Having lost the Bond license to some German developers, Rare took it upon themselves to create a new universe and a new hero. Enter Joanna Dark, an elite spy/agent much like Bond himself, except Joanna likes to use bigger guns and wear tighter clothes. Joanna goes by the code name Perfect Dark (hence the title) and works for the Carrington Institute, an secret organization run by the pompous Mr. Carrington himself. (Take a peek in their website at www.carringtoninstitute.com). The actual plot of the game takes many twists and turns and at some points doesn't seem to make sense, so I'll let you find that out yourself.

Game Statistics

• 5 game modes.
• Three difficulty levels.
• Rumble pak compatible.
• 256 megabit cartridge.
• 9 single-player missions.
• 4 special missions.
• 16 combat simulator scenarios.
• 30 combat simulator challenges.

Game Design
Being a sequel, Perfect Dark expands on Goldeneye's greatest attributes. One thing that really stands out in PD is the interaction with the computer AI. Guards and enemies react differently to you according to different situations. For example, sneak up on a particularly girly-looking guard, stick a gun in his face and watch him surrender! There are a slew of possible reactions that the guards can take ands its quite fun to see what'll happen next.

Along with the artificial intelligence, Perfect dark also offers a busload of new weapons with which to slaughter. From your standard Rocket Launcher to the incredibly cheap, heat-seeking, shoot through walls, one-hit-kills Farsight XR20. All the new weapons include second functions, which vaults their complexity up ten-fold, but one has to wonder if this is a good thing. Sometimes, the multitude of weapon functions serve to just confuse and complicate the game, such as spotting an enemy and accidentally switching to pistol whip mode. We saw in Goldeneye that simple, real weapons can be just as fun as any imaginary ones. While many of the PD guns are very imaginative and fun, some are just too powerful (darn you laptop/sentry gun!).

Graphics
In the eye candy department, PD offers absolutely amazing textures and lighting effects. When running around the Carrington institute, be careful not to get blinded by the incredibly reflective marble floor which could used as a damn mirror its so shiny. Other than the textures/lighting, PD essentially uses the same engine and models as Goldeneye. The graphics are still very good, but considering how long it took to create PD, the graphics are somewhat disappointing and old.

Sound
You B**ch! That's what cheesed off guards seem to like to call Joanna after being shot in the kneecap. CPU enemies talk a lot in this game, so much that you tire of hearing their complaints and whack them as soon as you can. Other than this, the music itself is decent and original but it just can't compare with the amazing Bond tunes found in Goldeneye. Some would call this a matter of personal preference and taste, but not here. PD's music just isn't up to snuff when compared to Goldeneye.

Control
Uhhh...not much new here. Exact same controls as found in Goldeneye save a few new functions. Which is a good thing.

Satisfaction
PD is a great game. It offers a lot of original concepts and characters along with weapons and levels. But in the words of that guy in those Quaker commercials, "Its Not Oatmeal!". Considering how long it took to release PD after Goldeneye, it just doesn't expand on enough, leaving an empty void in one's soul.

Replay Value/Game Length
The single player mode offers different levels of difficulty, each with new elements added to each level. The multiplayer mode has so many different customizing options it boggles the mind. But when compared to Goldeneye, PD's single player mode isn't as fun, the level design just isn't as interesting for some reason.

Overall
Make no mistake; Perfect dark is an excellent game. It offers everything Goldeneye did and more. It just isn't as good.

Game Design	8.6
Mechanics	9.0
Innovation	7.0
Originality	9.0
Extras	9.0
Depth	9.0
Graphics	8.7
Character/Animation	9.0
Environment	8.0
Framerate	9.0
Sound	8.0
Music	7.0
Sound FX/Voice	8.0
Control	9.0
During Play	9.0
Menus	9.0
Functionality	9.0
Satisfaction	8.8
Challenge	9.0
Fun-Factor	8.5
Replay Value/Game Length	8.5
Multiplayer	9.5
FINAL SCORE	8.6

Review by Noel

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