrawal from the evolving experience of the first Perfect Dark title.
It’s hard to criticise Perfect Dark Zero for experimenting with a new way of involving the player in the action. However, there are far too many occasions when simply creating a large detailed map would’ve provided a less linear experience. The level structure is less appealing than the formula used for play. The vast majority revolve around a very open central area, and a mess of winding corridors leading to and from. Much of the design is predictable and stale.
Zero to 100
In addition to the single-player campaign, there is the option of co-operative play. It seems that much of the game has actually been designed around two players attacking the campaign side-by-side, which is certainly not a bad thing. The inventiveness of the enemy placement is far more evident when tactfully taking down each area in a joint effort. The weapon variety is pleasing, although disturbingly samey when compared to the first title. And, although the prequel is set some years earlier, it makes few attempts to offer an alternative FarSight or RCP-190. The title does feature a prototype of the RCP-90, but it only retains the primary function of the later model.
The enemy AI is quite a sore-point. The first title is a benchmark in the history of AI development and, in all honesty, Perfect Dark Zero doesn’t appear to have progressed in this field at all. In fact, in many cases, it often appears to have regressed. The multiplayer option’s bots provide a good argument for the opposite, but the campaign-based enemies often provide little more “human” instincts than those seen in the likes of Time Splitters 2 or Medal Of Honour: Frontline. With the power of the Xbox 360, this is clearly quite ridiculous, and more than inexcusable.
Perfect Dark 32 Player
The multiplayer functions of the title create a rather distant argument from the single-player campaign. With two-to-four players via split-screen and online catering for 32 players, the title qualifies for at least a quick look. The split-screen options allow human players to compete against up to 16 bots at a user-defined difficulty in a large variety of play modes. Every option of each match is totally customisable, down to every weapon and the availability of vehicles.
Dark Ops is an alternative multiplayer mode to the basic deathmatch. This allows for a variety of scenarios including the usual King-of-the-Hill and flag-based modes, as well as new offerings such as Eradication. Basically a co-opted Counter-Strike formula, the players are divided into teams and allotted an amount of cash with which to buy upgraded weaponry. Using this weaponry, the teams play until only one remains. At the end of each round, teams receive additional funding depending on their final placement to spend in the next.
As stated above, the AI is far greater for bots than would appear to be for the enemies in single-player. Whether or not this was a purposeful decision on behalf of the development team is unclear at best. However, for all the worth it adds to the multiplayer, it strips the single-player of much of its would-be charm. With the deathmatch options being so varied and diverse, it’s highly unlikely that any Xbox 360 gamer won’t be able to firstly gather a small group of friends, and secondly, keep them entertained for an evening. The multiplayer in Perfect Dark Zero makes the right moves and breaks many of the walls the single-player stumbles upon.
Far From Perfect, But Rarely Dark
The title manages to keep Rare’s reputation of impeccable graphical prowess in good form. Easily the best looking title in the Xbox 360’s launch line-up. The animation however, is not without its flaws. Much of the lighting often finds conflict with other near-by light sources. It’s a complement to the Xbox 360 that Rare had, clearly under significant pressure, managed to top the competing PC-ported FPS games launched alongside Perfect Dark Zero in the launch line-up, such as Quake 4 and Call Of Duty 2, but it’s also clear that this same line-up wasn’t exactly as Microsoft had promised.
The sound quality is impeccable and, despite being altogether stingy with character sound-bytes, follows Rare’s FPS traditions of flowing with the gameplay; picking-up the pace when the heat is on and creating a smooth and relaxed atmosphere whilst sneaking through the under-growth. Despite its vast array of bugs and short-comings, there’s no denying that Perfect Dark Zero was the most technically achieved title available for Xbox 360 at launch.
18 Years Later, Perfect Dark Remains an Interesting Concept
While Perfect Dark Zero is clearly one of the most well-constructed titles available for the Xbox 360’s launch, it also failed to enhance upon its predecessor in the same way that the original Perfect Dark did on its forerunner, GoldenEye 007. The single-player simply leaves far too much to be desired. The multiplayer fares far better, but has been significantly outdated in the 18 years since. Surely, Rare had created a mixed-bag, and caused quite a conundrum amongst their very hostile fanbase. Perfect Dark devotees were disappointed, as was anyone expecting the prequel to follow the same utterly influential patterns of it’s predecessor. However, 18 years later, we can see the sparks of inspiration that remained. Perfect Dark Zero was never great, and hasn’t aged particularly well, but there’s still some unique flavour that fans of the genre will find intriguing nonetheless.
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