Perfect Dark Zero
by Microsoft
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Product Summary
Brand: RareRelease Date: 2005-11-18
Platform: Xbox 360
Model: 882224053655
Publisher: Microsoft
Product features:
- Single-player action - Perfect Dark Zero challenges players to guide Joanna Dark on her journey to become the Perfect Agent. The fully interactive world includes beautiful graphics and breathtaking special effects combined with XBox Live functionality to p
- Action-packed Storyline - As Perfect Agent Joanna Dark, the story is set years before the original Perfect Dark in this sci-fi thriller centered on espionage, conspiracy and a mysterious global conflict.
- Online play via XBox Live - Supporting up to 50 players online, Perfect Dark Zero has online action and flexibility. Perfect Dark Zero includes fully scalable environments and complete XBox Live support with tournaments, rankings and more.
- Variety Gameplay option - Choose between a story-driven single-player campaign and various multiplayer options including four-player split screen and cooperative action for infinite replayability.
- Perfect Dark Zero (Prima Official Game Guide)
- Official Xbox Magazine [with DVD] (1-year)
- Tips & Tricks Magazine
Video Game Reviews of Perfect Dark Zero
Customer Review: Perfect Dark Zero (XBox 360)
Summary: 4 Stars
I have a confession to make. I never played the original Perfect Dark. So, unlike many of you reading this review today, I'm coming to the series virgin, in a sense. I don't know how it stacks up to the original, but I suspect those of you who played the original obsessively enough to care probably already know how the two compare. This review, then, is more suited for folks like me (besides, I'm sure any 360 owners we have on staff who are familiar with both games will be more than happy to chime in on their blogs.
So here's the skinny: Perfect Dark Zero is, as the title suggests, the prequel to the Perfect Dark loved and honored by N64 owners. Initially scheduled for release on the original Xbox PD Zero instead finds itself as the showcase first-party release for the launch of Xbox 360, If that sounds like a daunting position in which to be, it is: flash back four years, and that was where Bungie's Halo found itself.
The difference between then and now is that Halo was expected to shoulder Microsoft's hopes and dreams for the platform ultimately for several months - and some would say years, as Halo remained a top seller up until the day Halo 2 hit store shelves. :Perfect Dark Zero doesn't necessarily suffer from that curse, thanks to a couple of third party titles: Call of Duty 2 and Condemned: Criminal Oirigns.
On the other hand, though, while Perfect Dark may not shoulder the exact same burden for Microsoft that Halo did, its release is certainly a hold-your-breath moment for Rare, which didn't exactly wow gamers with Grabbed By The Ghoulies. Essentially, PD Zero and Kameo are relevancy tests for Rare: was Microsoft's money well spent in acquiring the studio, or did Nintendo maximize a declinng investment?
Let's put it this way; Rare didn't knock one completely out of the park here, as one might have hoped and expected given the development time put into the game, but Zero doesn't have any truly glaring weaknesses, either. The worst that can be said about any facet of the game is that they play it safe as frequently as they take a chance on something new.I won't spend much time on the story. Partly, this is because I don't want to spoil anything, but it's partly also because the story really isn't the strength of the game.
Despite the futuristic setting and vague technopunk feel to the game, this really isn't Deus Ex; which is to say, you aren't playing the game to find out what happens next. That's just an ancillary benefit.
Rather, if you're interested in Perfect Dark Zero, you're probably mostly focused on the online multiplayer. The single-player/co-op campaign has some bearing on this, because the controls are basically identical, but beyond "how easy is it to control Joanna," that's probably the extent of relevancy for the offline campaign.
For the most part, the answer to that is "pretty easy." I had some difficulty with some of the gadgets, as the on-screen prompts aren't always the clearest. Many times, when you're using the spycam or the electronic hacking device, you're going to be doing so from memory. When you first play the game, there will be some trial and error involved until you get it right. After that, it's all old hat.
One thing PDZ does that even Halo 2 only imperfectly captured is the ability to lug around an impressive arsenal. While Halo 2 allowed you to carry and use two weapons simultaneously, PDZ takes that a step further. Weapons are divided into classes, with certain weapons being easier to carry than others. You can, for example, carry four pistols - the idea being you can dual-wield two of them, or use one at a time, and switch between the two types of pistols as necessity demands.
If heavier firepower is your forte, that's okay; Jo can still carry the big stuff, but you aren't going to see her toting a machine gun in each hand, or a rocket launcher, say. Such weapons will basically take up two slots. In addition to weapons, you also have access to various gadgets, such as a weapon-equipped flying spycam that you can use to disable guards or non-sentient obstacles along the way. These have their own compartments in inventory, so while you are limited in the number you can carry, your weapons loadout doesn't affect your gadgets, nor do your gadgets affect your weapons loadout.
As you'd expect, any of the weapons can be used to bludgeon some poor sap in melee combat if you get close enough to warrant it, but ideally, if you're toting a gun around, the enemy getting that close means that you're probably a crappy shot.
Anyway. Back to brass tacks. For the most part, Jo's movement when packing iron feels natural and is reasonably easy to use. The exception is the shift from first- to third-person when using an inanimate object for cover. It's more difficult to line up your shot if you're trying to take somebody out from cover, which simply gives your opponents more time to try to put a bullet through your eye. This won't be as big a deal in single-player (unless you're on the higher difficulties), but when you face off against people online who have insane FPS skills, it can be a hindrance.
By pulling back into third-person, it's possible that an obstacle will block what would otherwise be an unobstructed view had the camera remained in the first-person perspective. You can sometimes correct this by using the scope on a properly equipped weapon...but that offers a profile for a vigilant enemy to take out.
Maybe the most interesting thing Rare has done here is their damage representation. As with Halo, if you're taking damage, but can find cover for a few seconds, you'll recover your full life bar, similar to the shields in Halo. The difference is, not all damage is created equal. Some is superficial, and you can recover fully from it, but there are some types of damage - notably melee - that wil decrease the length of your bar. So while you're recovering the bar you've got, it's conceivable that you could have a progressively shorter life bar if you're taking too much damage.
The online gameplay modes are an odd hybrid of classic FPS multiplayer modes and nods to Counter-Strike. The "Deathmatch" play types are basically what you'd expect - deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture-the-flag, and so forth. The twist here is that you can play with bots in the game, and you can set the difficulty level anywhere from "doddering old man" on up to "They will not stop, ever, until you are dead!"
There's also a "Dark-Ops" mode, which uses the CS-inspired money system to equip your avatar prior to each firefight. It's worth noting, though, that the system isn't always available. In "Infected" mode, for example, only the human players at the start of a round can buy new armor and weapons. The infected players, displayed as skeletons, have to make do with what they can scrounge or steal. Additionally, the team Dark-Ops modes seem to award the cash based on team performance, allowing a newer player the ability to properly equip him or herself without falling perennially behind the 8-ball by playing more skilled opponents. Whether this was also true of CS, I don't know, but it's new to me.
Visually, Perfect Dark Zero is impressive. I don't know if I'd call it the best-looking game on Xbox 360 of the launch titles; Call of Duty 2 looks damned good, and Project Gotham Racing 3 is a stunner as well. Still, with the exception of minor slowdown in particularly furious firefights, Rare delivered a game that easilylives up to its billing for the 360 launch. A standard caveat that I'm going to get out of the way now, so I'm not repeating myself ad nauseum in future reviews: the game looks great in standard definition, but if you have an HDTV-capable set, it's going to look that much better.
Minor flaws: when playing online, it can be difficult to tell friend from foe, except by using the reticle of one's weapon. Some of the death animations stretch the limits of believability somewhat, but then, so does the idea that you're in a combat simulator which uses your DNA to create foes for other combatants-in-training.
The voice acting gets cheesy at times, but it's mostly pretty good. Even for the parts that aren't, the excellence of the soundtrack makes up for it, and the sounds of combat are top-notch as well.
On the whole, I'd summarize Perfect Dark Zero like this: it's a solid, entertaining FPS that holds its own offline, and manages to do things differently enough online that you can still have a blast even if you're getting routinely beaten down. If you've got actual skill at such games, it's going to be that much better.
Perfect Dark Zero isn't the best Xbox 360 game. It's not even the best Xbox 360 shooter. That said, you really can't go wrong with it, either. (...).
Description of Perfect Dark Zero
Product InformationFrom famed game developer Rare LTD. Perfect Dark Zero takes place when asecret war begun between shadowy corporations bent on world domination. JoannaDark and her father Jack are caught up in the fight for the planet's future. Aroutine bounty hunting missions opens a global conspiracy that changes Joanna'sdestiny forever. Guide Joanna Dark on her journey to become the Perfect Agent.Perfect Dark Zero features a compelling and captivating story plugging playersinto a world of corporate espionage and conspiracy. Perfect Dark Zero merges theexcitement and intrigue of its predecessor with revolutionary game designonline play and amazing graphics to deliver an experience that definesnext-generation gaming and entertainment. Multitude of Weapons Gadgets andVehicles - Perfect Dark Zero features many of the classic weapons and gadgetsfrom the original games as well as other additions. Combat-enabled vehiclesinclude jetpacks hovercrafts and motorcycles.Product Features Single-player action - Perfect Dark Zero challenges players to guide Joanna Dark on her journey to become the Perfect Agent. The fully interactive world includes beautiful graphics and breathtaking special effects combined with XBox Live functionality to p Action-packed Storyline - As Perfect Agent Joanna Dark the story is set years before the original Perfect Dark in this sci-fi thriller centered on espionage conspiracy and a mysterious global conflict. Online play via XBox Live - Supporting up to 50 players online Perfect Dark Zero has online action and flexibility. Perfect Dark Zero includes fully scalable environments and complete XBox Live support with tournaments rankings and more. Variety Gameplay option - Choose between a story-driven single-player campaign and various multiplayer options including four-playAction Games
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