Perfect Dark Zero

 Xbox 360
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 75
  3. Negative: 0 out of 75
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  1. Eurogamer
    70
    When you've battled through all 14 single player levels, played it on co-op and worked your way through some solid multiplayer action, you won’t feel like you've played a next generation title; heck, you won't even feel like you've played the best shooter out this Christmas.
  2. Maxim Online
    70
    Play is especially intriguing online, where our hero's acrobatic skills, ability to find cover, and state-of-the-art weaponry deliver death matches to die for.
  3. Game Informer
    70
    Perhaps due to its years in development, PDZ just feels antiquated and familiar. [Jan 2006, p.141]
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  5. Edge Magazine
    70
    Given the game’s marketing as one woman’s war against the corporations, the irony of Perfect Dark Zero is that the quality of the game experience it offers degrades in parallel with the number of people playing it. [Jan 2005, p.80]
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  6. NTSC-uk
    70
    Both superb and a mess, a console FPS that feels fun, tactical, exciting all at the same time as feeling frustrating, backwards and in places amateurish.
  7. 3DAvenue
    70
    Perfect Dark Zero was the big game for the 360's launch and while it’s probably as good as the original Halo, it still doesn't stack up which shows just how much gaming standards have changed in the five years since the Xbox was released.
  8. 360 Gamer Magazine UK
    70
    Crippled by an unforgivably bad story, terrible implementation and atrocious AI. [Issue #2]
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  9. PALGN
    65
    An enjoyable diversion a few months in the US/Euro launch lineup, but an irrelevant game now with bigger/better FPS’s now on the 360.
  10. G4 TV
    60
    From a strange glitch that causes dead enemies to bounce around the environments like a Super Ball inside a blender, to the anemic implementation of vehicles into the multiplayer, another six months would have served it well.
  11. GamesRadar+
    60
    It has flashes of brilliance, but overall presents a shallow experience with gameplay unworthy of the 360's potential.
  12. GameCritics
    60
    There's nothing "next gen" about this title other than the graphics and sound. The gameplay would barely pass as mediocre on the last generation of consoles.
  13. The Sydney Morning Herald
    60
    For all its bells and whistles, Perfect Dark Zero is a solid yet unremarkable comeback.
  14. Gamestyle
    60
    While it can be enjoyable at first, and certainly has some impressive graphics, it soon begins to reveal itself to be little more than an average title which only improves when played with other people.
  15. Computer Games Magazine
    50
    The only thing separating it from, say, another dystopian gadget-heavy sci-fi shooter like "Project: Snowblind" is the marketing budget. [Feb 2006, p.85]
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 271 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 155 out of 271
  2. Mixed: 64 out of 271
  3. Negative: 52 out of 271
  1. Sharpshooter188
    Nov 1, 2017
    4
    Storyline is kind of a joke. EXCEEDINGLY BAD aiming and in an fps game that is huge. Things have a cool sleek look to them which is nice. ButStoryline is kind of a joke. EXCEEDINGLY BAD aiming and in an fps game that is huge. Things have a cool sleek look to them which is nice. But some things shimmer that shouldn't. I would say maybe pick it up for a couple of bucks if you are bored. Past that I would say just download Perfect Dark 64 from the xbl arcade.… Full Review »
  2. wa2kool
    Mar 7, 2013
    4
    What was considered an impressive launch title is now a complete embarrassment to the 360's game library. It is literally the walkingWhat was considered an impressive launch title is now a complete embarrassment to the 360's game library. It is literally the walking description of a polished turd shiny but still quite Gameplay mechanics are clunky and frustrating when it comes to combat. Character animation is hilariously bad, voice acting is atrocious and the execution of the story is so poor, you will have literally no idea what you are doing in the campaign or why you are doing it. Multiplayer is probably the only redeeming feature of this game. It feels old-school (in a positive sense) and can be entertaining but the general gameplay problems from the campaign are sadly carried into this mode.

    Graphics: 7/10
    Gameplay: 4/10
    Features: 6/10

    Perfect Dark Zero is a soulless, confusing and frustrating experience from start to finish. There is no problem in other people liking this game, I just personally thought it was a huge letdown, given the brilliance of it's predecessor.    … Full Review »
  3. Ravenous
    Aug 3, 2011
    0
    Basically they completely gutted the original Perfect Dark, removing most of your options, totally changing the story (Joanna was originally aBasically they completely gutted the original Perfect Dark, removing most of your options, totally changing the story (Joanna was originally a British secret agent, now she is an American teeny-bopper), and essentially making one of the worst shooters of all-time.

    Nothing is done well in this game. The campaign is terribly cheesy and is never fun (and has one of the lamest bosses ever), and the multiplayer is just plain terrible. They make your character run extremely slow (opposite of OPD), they remove most of the weapons that were available in PD, and they remove virtually all of the customization options for setting up multiplayer matches.

    There is honestly nothing good that can be said about this game. It was a disaster of epic proportions.

    This game ranks #1 on my list of most disappointing games of all-time, and that's against some stiff competition.    … Full Review »
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