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Mainline Entry 01 - Perfect Dark
Formats: Nintendo 64, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Facing a quandary, Rare had a decision on its hands. It was on a hot streak of titles on the Nintendo 64 and its belated film adaptation of Goldeneye had been a huge commercial and critical hit. What they lacked though was a further Bond licence and a question over whether and how to follow that game up. The end result was the choice to make a spiritual successor under the banner of a new ip, that led to Perfect Dark. Running on an upgraded version of Goldeneye's engine, PD took that games template and expanded it like a sequel would with the future setting allowing for wider ideas to be implemented. The expansion pak was required as the game would release as one of the systems most advanced games visually. Taking on the role of Joanna, players undertook multi-objective missions using a range of tools and weapons including the Farsight that could see through walls. The game was praised for its multiplayer just as its predecessor had been, the games framerate proving to be the one key sticking point an element that was resolved in its later remaster for Xbox 360.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Perfect Dark
Formats: Game Boy Color
Following shortly after the main game and connectable via the Transfer Pak was the handheld entry. This side game is a prequel that swapped the FPS action for an isometric viewpoint but actually managed to incorporate a two player multiplayer mode. One of the biggest attention pieces the game featured never made the cut, the ability to link it to the Game Boy Camera to transfer your face into the N64 version.
Mainline Entry 02 - Perfect Dark Zero
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Following Rare's sale to Microsoft they were keen to leverage the recent hit and so this prequel hit as a launch title for MS's sophomore console. Rare worked on the game over the Gamecube and original Xbox and it showed but not in the best way. The game was structurally much like the N64 predecessor and by this time that template was painfully out of date, the new game feeling like a belated N64 release. The key addition was a third person cover system that added little to the experience but none the less it did perform solidly for Rare and reportedly made them back 4 times the cost the game has taken to make. Room existed for a new take on the franchise but Rare would soon lose direction in its new home and the FPS field was competitive enough that the franchise has ended up remaining dormant.
Share your thoughts and memories of Perfect Dark
Mainline Entry 01 - Perfect Dark
Formats: Nintendo 64, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Facing a quandary, Rare had a decision on its hands. It was on a hot streak of titles on the Nintendo 64 and its belated film adaptation of Goldeneye had been a huge commercial and critical hit. What they lacked though was a further Bond licence and a question over whether and how to follow that game up. The end result was the choice to make a spiritual successor under the banner of a new ip, that led to Perfect Dark. Running on an upgraded version of Goldeneye's engine, PD took that games template and expanded it like a sequel would with the future setting allowing for wider ideas to be implemented. The expansion pak was required as the game would release as one of the systems most advanced games visually. Taking on the role of Joanna, players undertook multi-objective missions using a range of tools and weapons including the Farsight that could see through walls. The game was praised for its multiplayer just as its predecessor had been, the games framerate proving to be the one key sticking point an element that was resolved in its later remaster for Xbox 360.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Perfect Dark
Formats: Game Boy Color
Following shortly after the main game and connectable via the Transfer Pak was the handheld entry. This side game is a prequel that swapped the FPS action for an isometric viewpoint but actually managed to incorporate a two player multiplayer mode. One of the biggest attention pieces the game featured never made the cut, the ability to link it to the Game Boy Camera to transfer your face into the N64 version.
Mainline Entry 02 - Perfect Dark Zero
Formats: Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Following Rare's sale to Microsoft they were keen to leverage the recent hit and so this prequel hit as a launch title for MS's sophomore console. Rare worked on the game over the Gamecube and original Xbox and it showed but not in the best way. The game was structurally much like the N64 predecessor and by this time that template was painfully out of date, the new game feeling like a belated N64 release. The key addition was a third person cover system that added little to the experience but none the less it did perform solidly for Rare and reportedly made them back 4 times the cost the game has taken to make. Room existed for a new take on the franchise but Rare would soon lose direction in its new home and the FPS field was competitive enough that the franchise has ended up remaining dormant.
Share your thoughts and memories of Perfect Dark
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