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Perfect Dark Zero Hands-On [Gamerz-Edge]

First of all, that MTV stuff you all saw is worlds behind what we were treated to today. Everything you’ve been reading is correct: this game looks amazing. Simply stunning. As in, one of the best-looking Xbox 360 titles we saw.

The end result is basically flat textures that look exactly like complicated tiled, bricked, cracked – whatever – surfaces. Reflections on tiles, water, and everything else are beautiful. Dust flew through the air in the desert level we were shown. When you’re shot, there is visual damage to your armor. These are literally some of the most beautiful effects I have ever seen in a console game.

Nice. That makes IGN, GameSpy, GameSpot, and Gamerz-Edge all with nice things to say about the graphics.
 
I hope this game delivers. While I liked PD, I think it kind of under-delivered on the concept (as far as character/plot/roleplay wise) and I think a lot more could be made of Miss Dark and the PD universe. Not to mention I can't wait to get my hands back on a laptop gun..
 
papdz.jpg
 
it was so great they were afraid to show it to the public. they thought it would be unfair to kill sony right now
 
TWO WEEKS IS A LONG TIME

...and thus begins another internet catch-phrase.



But all these positive impressions are making me feel better about the game.
 
lockii said:
Yes, why in 2 weeks Rare might have been able to build the worlds largest stack of dominoes.

Thats weird how such a high-profile, respected company seems to always take ages to crank out games that are burdened with collection-based gameplay. Its like they're a secret cult of squirrels who are forced to work underwater..
 
I find it funny, how many people on this board claimed ign, gamespot, etc were just spinning damage control when they said the graphics looked good.
 
quetz67 said:
it was so great they were afraid to show it to the public. they thought it would be unfair to kill sony right now

That didn't stop people from fapping over Halo 2 even though it wasn't playable to the public at last year's E3. They had PDZ set up the same way.
 
acoustix said:
I find it funny, how many people on this board claimed ign, gamespot, etc were just spinning damage control when they said the graphics looked good.

Don't you know? M$ is handing out the payola to websites that will post positive impressions. Even no-name websites that no one reads!
 
What ingenious strategy by Microsoft. Show old shitty versions of your biggest game to the most popular game sites and the public; and the real, impressive version to sites six people have heard of. Bravo.

There's bullshit somewhere in this mess, I just don't know where...
 
There’s no jumping in Perfect Dark Zero, and even ledge climbing is performed simply by walking up to a ledge and pressing forward. It’s quick and painless. Other cool changes decorate the gameplay as well, most notably, the rolling dodge move, which essentially replaces the jump according to Rare. As they explained it, some FPS players become so experienced that they can actually anticipate the point where your head will rest when you land from a jumping dodge in many games, and get in an easy snipe. With the rolling dodge, though, you can actually change direction in mid-roll, though you take more damage if you’re hit in roll. The screen seamlessly switches from first- to third- and then back to first-person when you perform a roll, to allow you to easily perform the move. Ken Lobb boasts that he can actually roll around players and come up beside them, ready to pump them full of lead. Wicked cool, we say.


That sounds fucking awesome.
 
demon said:
What ingenious strategy by Microsoft. Show old shitty versions of your biggest game to the most popular game sites and the public; and the real, impressive version to sites six people have heard of. Bravo.

There's bullshit somewhere in this mess, I just don't know where...
Show shitty screenshots that make the actual average real time footage look great.
 
midnightguy said:
yeah, that sounds REAL impressive :lol



.... don't believe ....

Would you rather have them spend their time making 3 minute non-playable demos that represent what they going after in the final product, instead? The impressions sound great and really, given Rare's track record, they should put out one hell of an astounding-looking title. They virtually always do.
 
i'm starting to get interested in this again... hopefully they have a fleshed out deathmatch mode cause i usually don't like teamplay. the inclusion of bots is cool. The lack of a jump pleases me for some reason as does the description of the special moves like rolling. I love fps games with tons of weapons.

Everything they've said about the single player sounds really innovative... endless replayability is the goal. i wonder how they are achieving that?
 
Some of you people are unbelievable. Is it really that difficult to accept that the game does in fact look great? What possible reason could you have for doubting that Rare could make an excellent, let alone good looking, first person shooters?
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
Some of you people are unbelievable. Is it really that difficult to accept that the game does in fact look great?

I think whats hard for people to accept is that MS supposedly has a much better looking version of PD0 but shows off an inferior version to the public in their much hyped MTV show. It really makes no sense from a marketing standpoint.
 
AltogetherAndrews said:
What possible reason could you have for doubting that Rare could make an excellent, let alone good looking, first person shooters?
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SolidSnakex said:
I think whats hard for people to accept is that MS supposedly has a much better looking version of PD0 but shows off an inferior version to the public in their much hyped MTV show. It really makes no sense from a marketing standpoint.

You know, that all depends on what kind of marketing strategy MS is going for, and how daring they are. They could have decided to abandon the trade show publicity in favour of a wider, slow burn campaign (which would be a bold move), or they could be looking to create blind hype. Instead of showing the game off to everyone, they pick a select few that can spread the basic information and positive impressions to the masses without using images. Secrecy leads to curiosity, and word of mouth.

Well, who knows. It's odd, but I doubt it's a mistake. According to a few sources, the game appearantly looks great now, so what's with the negative/paranoid attitude? Even if MS did in fact screw up their conference, how is that really related to this game?
 
The most interesting quote on how low theit expectations have been:

'These are literally some of the most beautiful effects I have ever seen in a console game.'

Sounds really surprises...of course it should have better effects than everything this gen.
 
I find the whole PD0 situation very suspicious.

1) The game looks like ass on MTV and 1up.com. Mass hysteria ensues.
2) The game is pulled from MS' press conference and the show floor.
3) MS shows select members of the press the game behind closed doors. No media from this private screening are shown to the public, but the journos who see it are all amazed.
 
I'm just going to guess that it's roughly in the same shape it was when EGM and other press played the game. I'd also guess that most would probably have a better impression of it since you're concentrating on playing it and not just looking at a really poorly chosen screenshot. You can make any game look poor if you pick the wrong (right?) screenshot. Even if build shown at E3 is improved visually, it might be because a lot of developers strain to make a good showing there. It's not unprecedented to have dev teams working 'round the clock weeks before an event to get their software into as good a shape as they possibly can for an event where impressions are critical. The MTV bit might not have held that much importance for them, as you barely even get a look at the game in that show.

Or...or...fat sacks of money and a brand new Ferrari for every website journo out there to post positive impressions to counter Wall Guy hysteria. :lol
 
adding fuel to the fire..

http://www.shacknews.com/extras/e3_2005/051905_perfectdarkzero_imprs.x
Graphically, this is a mixed bag. First off, what was shown on the MTV version was awful, which we all knew. Supposedly that was an old, old build. Another Rare team has crafted the version at E3 and while it is a huge improvement, it doesn't have any sort of next-gen feel to it. Of course, that's why Rare told us it's only at 30% graphical capacity, but I've seen many sites out there praising the hell out of the demo and I just don't see it.

All in all, I'm not even sure why they showed off what they had. The multiplayer wasn't really groundbreaking and with no singleplayer details, there isn't much to get excited over. Hopefully it won't be long until we learn more.
 
There are two types of damage in Perfect Dark: Shock Damage and Lethal Damage. The former can be recovered if you back off for a bit, but the latter is permanent. Shock Damage is discernable by a different-colored bar overtop your health bar at the top of the screen. As is the case with some fighting games, you can then watch the meter replenish the shock damage until you’re back up to your total health point.

now that's a good idea.
 
I should say, as I've said before, I think PD0 will look good in the end. I'm just having a hard time believing it's gone from looking like shite to looking gorgeous in two weeks is all.
 
Farsight, now there is an unbalanced weapon. I hate that thing, because you just go to one edge of the map and you can see everything. Kill people upon spawning. :/
 
Well, the new spawning rooms, as far as I can tell, stop that from happening, for the most part. I'm hoping that Rare will have had plenty of time to reassess the balance of classic PD weapons over the last five years.
 
They should make the weapon take a bit longer to hit instead of like and instant. Like 3 seconds and if they move it misses. etc.
 
Monk said:
Farsight, now there is an unbalanced weapon. I hate that thing, because you just go to one edge of the map and you can see everything. Kill people upon spawning. :/


One of the previews said it cant shoot through walls anymore.
 
Azrael said:
I find the whole PD0 situation very suspicious.

1) The game looks like ass on MTV and 1up.com. Mass hysteria ensues.
2) The game is pulled from MS' press conference and the show floor.
3) MS shows select members of the press the game behind closed doors. No media from this private screening are shown to the public, but the journos who see it are all amazed.

OMG, MS are cloning the journalists!
 
Uh oh, no jump button?

I expect haters to troll with this for a while until the game launches.
 
If MS want this game to actually look next-generation it will not be available at launch. This is Rare we are talking about here, and MS now refuses to talk about it. Even Blim seems to have gone mum on the subject from what I've seen?

I'm through with this game until closer to completion, because I'm tired of the rollercoaster that is Rare. If this game makes launch it would be a freaking miracle after seeing its state at the only public unveiling.
 
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