Perfect Dark

"This game makes 3rd person shooters look cool."

Ok. Now, third person shooters are games where you see your character running all over the place. You cant see ahead of you very far, however you can see behind you somewhat. However in this game, you can get health in many places, so dieing isnt a problem for most of the game. There are some cool puzzles and target shooting ranges that add more fun. However, this game has one major flaw. Its too hard. I got this game for the cheats for the N64 Perfect Dark, so I might as well try this out. This game is about the difficulty of getting the Cloaking Device in 1:40 on the N64 cartridge. But this game gives you the Cloaking Device free, at one cost: You must have the transfer pak from the pokemon stadium game. Now I may be incorrect because I rented this game, but still, no sign of transfer pak. Ok, finally for the review.

Control: You wanna go fast? Use the trick from the Kirby series. Double tap the direction you want to go in. However there are some places where control lacks. When you have to sneak around you must walk and that is a pain in the butt. Its too annoying to watch Joanna slowly step down a hallway! But if you run you are likely to run into an enemy and get half your head shot off before you even notice the guard. I give the control a 4.

Story: I'm not very far in the game so I can't say much. However so far you are training. So this is a prequel to the N64 game. Ive heard that the training is really a front for dataDyne, if it is then this game is worth it for the storyline. Its not Chrono Trigger, but close. I give it a 10.

Sound: Music from the N64 Perfect Dark. That is good. Again, its not Chrono Trigger but it has some good points. Its not as much of a huge orchestra as the N64 game was however, but it is still the tunes. For the sound effects, alright, not horrible, not enough to lower points, they are cool to listen to. The shootings of guns, the sounds your feet make when you walk, there are some cool sounds. And guess what? Voices! You hear voices on a Game Boy Color cartridge! Not much, but a start for the new generation (a small one however, game boy advance is on its way) of speaking Game Boy Colors! I give it a 10!

Video: Wow. Finally some color! And I dont mean pretty color like Pokemon Gold or Silver, or the Color Dungeon in Zelda DX, I mean Color. Detailed people, realistic looking people when you bend over (to pick up weapons), and overall a very realistic enviorment. I give the video a 10!

Difficulty: Here is where I get picky. In the third level of the game, you must sneak up to one person and blast him in the head. Problem is, you have like one second to get ready or else he sees you and you fail the mission. Then later in that level you have to blast two guys in the head without being caught. Now dieing isnt a problem however. You get medpacks with one third of the guys you kill! But overall this game is difficult in a bad way. I give it a 3.

Fun Factor: This game is fun, and surprisingly you wont get pissed at the difficulty right away. This is more fun than the N64 cartridge itself! However due to difficulty it will never be on anyone's list of favorite games. Fun? Yes. But as a third person shooter you have to do a number of things you wouldnt have to do in real life. (Yeah, as if I'm gonna go join an institute for secret agents and blast people in the head) The difficulty brings down points, leaving the Fun Factor at a 7.

Replayability: One great thing about 3rd person shooters is they never get old. Its strange and I dont know why, but you will never tire of blasting people in a 3rd person enviorment. The difficulty brings points down here, also, so the replayability gets an 8.

Buy or Rent: Rent this game for the sake of the fun, though if you buy it, like all 3rd person shooters, you will soon get mad at the difficulty. And rent it for the Cloaking Device and All Guns code. You gotta beat the game in Perfect Agent mode for the All Guns code, plus some difficult jazz for both the timed cheats, so this game is worth the four dollars for the codes. Rent it.

Now to sum up this game, it could be easier, but its fun. It will never be on your favorite list, however, I guarantee you that.

By TYNAN2000. I hope my review helped you decide weather to buy, rent, or leave alone this game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/10/00, Updated 09/10/00