Perfect Dark

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 120 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 93 out of 120
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 120
  3. Negative: 7 out of 120

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  1. kl
    Mar 19, 2010
    10
    "The other though was the story mode, which was inferior to GoldenEye 007 in terms of both design and its insipid characters, plot and game world." David Jenkins, you're a fucking idiot. Goldeneye's singleplayer didn't even HAVE a story (or characters for that matter), and PD was far superior to GE in every way imaginable. GE's story was ripped off of the movie, which "The other though was the story mode, which was inferior to GoldenEye 007 in terms of both design and its insipid characters, plot and game world." David Jenkins, you're a fucking idiot. Goldeneye's singleplayer didn't even HAVE a story (or characters for that matter), and PD was far superior to GE in every way imaginable. GE's story was ripped off of the movie, which wasn't that great to begin with. Seriously, that's the dumbest thing I have ever read. Rare actually tried for originality with PD, and, unlike you, many were more impressed with PD's ingenuity than they were with GE (Single and Multi). I guess mom wouldn't let you play PD until it was released on the arcade though, so you wouldn't know. In reality, nostalgia's the only reason you claim GE is a classic. I wouldn't be surprised if your main gripe with PD has more to do with the leading female character, you chauvinist twat.… Expand
  2. PP7Silenced
    Nov 4, 2010
    10
    I can't find a thing wrong with this game. It really shows that in a world where FPS games don't age well a few upgrades can make all the difference. I was afraid going back to Pd after 10 years would bring me to the reality that nostalgia had me fooled. Not the case. This is a perfect example of how to "port" an older game to a new console.
  3. MattD
    Mar 19, 2010
    9
    This is a perfect update and throwback for those who played the original. Everyone who wrote a poor review of this game, (pros and regular gamers like me) was either A: too young to have played the game when it first came out so they don't appreciate it, or B: totally missed the point. I didn't expect anything but the same game with prettier textures and that is what I got. This is a perfect update and throwback for those who played the original. Everyone who wrote a poor review of this game, (pros and regular gamers like me) was either A: too young to have played the game when it first came out so they don't appreciate it, or B: totally missed the point. I didn't expect anything but the same game with prettier textures and that is what I got. I'm completely satisfied for the very reasonable price of 800 xbox live points. To those who say this is a dated game, well of course it is morons! The thing is when re-releasing a game we face two problems, if you release it with updated gameplay you suffer the possibility of damaging the original content. This can be done well ie: Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes, but its a gamble and there will always be a slew of people who are complaining about how it ruins the original content or the updated gameplay is actually shoddier as a result. Then there are those who complain about how if the gameplay isn't updated then the game is dated. You really can't win. I for one love the fact that nothing was changed about this game except for smoothed out textures. It is a classic that I will enjoy as is and appreciate the chance to play it on a next gen console. You touch up the appearance of old pieces of art, you don't paint a new picture over top of it.… Expand
  4. hoppimike
    Apr 19, 2013
    10
    I felt compelled to give this game a 10. I mean ultimately if you don't give Perfect Dark a 10... then what on Earth DOES deserve a 10?

    Everything about this game is compelling and satisfying with quality and developer talent dripping from it. Imaginative, varied and fast-paced gameplay, captivating mission objectives and levels, great characters, amazing weapons, just an overall    I felt compelled to give this game a 10. I mean ultimately if you don't give Perfect Dark a 10... then what on Earth DOES deserve a 10?

    Everything about this game is compelling and satisfying with quality and developer talent dripping from it.

    Imaginative, varied and fast-paced gameplay, captivating mission objectives and levels, great characters, amazing weapons, just an overall excellent game. The multiplayer is also great (for it's time, not sure about by modern standards as I haven't played it much recently!).

    As for flaws... some of the mission objectives aren't too clear. Some of the dialogue and story and stuff is a bit cheesy. Some of the levels are weaker than others (inevitably).

    Overall however, Perfect Dark is without doubt one of the finest games ever made     … Expand
  5. DeVr33z
    Nov 7, 2010
    8
    By modern standards, Perfect Dark feels almost too simplistic, and it can be frustrating at times. The campaign and story are sometimes confusing too. But it's still a LOT of fun. If you played the original on N64 and liked it, I can honestly say that you'll have even more fun with this new port. Just a warning though: Online matchmaking takes forever, so it's best to play this game withBy modern standards, Perfect Dark feels almost too simplistic, and it can be frustrating at times. The campaign and story are sometimes confusing too. But it's still a LOT of fun. If you played the original on N64 and liked it, I can honestly say that you'll have even more fun with this new port. Just a warning though: Online matchmaking takes forever, so it's best to play this game with either your friends or bots.… Expand
  6. jordyboy
    May 3, 2011
    8
    A fun and energy game pumping your adrenaline man great game better than pdz by a little but still man great game I love the perfect dark series and this was a step up for the series
  7. moonpie101
    Jan 27, 2013
    9
    Perfect dark is a must play. It stands as an example on how re-releases should be handled. The revamped textures in HD look great, and the frame rate has been upped to a lovely 60fps, making the game run smooth and look smooth. It means that older players wont need to rely on nostalgia to enjoy it, and newer players wont be put off. The game is great. Playing it again reminded me of thePerfect dark is a must play. It stands as an example on how re-releases should be handled. The revamped textures in HD look great, and the frame rate has been upped to a lovely 60fps, making the game run smooth and look smooth. It means that older players wont need to rely on nostalgia to enjoy it, and newer players wont be put off. The game is great. Playing it again reminded me of the time when shooters demanded you invest slightly more than just 'shoot the dudes' to progress (of course, if you don't like that sort of game then you can jack the difficulty all the way down, taking most of the objectives out of the levels). The objective based missions and lack of recharging health require you to play a little smarter than most modern shooters. The only recent example that I have played of this in new games is Goldeneye reloaded on 007 classic difficulty, so if you enjoyed that at all then this is for you.
    The story is more or less the standard cyberpunk affair (but with aliens!), fighting against an evil mega corp, while uncovering the greater conspiracy that lies behind it all. The story is interesting, but, in my opinion, slightly underdeveloped, though maybe I have just been spoiled by the likes of Mass Effect and Fallout. The elements are all there; conspiracy, aliens, AI, secret agents, literally warring corporations, but it felt like they had to condense it all to save space on the cartage, and it loses out on that. Don't let that put you off though, its awesome the missions are very well designed. The game play is solid and organic, showing the kind of level design that would be soon seen in things like Timesplitters and Second Sight. It also has local split screen multiplayer, something that more games should have (HAWX, Rage, Red Faction, I'm looking at you) meaning you do not need an internet connection to enjoy the multiplayer. In fact the online aspect tends to be one of the games few flaws, as there is seldom people online, and it can only go up to 8 player, making the online aspect seem rather lonely in comparison to something like call of duty. This is by no means a deal breaker, as the game solidly stands up on its single player and local multiplayer modes. For older gamers its a chance to revisit a classic shooter, and for newer gamers, it is an opportunity to show how the shooter has changed over the years, and perhaps give better perspective on shooters now by comparing them to then. C'mon, its only 800 Microsoft points.    … Expand
  8. Clone25
    Sep 25, 2010
    10
    This is a great game to renew to a modern version. I remember playing this on Nintendo 64. Great missions and great graphics. great job on the renewal
  9. Larux18
    Jan 6, 2012
    8
    This game has everything against it now a days, and when you compare it to recent titles it has problems like dumb AI, weird glitches and weird difficulty but despite that this game is freaking awesome! It cannot be more fun running guns out and blazing through this game and killing every enemy you see, picking up the amazing selection of guns and completing objectives. I can't be moreThis game has everything against it now a days, and when you compare it to recent titles it has problems like dumb AI, weird glitches and weird difficulty but despite that this game is freaking awesome! It cannot be more fun running guns out and blazing through this game and killing every enemy you see, picking up the amazing selection of guns and completing objectives. I can't be more satisfied since this port is just great! For 800 microsoft points this is the best deal you will find.… Expand
  10. SpartanEdge
    Aug 1, 2011
    10
    As far as i'm concerned,This is one of the greatest games ever made! Certainly the best on the N64 IMO.I dont know why everyone goes on about Goldeneye,this game is far superior in every way,& has genuinely groundbreaking ideas,such as a friend being able to play as your enemies in the campaign,& Co-Op for the campaign,which was almost unheard of in those days,especially for an FPS.WhileAs far as i'm concerned,This is one of the greatest games ever made! Certainly the best on the N64 IMO.I dont know why everyone goes on about Goldeneye,this game is far superior in every way,& has genuinely groundbreaking ideas,such as a friend being able to play as your enemies in the campaign,& Co-Op for the campaign,which was almost unheard of in those days,especially for an FPS.While Goldeneye,was a pretty generic game,with notthing particually special or outstanding about it,& If released today,Goldeneye would be seen as a weak game i suspect,but after playing the newly polished Perfect Dark,its still got all the magic,& all the features that made it a classic game.From the features already mentioned,to the great weapons with imaginative secondary modes,well thought out missions,with varying objectives depending on the game dificulty,that are untypical in this day & age,the music,everything was good.Most of the weapons in Perfect Dark have become iconic to anyone that has played the game.A great job has been done on the new version of this game,giving it a High Def polish & a super smooth framerate(which was the only thing that let the original down a little).This is as close to a 'Perfect' (Pun Intended) game than your going to get.Wether you had this on the N64 or not,I HIGHLY recommend this game.… Expand
  11. Jschnitzz
    Jul 25, 2012
    9
    For those who have played this on their N64 and enjoyed it, Should definitely purchase this game no if, and or buts. This is basically the same exact game that you played on the N64. The only addition is online co-op (I'm very happy that they kept local co-op)

    Also, a cool feature in online co-op is that you can play in splitscreen mode. Yes, even in online co-op. See your friend screen    For those who have played this on their N64 and enjoyed it, Should definitely purchase this game no if, and or buts. This is basically the same exact game that you played on the N64. The only addition is online co-op (I'm very happy that they kept local co-op)

    Also, a cool feature in online co-op is that you can play in splitscreen mode. Yes, even in online co-op. See your friend screen on top (or bottom) as if he/she is playing right next to you on the sofa.

    ----

    If you have never heard of this game well, just give the trial a download. You may find it fun. However, those who have played this game    … Expand
  12. Broyax
    Feb 4, 2018
    0
    J'ai joué à ce truc via la compil' Rare Replay sur Xbox One qui émule la version "remastérisée" Xbox 360 de la vieille version Nintendo 64 : c'est amusant. Non, le jeu n'a rien d'amusant mais il est amusant de constater qu'on puisse jouer dans d'excellentes conditions à une vieille daube de ce genre, car on s'en voudrait d'avoir raté un truc pareil.

    Oui, on s'en voudrait, car il s'agit    J'ai joué à ce truc via la compil' Rare Replay sur Xbox One qui émule la version "remastérisée" Xbox 360 de la vieille version Nintendo 64 : c'est amusant. Non, le jeu n'a rien d'amusant mais il est amusant de constater qu'on puisse jouer dans d'excellentes conditions à une vieille daube de ce genre, car on s'en voudrait d'avoir raté un truc pareil.

    Oui, on s'en voudrait, car il s'agit apparemment d'un FPS incroyable du monde des consoles, un monument porté aux nues par... ah mais attendez, il s'agissait d'un jeu de la Nintendaube, donc tout s'explique : les fanboys idolâtres des consoles Nintendaube sont en effet les pires fanatiques au monde et de toute la galaxie. Et de tout l'univers. Il ne faut donc pas s'étonner des notes et commentaires dithyrambiques à propos d'un FPS foireux.

    Bon, au moins ça tourne à 60 im/s et les graphismes sont propres. "Propres" mais pas vraiment jolis pour autant. Néanmoins, on ne les critiquera pas outre-mesure, vu l'âge du machin évidemment. On se bornera à constater (comme un huissier) que même en 2000, on avait des FPS mille fois mieux que ce "Perfect Dark"... sans compter le premier Halo sorti en... 2001 !

    On se bornera simplement à tourner en rond là-dedans comme dans un vieux Doom... mais sans aucune carte ni repère, ni rien. Et sans sauvegarde pendant la mission, histoire de prolonger une durée de vie naturellement faiblarde. Et sans médikit non plus (histoire de prolonger etc...). On constatera également que sans la visée automatique, le jeu est injouable et qu'avec, il est ridicule. On notera que les sensations sont absentes, que la jouabilité est molle et que les ennemis sont stupides.

    En conséquence de quoi, on s'ennuie à vitesse grand V dans cet ersatz de FPS à la petite semaine, démoulé par Rare, le développeur qui fait rarement de bons jeux et toujours de la merde.    … Expand
  13. gamingmad
    Apr 27, 2013
    10
    this game was one of my all time favourite nintendo 64 games and i was so exited when it was coming out on XBLA i loved everything about it the gameplay, the story, and the cheats you can have in the game and the challenge modes you can do on Combat Simulator and customize your own game setting 10/10 for me
  14. PDNexus
    Nov 19, 2013
    10
    It is more rewarding to play Perfect Dark than any other console first-person shooter ever made. It's simplicity in its game-play engine is a thing to be admired. Perfectly handled so the novice and master alike can play co-op or multiplayer together without ever feeling frustrated due to over complicated controls or game-play mechanics. It's difficulty is unforgiving but fair and when youIt is more rewarding to play Perfect Dark than any other console first-person shooter ever made. It's simplicity in its game-play engine is a thing to be admired. Perfectly handled so the novice and master alike can play co-op or multiplayer together without ever feeling frustrated due to over complicated controls or game-play mechanics. It's difficulty is unforgiving but fair and when you beat it on the hardest difficulty you will feel a pride rarely found in other games. Born from the engine that pioneered console FPS gaming this game is masterful. Perfect 10/10 Dark.… Expand
  15. MrXhedo
    Aug 11, 2015
    9
    Originally released in 2000 this is one of the most overlooked games gets its second chance to be experienced and it holds up pretty well. If you are a Rare fan you should definitely try it if you didn't before.
  16. arostislavna
    Oct 5, 2017
    8
    The xbla remaster / rare replay remaster is pretty much flawless technically. Why this doesn't have an equal score to the n64 version is the lack of an online server browser, limited online modes, and a dead population on the multiplayer.
  17. bilbyc0m
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    The absolute definitive version of Perfect Dark, which also includes the old control methods for strafing. Perfect Dark XBLA runs at 60fps and for the first time includes an online mode which everything is full customisable as if it was local play. Fantastic game can't fault it and this is by far the best available version on the market! Great job Microsoft!
  18. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Nov 12, 2022
    8
    A terrific remaster of the N64 classic. The game looks and plays great. A few minor refinements helps keep the game up to modern standards. At 21 + years old, Perfect Dark is still great. It's a real steal for only $10. I would rate it with an 8.5 out of 10.
  19. brendo214
    May 22, 2019
    8
    Perfect Dark is the perfect game to play on the couch with a bunch of your friends.
  20. TwigNigel69
    Jan 22, 2020
    6
    this game is one of the most stupid and confusing games I have ever played I got past the first few levels but I couldn't get past any other levels and lot of my friends have the same problem the only thing this game really has going for it now days is the split screen multiplayer but other than that this game really isn't worth getting
  21. Guo56
    Jun 24, 2020
    10
    One the most fun shooter games I have ever played and is on par with Halo 1 and 2.
  22. Kosm
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    Ayant fait le jeu la semaine dernière, je fus agréablement surpris par la qualité de ce jeu qui a 20 ans en cette année 2020.
    Par quoi commencer, tout d'abord mon premier choc fut de voir que le choix de la difficulté avait un vrai impact sur le jeu, plus la difficulté est haute, plus vous aurez d'objectifs a faire pendant les missions et je trouve çà dommage que ceci n'est pas été gardé    Ayant fait le jeu la semaine dernière, je fus agréablement surpris par la qualité de ce jeu qui a 20 ans en cette année 2020.
    Par quoi commencer, tout d'abord mon premier choc fut de voir que le choix de la difficulté avait un vrai impact sur le jeu, plus la difficulté est haute, plus vous aurez d'objectifs a faire pendant les missions et je trouve çà dommage que ceci n'est pas été gardé dans d'autre FPS.
    l'histoire est sympathique a suivre en plus d’être assez kitsch mais dans le bon sens du terme, une sorte de duel entre deux puissance alien, d'un coté les maians ( la plus pacifique) et de l'autre les Skedars (les plus hostiles), avec au milieu de ce duel, l'humanité est plus précisément deux organisme qui sont carrington (représenté par joanna) et datadyne (qui se sont alliés au Skedars).

    pas mal d'arme différente dont un laptop gun qui ma bien surpris, chaque arme est différente, le gameplay est agréable et j'ai pris bien plus de plaisir sur ce jeu que sur le Zero sur 360.

    En définitive ce jeu est un must have, un fps qui se joue encore avec plaisir malgré une histoire légèrement en retrait, j'attend avec impatience un nouveau Perfect Dark pour la future génération de console, en espérant qu'on garde les bonnes bases de Perfect Dark tout en le modernisant suffisamment pour qui'l ne soit pas dépassé comme pu l’être Perfect Dark Zéro a sa sortie    … Expand
  23. neomoonsevin
    Sep 10, 2023
    7
    A good game with updated graphics and the character sounds like Lara croft from the edios tomb raider games for its time this was gold the graphics are now outdated but it's still a classic
  24. JJTorrens
    Oct 27, 2022
    10
    Without a doubt, the BEST way to play Perfect Dark! 60 FPS, better graphics, better audio and better controls!

    Great level design, and excelent objectives.
    Overall, a great shooter.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010
59
#59 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Meristation
    90
    It's been ten years, but Joanna aged rather well. Fun, entertaining, with a bunch of game modes (solo and multiplayer), Perfect Dark is almost as great as it was when it was first released. This port is good, but it can't really be referred to as a remake.
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  2. Eurogamer
    80
    Zero may have proved that it's hard to create a fitting sequel to a classic, but to see the original Perfect Dark slotting into place so well on XBLA is enough to suggest that, just sometimes, restoration might be a better solution than reinvention.
    Read full review
  3. VideoGamer
    80
    This is old-school gaming, with none of the modern day handholding we're used to, but it's jam-packed with gaming goodness. The campaign can be frustrating due to a lack of direction, but it's still full of great moments, and the multiplayer is as much fun as it ever was.
    Read full review
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