In many ways, Perfect Dark arrived ahead of its time. In the dying years of the N64's lifespan, when all but everyone had shipped off to the shimmering next-gen shores of Dreamcast, Rare's masterpiece was overlooked - which is very much a discredit to what it managed to deliver in the year 2000.
How many modern day shooters can you name that include a full campaign co-op, counter-op, fully customisable (even down to weapon spawns) spitscreen multiplayer, intelligent and varied deathmatch bots and multiplayer challenges? We could go on. For a near-ten-year-old game, Perfect Dark stands up incredibly well in 2010. But that's not to say it's aged without some wrinkles.
Golden Glasses Returning to single-player after nearly a decade, enemy AI isn't as clever as we remember, even in the highest Perfect Agent difficulty. Level design, while still unique in its spy FPS mold, is also adrift of the clear and responsive standards we're now used to. It's not often clear how you "disable the external comms hub", or when's best to knock out an alarm-happy scientist, so unless you remember what you did 10 years ago you will find yourself wandering lost fairly regularly.
But we still love it. Rare's game does a great job of delivering a succession of interesting set pieces, varied environments and levels that - just like GoldenEye - feel like believable locations.
The infamously bad framerate from the original game is finally, thankfully sorted - a blessing in disguise from Xbox 360's god-like technical power compared to Nintendo's old box. That's reason enough for fans of the classic to hand over their Microsoft Points. Textures and models have generally been spruced up too, although unless you have this and the original side-by-side you won't notice after the first two minutes.
One update particularly worthy of praise is the improved control scheme. Those who remember the N64 original will instantly find themselves at home; left thumbstick movement feels responsive and aiming with the right stick improves on the comparatively clunky C-Button configuration of the N64 controller, even if it does render the N64 game's manual aiming mode (executed by holding left trigger) almost useless.
After a brief disorientating introduction for classic fans, you'll quickly switch up to playing the game using just the standard crosshair view and the left stick, with some pretty generous auto-aim giving you a hand.
Old Dogs But the absolute best reason to buy the updated Perfect Dark though is for its seminal multiplayer modes. As we subtly hinted in our opening paragraphs, the game's labyrinth of customisation options and game modes mean Rare's N64 shooter, though not as pretty, still stands strong in 2010.
The game's generous four-player split-screen mode has naturally been bolstered with eight-player online games, which encompasses all of the maps and scenarios as in the original game.
The arena roster, while definitely featuring a few duds, is solid. What really sticks out here though is how imaginative and perhaps unappreciated Perfect Dark's arsenal of futuristic guns and grenades is. Auto-targetting SMGs, rifles that can be turned into bombs, camera-controlled rockets, grenades that distort your vision; every weapon is distinct, tactical and good fun to use.
It's not difficult to have a good time here whether it be against mates in the same room, online or against surprisingly clever bots in Challenge mode's roster of increasingly difficult scenarios.
While Perfect Dark has significantly aged in areas like its objective design and solo AI, it still manages to skip comfortably into 2010 with its excellent multiplayer and weapon roster, while benefiting from modern technology with a framerate that actually works.
Fans of the original will no doubt jump at the chance to revisit a favourite in new high-res clothes, while newcomers may discover that this year is finally, maybe right on time for Perfect Dark.
How dare you give this an 8. Perfect Dark is the best game to have ever existed!
RAWR RAWR RAWR
But on a serious note, back when it was on the N64 this game was the shiz. More features, and better graphics than some of the PS2 launch titles, it really showed that when harnessed the N64 was a very powerful console.
Shame it didn't shift too many copies, it deserved much better.
'dieing' that's almost as bad as 'payed' being used all the time instead of 'paid'.
I mean come ooooooooooon.
Now you have changed the article and I look odd, though I know what grammatical genocide has happened here, and I shall not forget.
I'll download the demo to see how it's aged, I'm more excited for Moneky island 2, I loved that game more than words could express in my younger years.
Gimme gimme gimme!! I loaded this up on the N64 a few months back and snapped the thumbstick on my one remaining controller within a few minutes of playing. I'm still waiting for another game to let me play as the bad guys in a campaign mode, bloody classic!
This game is one of the best fps shooters ever and age or technological advancements will not dimish that fact.
The weapons are the best variety i have ever seen in a fps.
The mission design is also excellent there are diffferent objectives when you increase the difficulty and there is none of that regenerative heath rubbish.
I would buy this for the target range alone
This game was a perfect 10 when released it doesnt derverve to be relegated to an 8
I remember buying this when it first came out, getting it home only to discover that you needed the expansion pack to play through the campaign. i was gutted. promptly went back out and got the xp so all in all a £90 game. top quality tho i don't remember if i ever finished it. most of my time was spent playing mp both against the ai and against my uni housemates. good times. will definitely be buying this classic. hope Nintendo, MS and Activision can come to an agreement to get the Rare port of GoldenEye out on XBLA
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Fantastic multiplayer
