Perfect Dark Review

Remember 10 years ago, before the age of online multiplayer, hi-definition, motion controlled gaming and the graphical power of 64bit, cartridges and one analogue stick was the way the cool cats rolled? If you do and you reminisce with a smile on your face to the days of Goldeneye 4 player and Rare ruled the roost when it came to multiplayer and first person shooters then maybe this re-incarnation of Perfect Dark will tickle your tastebuds.

Story

Set in the year 2023, a war between 2 races (the Maians and the Skedar) rages. On Earth, the war between 2 factions (The Carrington Institute  [goodies] and DataDyne [baddies]) is heating up in the battle for research and development. The 'T.C.I.' are working a deal and are operating an espionage group in partnership with the Maians whilst the DataDyne group are defence contractor with the Skedar.

Basically, you play agent Joanna Dark (nick named 'Perfect Dark' due to her expertise in her field of espionage) who is set to infiltrate and investigate the enemies research and rescue an informant. He later reveals a much more sinister development, where the DataDyne/Skedar partnership and G5 Corporation are developing some massive weapon which takes Joanna into Area 51 to rescue any captives to uncover an Alien friend called 'Elvis'...

...okay, to keep it short and sweet and to stop my head from exploding, this allows Joanna to be in several locations throughout the game, meeting several new enemies and challenges, each getting more ridiculous at the minute. Don't take this as a dig at the game or the story, just don't think this'll be easy to follow.

Gameplay

Beginning life in the early 2000's, this is testament to the game's quality to just be given a graphical boost and remapped controls and still feel in touch with the competition of today. Other HD boost games (Doom, Serious Sam) feel antiquated in comparison to the fluid way the levels play out. There's none of this 'hold your hand' lark either with regards to figuring out objectives, you're on your own and are expected to utilise and think like Joanna all the way.

Controls have been 360'fied by switching the one analogue stick of the N64 era for the duel stick option all FPS games now adopt. Feels good too, makes me slightly motion sick but even the N64 original did the same. Levels are average in detail, but are varied enough so that balances out overall.

Most of the gameplay involves attempting to sneak into a base and fail, meaning shooting out enemies is the only option. Gunplay is decent and I particularly liked the auto lock on feature of the game, however the holding left trigger to aim more accurately is simply a pain in the backside and requires such delicate and precise, slow moving of the right stick to accurately take someone out that it 'almost' ruins the sniper moments where pinpoint accuracy is the name of the game.

After the gunplay in the levels, you're required to normally hack, blast through, rig an explosive, take a disguise etc. in order to access a further part of the level and normally end the level by entering a door of some sort to progress to the next area. One thing you certainly do notice, is just how short game's used to be back then as the average stage (level, area or whatever) time is usually under the 10minute mark.

So, gameplay is fast, sneaky and frenetic. It's a rare combination but it still works all these years on and is genuinely an excellent title to enjoy inbetween games for a level a pop, or a marathon gaming 'sesh', if that is more your thing.

Graphics

Now, as mentioned and hinted at earlier on, this is a game from 10 years ago on a console that predates the console before this one in terms of 'generation', so it's technically a grandad. Therefore, graphics are weak and a bit lacking in detail but thanks to a clever use of HD technology, they're smooth, fast loading and detailed enough to bring them into line with other less polished HD remakes currently available on the marketplace.

Animations are some-what lacking, and there's no movement of Joanna's lips in cutscenes, but we'll forgive it that, as at least the maker's have whacked the detail and polygon count up on the weapons (good thing seeing as they're so near the camera) to make them look bang up to date.

It's no 'Modern Warfare 2' in terms of cinematics or detail, but it doesn't aim to be and instead manages to be one of only a small percentage of remakes that is inkeeping, tasetful and respectful of the original's look and feel. Explosions are cheesy too, which I'm sure all N64 fans will be glad to hear.

Sound

From that techno mix of late 90's music in game, to the god awful tacky voice over, this game is brilliant. I'm a massive fan of the old style 'pay a guy on the street £5 to say this line in a game' voice acting as it brings a smile to my face everytime someone goes "hey you?" or "stop her" in an awful fake French accent.

The music throughout the game is brilliant though, remastered by the sounds of it and given a 2010 boost in quality but still the same 'tunes' from the original that had that thumping baseline in every level that kept you going. Weapons have the good old Cowboy Spaghetti Weston 'per-ching' after every ricochet shot, and guns have a decent score to accompany the remixes too.

Multiplayer

For most fans, this is what they remember most from the N64 incarnation. Using the adopted engine and mechanics that powered the hardware shifting Goldeneye to success in the late 90's, Perfect Dark manages to clone that same style of start with no gun and shoot the enemy first tactic and even manages to retain the map showing where the enemies are at all times, so campers need no apply.

Managing to take you back to the days before ranks, perks, kill streak rewards and camping snipers by introducing close quarter combat only style maps with corners, ledges, ramps and underpasses at each turn, this is the 4 player local co-op play experience the fans of the original have been hoping and praying for and demanding that Rare and Co. didn't ruin.

Taking the game online only further shows the progression of the industry and demands of players, and proves that by stripping all of the unnecessary add-ons back down and streamlining the experience so it's just you, in a search for a gun and then kill some 'noobs' is still all that is required for laughs and fun.

Summary

Should you buy a 10 year old remake then? For 800 points, absoluetly. It's the best remake-HD classic on the marketplace and is a fitting climax to the House Party month schedule of events that everybody can enjoy.