Perfect Dark Zero

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Perfect Dark Zero
Developer(s)	Rare
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)	Chris Tilston, Dale Murchie, Duncan Botwood, Ross Bullimore
Series	Perfect Dark Series
Engine	Hydracore
Release date(s)	November 18, 2005 December 2, 2005 December 10, 2005
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature CERO: 15+ PEGI: 16+ OFLC: MA 15+ BBFC: 15 OFLC (NZ): R16+
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Media	DVD-DL
Input	Gamepad

Perfect Dark Zero is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game console. It was released as a launch title in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.

With respect to storyline, Perfect Dark Zero is a prequel to the successful Nintendo 64 game Perfect Dark, made in 2000. Zero takes place in the year 2020, predating the original Perfect Dark's storyline by three years. A tie-in novel, Perfect Dark: Initial Vector, was also published. Set between Perfect Dark Zero and the original game, the book tells the story of how Joanna Dark helps the Carrington Institute dig deeper into dataDyne.

Contents 1 Development 2 Limited Collector's Edition 3 Soundtrack 4 Story 5 Multiplayer 5.1 DeathMatch 5.2 DarkOps 5.3 Xbox Live 5.4 Maps 6 Updates 7 Reception 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Development

Rare's two N64 first-person shooters, GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark, received strong acclaim from critics and players, and demand for another title in the Perfect Dark franchise was high. Development of Perfect Dark Zero began on the Nintendo GameCube. At the time, Nintendo had a 49% stake in Rare, making Rare a Nintendo second-party developer. The game made a small appearance at Spaceworld 2000, an event exclusive to Nintendo. But apart from the confirmation that it was in development^[1], few official announcements were made. Perfect Dark Zero, along with several other Rare games, was intended to be finished in time for the Gamecube's launch, but for unknown reasons did not.

In September 2002, after losing a steady trickle of staff for two years (including many of their Goldeneye 007 team members, who went on to found Free Radical), Rare Ltd was purchased by Microsoft.^[2] Around the same time, Rare released several images of Joanna Dark, the protagonist of the Perfect Dark games. The "cartoony" style of these pictures incited speculation that the final game — then intended for the original Xbox — would employ a less realistic graphical style than the original game; possibly an anime like cel-shading technique, (RARE had hired UK Manga artist Wil Overton to work with them, after seeing an anime-like image of the Original Perfect Dark game he had created for the cover of N64 Magazine.)

Development of the title was later transferred to the Xbox 360. Perfect Dark Zero's senior designer Chris Tilston (also one of the project leads for the game) later revealed that the Xbox version was "about twelve months away" from completion when the switch occurred.^[3]

In 2005, one of the rewards in the OurColony viral marketing campaign for Microsoft's next Xbox video game console was an image of Joanna Dark.^[4] At the official unveiling of the Xbox 360 on May 12, 2005, it was revealed that Perfect Dark Zero would be a launch title for the new system in the fall of 2005.^[5] The game's development has therefore spanned three platforms: the Nintendo GameCube, the Microsoft Xbox and the Xbox 360.

[edit] Limited Collector's Edition

Zero was released in two forms: the standard version and a "Limited Collector's Edition." The collector's edition features a second disc of content, a black metal game case, images of the staff and most of testers which gave a glimpse to behind the scenes into Rare, a comic booklet set in the Perfect Dark universe, which sets the scene for the game, and one of nine holographic collectible cards.^[6]

[edit] Soundtrack

The official game's soundtrack was produced by Nile Rodgers through his Sumthing Else Musicworks label, whose past credits include the soundtracks for Halo, Halo 2, and Halo 2, Vol. 2: Original Soundtrack, among many others. The original score was composed and arranged by David Clynick. Additional songs include Kepi and Kat's "Limelight", a popular club favorite, as well as two songs by Nile Rodgers protéges MorissonPoe entitled Glitter Girl *Evil Side* (the game's opening number), and Pearl Necklace (the game's closing credits).

[edit] Story

The story is set in 2020, three years prior to the events of the original game. Joanna Dark is a bounty hunter working with her father Jack and her friend Chandra. On Joanna's first mission, they rescue a scientist named Zeigler from the hands of a Triad crime lord: Killian. Zeigler uses a neurodrive to implant information into Jack's mind. Jack gets captured by a megacorporation known as 'dataDyne, and Jo rescues her father, only for Jack to die at the hands of Mai-Hem, whose father, Zhang Li, is dataDyne's founder. Jo is then sent on a mission to find Dr. Eustace Caroll, who then uses the same neurodrive technology to extract any memory of the words her father said concerning Ziegler's secrets. Dr. Caroll is then killed by Chandra, who is secretly working for Zhang Li. Jo joins the Carrington Institute and infiltrates a mining operation in an ancient Peruvian Temple where she discovers the conspiracy.

Zhang Li and Mai-Hem are searching for an ancient artifact known as the Graal, which imbues its possessor with superhuman powers. Traveling to Africa, Jo rescues prisoners including Jonathan and several other Carrington boys, before running into Mai-Hem again. Jo avenges her father's death and kills Mai-Hem and the party is air-lifted out. The Carrington Institute plans an offensive on dataDyne forces with the battle taking place on a large bridge. Jo infiltrates an arena and faces off against Zhang Li after he dispatches Chandra. Defeating the seemingly invincible power-hungry genius, Jo is met by Jonathan and Daniel Carrington. When Jo asks, "How did I do, Boss?" Carrington replies: "Perfect."

[edit] Multiplayer

In Perfect Dark Zero there are two versions of multiplayer, and within each version are four different game modes.

[edit] DeathMatch

This is a standard gametype where players spawn in rooms, collect weapons, and continue to the actual map. Weapons are also available on the map itself. Bots are included in all DeathMatch game modes.

• Killcount: This is a free-for-all where the winner is the player that achieves the most kills.
• Team Killcount: A team based version of Killcount where the team with the most kills wins.
• Capture the Flag: A team-only match. Each team tries to grab the enemy’s flag and return it to their base. The winning team is the one with the most flags captured.
• Territorial Gains: A team-only match. The goal is to capture and hold several neutral hills until they generate points. The team with the most territories held is the winner.

[edit] DarkOps

This is a round-based, team-only gametype that was heavily inspired by the popular PC FPS Counter-Strike. It is generally slower-paced, and is more tactical than DeathMatch. Weapons must be purchased from a player's stock of credits. Credits are earned by killing enemies and obtaining objectives. Bots were implemented in an update on May 4, 2006.

• Eradication: A team-only game. Teams take turns trying to eliminate each other. The team that stays alive the longest, or that kills the other team while still living wins.
• Onslaught: A team-only game. Teams take turns defending and attacking a base. The defenders get one life (but can be revived), and can purchase weapons. The attackers have unlimited lives, but have basic weapons (choice of a Falcon, CMP 150 and a DEF-12 Shotgun). The team that holds the base the longest wins.
• Infection: A free-for-all game. Players start as either infected or uninfected. When a player dies, they become infected. If the uninfected stay alive for the duration of the round, only they get points. If the infected eliminate them, then only they get points. The player with the most points overall is the winner. (This can seem like a team game as uninfected huddle in a room to survive, or as infected team up to eliminate them).
• Sabotage: A team-only game. Teams take turns attacking and defending certain pieces of property on the map. The team that destroys the most property or eliminates the other team wins.

[edit] Xbox Live

Perfect Dark Zero has full support for the Xbox Live service. Any of the multiplayer modes can be played online with player counts up to 32 players. You can either choose to play a ranked Deathmatch or DarkOps, where you will be matched with players using a system called "TrueSkill Matchmaking", or you may choose a player match where you can choose your game from a list of player hosted games. These games can be highly customized and can include bots.

[edit] Maps

There are ten maps in Perfect Dark Zero. Each map has two variants; the only change is the placement of the bases. Most of maps are large ones, ideal for 32 players at once, with small variants for 4-16 player games.

On June 7, 2006, Rare released "Perfect Dark Zero Map Pack One" to Xbox Live Marketplace. It cost 500 MS (Microsoft points) and contained four new maps to add to the game's original amount of six. The map pack only contains one variant, instead of two.

A second map pack was released for Xbox Live Gold Members free of charge on November 1, 2006. A week later, it was also available for Xbox Live Silver Members.

On October 31, 2006, Rare announced that a special platinum edition of Perfect Dark Zero would be released, which would include the first map pack and two additional maps (the latter available to download for free on the Xbox Live Marketplace). The two new maps are updated versions of two maps from the game's predecessors; 'Perfect dark' and 'Goldeneye'. The pack was released on the November 1, 2006 for Gold Members and on the November 8, 2006 for Sliver Members.

[edit] Updates

On May 3, 2006 an auto-update made available via Xbox Live, responsible for fixing some bugs in the game. This included code to prevent an ongoing problem where players could walk through the air and also to prevent an issue where the plasma/rocket weapons could make use of rapid fire. The update also included eight new bot types.

[edit] Reception

The game has an aggregate rating of 81% on Game Rankings, which is based on 96 reviews.

IGN.com reports that Perfect Dark Zero has sold over a million copies.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Official Soundtrack site
• Perfect Dark Zero website directory at the Open Directory Project.
• Perfect Dark Zero at MobyGames

v • d • e Perfect Dark Series

Perfect Dark • Perfect Dark (GBC) • Zero Initial Vector • Second Front •Janus' Tears

Rare video games v • d • e
Banjo-Kazooie games	Banjo-Kazooie • Banjo-Tooie • Grunty's Revenge • Banjo-Pilot • Banjo-Kazooie 3
Battletoads games	Battletoads • Battletoads (Game Gear) • Battletoads & Double Dragon • Battletoads in Battlemaniacs • Super Battletoads
Conker games	Conker's Pocket Tales • Conker's Bad Fur Day • Conker: Live & Reloaded
Donkey Kong games	Donkey Kong Country / Land • Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA) / Land 2 • Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA) / Land III • Donkey Kong 64 • Diddy Kong Racing (DS)
Perfect Dark games	Perfect Dark (GBC) • Perfect Dark Zero
Killer Instinct games	Killer Instinct • Killer Instinct 2 • Killer Instinct Gold
Sabreman games	Sabre Wulf (GBA) • Underwurlde • Knight Lore • Pentagram • Mire Mare
Jetman games	Jetpac (Refuelled) • Lunar Jetman • Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship
Other games	Blast Corps • GoldenEye 007 • Jet Force Gemini • Star Fox Adventures • Grabbed by the Ghoulies • Kameo: Elements of Power • Viva Piñata • It's Mr. Pants