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[FeedMeAStrayCat]

The amount of stuff missing from the first Perfect Dark.


Let me explain. I love PD and it's one of my favorite games ever (same with GE). I went into PD0 knowing that there was practically no way it could top that, and I've accepted that. I've been playing PD0 for roughly a week and a half perhaps, and it's been growing on me everyday. It's pretty damn great.. and very fun. The gun battles in the game are spectacular. The amount of weapons total is less than PD's, but they are pretty damn awesome so that makes up for it.

Now.. my main complaint with the game, as I said above.. is the amount of stuff missing from the original. I realize that a sequel (or prequel in this case) doesn't need to include everything from a previous game, but here.. it was a bit shocking to me.

On a side note, I have not played online multiplayer as of yet. Only offline.

- Many less multiplayer levels, specifically classic PD/GE levels (however, this will be remedied in the future, at least with Facility). I do like that these are so large and can be split into smaller sections though. That sort of makes up for it. I'm sure more levels will be coming on Live as well...
- Less weapons overall (I miss the FarSight, N-Bombs, etc.)
- No central "overworld" place like Carrington Institute to explore
- An extension of the above: NO FIRING RANGE!
- Not much in the way of unlockables (all those cheat codes from PD/GE were great to unlock)
- Less customization with bots (no RevengeSims, PacifistSims (they were hilarious), etc.)
- No challenge mode in multiplayer (although I think I heard about that coming down the pipe later on in Live, same with Counter-Op mode.. which I didn't play much in the original anyways)
- Unless this is an online only thing or I just can't figure it out: Where are the stats? You get stats after each match, and I know it saves at least some of them, because you get achievements. But is there any way to see your exact stats, like total kills, etc.? That was one of my favorite aspects of the original PD and the ranking system and such.
- The biggest blasphemy of them all: No License to Kill/One Shot Kill mode. That's all I used to play on!

Now PD0 does have it's own stuff that the first PD didn't have, of course. Expandable levels, more players in multiplayer, online modes, DarkOps, etc. But I think it could have had all of this and still included a lot of the details I mentioned above. That said.. I am quite happy with Perfect Dark Zero at the moment. It's quite an awesome game in it's own right! There's actually not much I dislike about the game, save for most of the stuff I mentioned above.

That's all I can think of at the moment.. I'm sure there are more. Perhaps I'll post the rest later. :lol


EDIT: I thought of a few more:
- The death animations. While the physics system can be pretty whacky overall in PDZero, it's not terrible and I really do like the ability to whack bodies over ledges and such. However, there aren't really many "canned" death animations besides a few where they just fall down slowly to there knees and such. I really liked the animations from the previous two games, so maybe if they could have included those in there with the wacky physics? :lol
- Lack of available character models for multiplayer. There were a huge number in GE and PD, and strikingly low number here.
- I also miss the ability to select the songs for multiplayer as well.. you can obviously take songs from your hard drive, but unless you have the PDZero soundtrack on there, you're screwed..

 

[PhatSaqs]

For me it's the horridly done stealth aspect(s) of the game. Just about breaks the deal for me.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

that stupid threads like this with Perfect Dark in the title keep popping up. Give it a rest.

 

[MrDaravon]

There better be stats, or that fucking sucks. I liked moving up ranks.

And dear god I do NOT miss the N-bombs. To this day if we're playing with bots we can't have N-bombs in there, the computer will somehow always have them and go apeshit with them.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

that stupid threads like this with Perfect Dark in the title keep popping up. Give it a rest.

Perhaps if all those threads were made by me, then you would have a point. This is my first thread about it.. I think. :lol

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

There better be stats, or that fucking sucks. I liked moving up ranks.

And dear god I do NOT miss the N-bombs. To this day if we're playing with bots we can't have N-bombs in there, the computer will somehow always have them and go apeshit with them.

Me and my friends used to love putting them on.. even with bots. They did go a bit crazy with them, but it added to the fun.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

Perhaps if all those threads were made by me, then you would have a point. This is my first thread about it.. I think. :lol

Use the official thread.

 

[mr_sockochris]

Let's be honest, the only reason it's called Perfect Dark is to help it shift some units through the strength of the name. Apart from a few weapons and the old style mission objectives setup, Perfect Dark Zero is nothing like the N64 game in any way, that's the REAL biggest disappointment with it.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Use the official thread.

It will just get lost in the shuffle in that very large thread. I hate it when all topics about one game are supposed to be grouped into one thread.

 

[raYne]

Use the official thread.

This is true...



...and people drop n-bombs all the time in Live games. Oh wait...

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Let's be honest, the only reason it's called Perfect Dark is to help it shift some units through the strength of the name. Apart from a few weapons and the old style mission objectives setup, Perfect Dark Zero is nothing like the N64 game in any way, that's the REAL biggest disappointment with it.

Yeah I thought of that just as I posted this topic as well. I do agree. There are some similarities, but it's a very different game overall.

 

[radrelic]

Perfect Dark Zero is a rushed, buggy, bare bones game.

It's a disgrace to Rare's FPS lineage.

Everything from the character models, lame story (hard to believe it's worst than PD), and horrible voice acting.

It looks nothing like the original. They moved away from the realistic, sci-fi, gritty, violent world in the original to a cartoony over the top mess. Is Perfect Dark Zero proof that Rare lost talent in their Goldeneye/PD team? I think so.

I eagerly await Free Radical's next project...

 

[DenogginizerOS]

This is true...



...and people drop n-bombs all the time in Live games. Oh wait...

Did you think my name had an N-Bomb in it? So many people do. They think my GT is "Deniggerizer" and I spew coffee on my XBOX live microphone.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Did you think my name had an N-Bomb in it? So many people do. They think my GT is "Deniggerizer" and I spew coffee on my XBOX live microphone.

:lol Yeah I imagine that sucks quite a bit.

 

[Redbeard]

Let's be honest, the only reason it's called Perfect Dark is to help it shift some units through the strength of the name. Apart from a few weapons and the old style mission objectives setup, Perfect Dark Zero is nothing like the N64 game in any way, that's the REAL biggest disappointment with it.

And here I thought most of the complaints stemmed from it being too much like the old games...

 

[BuzzJive]

You're looking for TimeSplitters. Free Radical got the better half of the old Goldeneye team.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

And here I thought most of the complaints stemmed from it being too much like the old games...

No way! No game can be too similar to those classics.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

I can't resist. My only disappointment with PDZ is the lack of more checkpoints. I am playing on Perfect Agent and I am still stuck in Nightclub.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

You're looking for TimeSplitters. Free Radical got the better half of the old Goldeneye team.

While I do enjoy the TimeSplitters games (I've only played one and two), they aren't exactly what I'm looking for. I like the wealth of multiplayer modes and characters, and it is pretty fun.. but the pacing is much different than GE/PD.

 

[radrelic]

What's sad is that PDZ is only a "solid" game. That may be good for most,but for fans of the original.... we expected much more.


My vision of a next-generation Perfect Dark is completely different to what is in PDZ.

 

[Beezy]

I've been wanting to ask this question for a while now.

How is the music in Perfect Dark Zero? I loved the soundtrack in the original thanks to songs like Carrington Institute, Instititute Defense X and Air Base X. Being able to pick what song you wanted in multiplayer matches was great too. The X songs added so much to multiplayer.

Also, do any of the songs from the original make a comeback in PD0?

 

[raYne]

I can't resist. My only disappointment with PDZ is the lack of more checkpoints. I am playing on Perfect Agent and I am still stuck in Nightclub.

"Save your checkpoints for the WEAK!"

Wait till you get into Dark Agent, it has even less checkpoints.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

I've been wanting to ask this question for a while now.

How is the music in Perfect Dark Zero? I loved the soundtrack in the original thanks to songs like Carrington Institute, Instititute Defense X and Air Base X. Being able to pick what song you wanted in multiplayer matches was great too. The X songs added so much to multiplayer.

Also, do any of the songs from the original make a comeback in PD0?

From what I've heard, the soundtrack is pretty damn good. Perhaps not up there with PD (I might need to give it more time, though), but pretty enjoyable. Some very catchy tunes.

I also miss the ability to select the songs for multiplayer as well.. you can obviously take songs from your hard drive, but unless you have the PDZero soundtrack on there, you're screwed.. :lol I'll add this to my above list..

 

[Suburban Cowboy]

so once they add all the new levels and playmodes over live, what will PD0 end up costing for the FULL game?

 

[Reilly]

truth be told, if the game wasn't called "PDZ" and wasn't made by Rare, the game would be considered crap.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

truth be told, if the game wasn't called "PDZ" and wasn't made by Rare, the game would be considered crap.

It begins....

 

[Redbeard]

truth be told, if the game wasn't called "PDZ" and wasn't made by Rare, the game would be considered crap.

More like it wouldn't get as much flak as it does.

 

[Suburban Cowboy]

truth be told, if the game wasn't called "PDZ" and wasn't made by Rare, the game would be considered crap.

Na, thats not true. It would have gotten same ammount of press as Geist or the first Time Splitters. The latter being vastly overrated imo (and thats saying a lot)

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

so once they add all the new levels and playmodes over live, what will PD0 end up costing for the FULL game?

The upgrades will be free, the upgrades will be free.. I'm going to keep chanting that till it comes true.

 

[DenogginizerOS]

"Save your checkpoints for the WEAK!"

Wait till you get into Dark Agent, it has even less checkpoints.

I had to struggle thinking of something that was a disappointment. The lack of checkpoints gives an old-school vibe to me, actually.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

More like it wouldn't get as much flak as it does.

I agree more with your statement.

If this game wasn't called PD and wasn't from Rare.. well, I probably wouldn't have picked it up immediately and such.. that's about the only difference I can see. The Perfect Dark "name" doesn't do anything for me. It's the awesomeness that Rare brings to the table that I've always loved.. and while that awesomeness is "different" this time around.. it's still awesome.

 

[Y2Kev]

truth be told, if the game wasn't called "PDZ" and wasn't made by Rare, the game would be considered crap.

Now there's a PRO-Rare media bias? LOL!

 

[Mrbob]

Goty.

I'm serious.

Reviews were rushed. Impressions were rushed. When you play this game the way it is meant to be played (Not like Halo 2) and take the game for what it is instead of what it isn't (A carbon copy of PD), you realize this game is brilliant. Single player and multiplayer. Ok the story is crap but who cares about that? The level design is outstanding, especially when you take the time to go slow and use the cover system! Reviewers bitching about the level design really need to play through this game more slowly. I'm only at stage 12 now in secret agent but I'll be playing through it again on perfect agent and hopefully dark agent.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Goty.

I'm serious.

Reviews were rushed. Impressions were rushed. When you play this game the way it is meant to be played (Not like Halo 2) and take the game for what it is instead of what it isn't (A carbon copy of PD), you realize this game is brilliant. Single player and multiplayer. Ok the story is crap but who cares about that? The level design is outstanding, especially when you take the time to go slow and use the cover system! Reviewers bitching about the level design really need to play through this game more slowly. I'm only at stage 12 now in secret agent but I'll be playing through it again on perfect agent and hopefully dark agent.

I don't think it's my GOTY, yet.. but here are the three games that are at the top for me:
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Mario Kart DS (DS)
Perfect Dark Zero (Xbox 360)

I agree with your statements. Like I said, I didn't expect this game to be exactly like PD or anything, I'm just shocked at how much is missing from the original. It just goes to show how huge and ambitious the original really was..

That being said, PDZero is getting better and better for me, and if I gave it a rating of some sort.. it'd probably be a 9/10 right now. It's great and getting better!

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Could anyone answer my stats question from the original post? Are they available to view on Live or anything? I realize that there's the achievement thing, but that doesn't actually show your accurate stats for multiplayer..

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Goty.

I'm serious.

Reviews were rushed. Impressions were rushed. When you play this game the way it is meant to be played (Not like Halo 2) and take the game for what it is instead of what it isn't (A carbon copy of PD), you realize this game is brilliant. Single player and multiplayer. Ok the story is crap but who cares about that? The level design is outstanding, especially when you take the time to go slow and use the cover system! Reviewers bitching about the level design really need to play through this game more slowly. I'm only at stage 12 now in secret agent but I'll be playing through it again on perfect agent and hopefully dark agent.

MrBob doesn't lie.

 

[Beezy]

From what I've heard, the soundtrack is pretty damn good. Perhaps not up there with PD (I might need to give it more time, though), but pretty enjoyable. Some very catchy tunes.

I also miss the ability to select the songs for multiplayer as well.. you can obviously take songs from your hard drive, but unless you have the PDZero soundtrack on there, you're screwed.. :lol I'll add this to my above list..

Thanks. So I guess none of the songs from the original make a comeback?

P.S. I would kill for a remake of the orignal PD for Xbox360. Or even for the DS. As long as it's online.

 

[Mrbob]

I agree with your statements. Like I said, I didn't expect this game to be exactly like PD or anything, I'm just shocked at how much is missing from the original. It just goes to show how huge and ambitious the original really was..

That being said, PDZero is getting better and better for me, and if I gave it a rating of some sort.. it'd probably be a 9/10 right now. It's great and getting better!

What stage are you on right now? It is pretty good the first couple chapters but really ramps up after chapter 6. Also what is your gamertag we may have to play online co op sometime!

 

[Redbeard]

Could anyone answer my stats question from the original post? Are they available to view on Live or anything? I realize that there's the achievement thing, but that doesn't actually show your accurate stats for multiplayer..

Yes, they're all there.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Thanks. So I guess none of the songs from the original make a comeback?

P.S. I would kill for a remake of the orignal PD for Xbox360. Or even for the DS. As long as it's online.

I don't THINK any make a comeback, but I could have just missed it. Some do definitely sound somewhat similar though.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

What stage are you on right now? It is pretty good the first couple chapters but really ramps up after chapter 6. Also what is your gamertag we may have to play online co op sometime!

Well, I finished it on Agent, and am now starting Secret Agent.. I think I'm at the Rooftops level as of right now. I am really enjoying the single player and the co-op.

Sadly though, I don't have Live yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to PM ya.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Yes, they're all there.

OH THANK GOD.

Are there a lot of stats recorded? Is it pretty much the stuff they tell you after every game (kills, headshots, # of rolls, # of covers, distance traveled, etc.)?

 

[Y2Kev]

Lots of stats. In multiplayer mode, before a match starts, go into pre-game stats.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Lots of stats. In multiplayer mode, before a match starts, go into pre-game stats.

Is that possible in offline mode as well? I haven't seen it..

 

[Y2Kev]

Try it in a game lobby.

 

[FeedMeAStrayCat]

Try it in a game lobby.

Eh I'll try it tomorrow. I have to get to bed now.. gotta work in like 5 hours. :lol

 

[Prine]

Perfect Dark Zero is a rushed, buggy, bare bones game.

It's a disgrace to Rare's FPS lineage.

Everything from the character models, lame story (hard to believe it's worst than PD), and horrible voice acting.

It looks nothing like the original. They moved away from the realistic, sci-fi, gritty, violent world in the original to a cartoony over the top mess. Is Perfect Dark Zero proof that Rare lost talent in their Goldeneye/PD team? I think so.

I eagerly await Free Radical's next project...

WTF!

you havent even played the game. Youd love it

Its far more GE/PD then TS has ever been. From death animations, weapons, sound effects to mission objectives. And it gives HAlo2 multiplayer a run for its money

GOTY!

And i actually like big team battle in this game.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

This game has by far exceeded my expectations. I was expecting something similar to the 64 version, with prettier graphics and a good framerate. Admittedly, while the cynic in me wants to claim this is what the SP mode is, multiplay is the most fun I've had in an online FPS since Half-Life, then Team Fortress, then Counter-strike. Dark Ops Eradication and Infection are amazingly fun.

By the way, it's funny to hear people say my gamertag (a certain 5 letter acronym that's banned in these areas.) "Hey... Fahoota! Fahoota! Come on over here, Fahoota!"

EDIT: BTW, I think removal of the Farsight was a good call on Rare's part. Yeah, it's great in singleplayer mode, fine if you've got a group of 4 sitting around a console where you can see where they are, but it would've been by far too annoying in an online match like in eradication or something.

 

[Prine]

MrBob, WTF happened?? Yoou jumped offline as soon as i was setting up multi!

 

[Duality]

Perfect Dark Zero's single-player campaign was not significantly influenced by original GoldenEye team members. GE alumni Duncan Botwood and Mark Edmonds were responsible for multiplayer and networking. The solo missions were directed by Chris Tilston, whose track record is good though.

I personally find the FRD shooters robust but still very generic. GE 007 itself was said to be Martin Hollis's baby and he was alleged to be the true visionary (from Doak himself) behind GE/PD, but he hasn't done anything in six years or so.

So why isn't PDZ like GE? Because no one from the original team (who all had zero game dev experience prior to GE) really influenced its design (solo-wise, at least). Whether that's a good or bad thing I don't know.