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Perfect Dark Zero

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Perfect Dark Zero
PDZ video game cover
Developer(s)Rare
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)Chris Tilston, Dale Murchie, Duncan Botwood, Ross Bullimore
EngineHydraCore
Platform(s)Xbox 360
ReleaseNorth America November 18, 2005
Europe December 2, 2005
Japan December 10, 2005
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Perfect Dark Zero is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game console. It was released as a launch title in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.

With respect to storyline, Perfect Dark Zero is a prequel to the successful Nintendo 64 game Perfect Dark, made in 2000. Zero takes place in the year 2020, predating the original Perfect Dark's storyline by three years. A tie-in novel, Perfect Dark: Initial Vector, was also published. Set between Perfect Dark Zero and the original game, the book tells the story of how Joanna helps the Carrington Institute dig deeper into dataDyne.

Development

Rare's two N64 first-person shooters, GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark, received strong acclaim from critics and players, and demand for another title in the Perfect Dark franchise was high. Development of Perfect Dark Zero began on the Nintendo GameCube. At the time, Nintendo had a 49% stake in Rare, making Rare a Nintendo second-party developer. The game made a small appearance at Spaceworld 2000, an event exclusive to Nintendo. But apart from the confirmation that it was in development[1], few official announcements were made. Perfect Dark Zero, along with several other Rare games, was intended to be finished in time for the Gamecube's launch, but did not.

In September 2002, after losing a steady trickle of staff for two years, Rare Ltd was purchased by Microsoft.[2] Around the same time, Rare released several images of Joanna Dark, the protagonist of the Perfect Dark games. The "cartoony" style of these pictures incited speculation that the final game — then intended for the original Xbox — would employ a less realistic graphical style than the original game; possibly the controversial cel-shading technique.

Development of the title was later transferred to the Xbox 360. Perfect Dark Zero's senior designer Chris Tilston (also one of the project leads for the game) later revealed that the Xbox version was "about twelve months away" from completion when the switch occurred.[3]

In 2005, one of the rewards in the OurColony viral marketing campaign for Microsoft's next Xbox video game console was an image of Joanna Dark.[4] At the official unveiling of the Xbox 360 on May 12, 2005, it was revealed that Perfect Dark Zero would be a launch title for the new system in the fall of 2005.[5] The game's development has therefore spanned three platforms: the Nintendo GameCube, the Microsoft Xbox and the Xbox 360.

Limited Collector's Edition

A "Limited Collector's Edition" of the game was released at the same time as the standard version, adding a second disc of content, a black metal game case, images of the staff and most of testers which gave a glimpse to behind the scenes into Rare, a comic booklet set in the PDZ universe, which sets the scene for the game and one of nine holographic collectible cards.[6]

Weapons

Twenty-five weapons are featured in Perfect Dark Zero. The real weapon column shows what the look of the gun is based on, and not its functions:

Weapon Image Type Weapon slots
required 		Magazine size Secondary function Tertiary function Extra Real Weapon
P9P File:PDZP9p.jpg Pistol 1 9 Rounds Silencer Flashlight Scope, Dual Wield Walther P99
Falcon File:PDZFalcon.jpg Pistol 1 18 Rounds Firecracker N/A Dual Wield GLOCK 17L
Magnum File:PDZMagnum.jpg Pistol 1 6 Rounds Decoy Fire N/A Dual Wield Colt Python
Jack Dark's Magnum N/A Pistol 1 6 Rounds Decoy fire N/A Can Carry Up To 700 Rounds N/A
Magsec 4 File:PDZMagsec.jpg Pistol 1 9 Rounds Rebound Fire N/A Dual Wield, Scope Beretta modified M93R Auto-9
Psychosis Gun File:PDZPsychosis.jpg Pistol 1 6 Rounds Psychosis N/A Dual Wield N/A
Viblade File:PDZViblade.jpg Close Combat 1 Max Slash Radius: 2 Meters Deflect (bullets only) N/A N/A N/A
DEF-12 Shotgun File:Defshotgun.jpg Close Combat 2 6 Rounds Radar Sweep Mimic N/A Franchi SPAS-12 Shorty
Combat Shield File:Combatshield.jpg Close Combat 2 N/A Protect Head N/A Dual Wield N/A
DW-P5 File:PDZDw.jpg SMG 2 24 Rounds Silencer Flashlight Scope H&K MP5A3 w/ external silencer, Aimpoint scope and Navy flashlight handguard
UGL Liberator File:PDZLiberator.jpg SMG 2 24 Rounds Booby Trap N/A Dual Wield IMI Uzi 9mm
CMP 150 File:Cmp.jpg SMG 2 24 Rounds Hologram N/A Dual Wield Steyr TMP
RCP-90 File:PDZRcp90.jpg SMG 2 40 Rounds Threat Detector Reprogram Scope FN P90
KSI-74 File:PDZKsi.jpg Assault Rifle 2 30 Rounds/1 Bayonet Bayonet Shot N/A N/A AK-74
FAC-16 File:Fac.jpg Assault Rifle 2 30 Rounds/Impact Grenades (5 max., loaded one at a time) Grenade Shot Silencer Scope Colt M4 Carbine w/ M203 and ACOG scope
Superdragon File:PDZSuperdragon.jpg Assault Rifle 2 20 Rounds/Bounce Grenades (12 max., 6 per clip) Grenade Shot Nightvision Scope HK G36 w/ HK AG36 (Futuristic Variant)
Laptop File:PDZLaptop.jpg Assault Rifle 2 30 Rounds Sentry Gun N/A N/A N/A
Jackal File:PDZJackal.jpg Heavy Weapon/Sniper 3 Single Shot (ammo capacity 31 rounds) EMP Marker (multiplayer only) N/A Scope Civilian AW-series rifle
Shockwave Heavy Weapon/Sniper 3 30 Shots (overheats after 3 shots, cannot be reloaded) X-ray N/A Scope N/A
M60 File:PDZM60.jpg Heavy Weapon 3 80 Rounds Caltrops N/A N/A US M60
Plasma Rifle File:PDZPlasma.jpg Heavy Weapon 3 40 Shots (ammo is self recharging) Cloak (draws from regular ammo) N/A N/A St-Etienne Arms FAMAS G2
Rocket Launcher File:PDZRocketlauncher.jpg Heavy Weapon 3 4 Rockets Fly-By-Wire N/A N/A N/A
Fragmentation Grenade File:PDZGrenade.jpg Thrown 1 Blast Radius: 5 Meters N/A N/A Dual Wield M67
Multimine File:PDZMine.jpg Thrown 1 Blast Radius: 2 Meters Remote Control Remote Detonate N/A N/A
Hawk File:PDZHawk.jpg Thrown 1 N/A Shrapnel Shield (blocks rockets, grenades, booby traps, mines and plasma shots) N/A N/A N/A
Flashbang File:PDZflashbang.jpg Thrown 1 Effective Radius: 50 Meters N/A N/A Dual Wield SSA 354

Gadgets

File:PDZLoctopus.jpg Loctopus, an automated lock picking device named after its apparent likeness to the octopus.
File:Demokit.jpg Demo kit, a gadget used in dealing with explosives.
Data thief, an automated hacking gadget.
Audioscope, a set of binoculars equipped with a microphone, audio amplifier and recorder.

Story

Mission sequence


  • Mission 0:

Datacore - Demolition

  • Mission 1:

Nightclub - Stakeout

  • Mission 2:

Subway - Retrieval

  • Mission 3:

Rooftops - Escape

  • Mission 4:

Mansion - Infiltration

  • Mission 5:

Laboratory - Rescue

  • Mission 6:

River - Extraction

  • Mission 7:

Trinity - Infiltration

  • Mission 8:

Trinity - Escape

  • Mission 9:

Jungle - Storm

  • Mission 10:

Temple - Surveillance

  • Mission 11:

Outpost - Rescue

  • Mission 12:

Bridge - Assault

  • Mission 13:

Arena - Showdown

The story is set in 2020, three years prior to the events of the original game. Joanna Dark is a bounty hunter working with her father Jack and her friend Chandra. On Joanna's first mission, they rescue a scientist named Zeigler from the hands of a Triad crime lord: Killian. Zeigler uses a neurodrive to implant information into Jack's mind. Jack gets captured by dataDyne and Jo rescues him only for Jack to die at the hands of Mai-Hem whose father, Zhang Li, is the founder of the corporation. Jo is then sent on a mission to find Dr. Eustace Caroll, who then uses the same neurodrive technology to extract any memory of the words her father said concerning Ziegler's secrets. Dr. Caroll is then killed by Chandra, who is secretly working for Zhang Li. Jo joins the Carrington Institute and infiltrates a mining operation in an ancient Peruvian Temple where she discovers the conspiracy.

Zhang Li and Mai-Hem are searching for an ancient artefact known as The Graal, which imbues its possessor with superhuman powers. Traveling to Africa, Jo rescues prisoners including Jonathan and several other Carrington boys, before running into Mai-Hem again. Jo avenges her father's death and kills Mai-Hem and the party is air-lifted out. The Carrington Institute plans an offensive on dataDyne forces with the battle taking place on a large bridge. Jo infiltrates an arena and faces off against Zhang Li after he dispatches Chandra. Defeating the seemingly invincible power-hungry genius, Jo is met by Jonathan and Daniel Carrington. When Jo asks, "How did I do, Boss?" Carrington replies: "Perfect."

Multiplayer

In Perfect Dark Zero there are two versions of multiplayer, and within each version are four different game modes.

DeathMatch

This is a standard gametype where players spawn in rooms, collect weapons, and continue to the actual map. Weapons are also available on the map itself. Bots are included in all DeathMatch game modes.

  • Killcount: This is a free-for-all where the winner is the player that achieves the most kills.
  • Team Killcount: A team based version of Killcount where the team with the most kills wins.
  • Capture the Flag: A team-only match. Each team tries to grab the enemy’s flag and return it to their base. The winning team is the one with the most flags captured.
  • Territorial Gains: A team-only match. The goal is to capture and hold several neutral hills until they generate points. The team with the most territories held is the winner.

DarkOps

This is a round-based, team-only gametype that was heavily inspired by the popular PC FPS Counter-Strike. It is generally slower-paced, and is more tactical than DeathMatch. Weapons must be purchased from a player's stock of credits. Credits are earned by killing enemies and obtaining objectives. Bots were implemented in an update on May 4th, 2006.

  • Eradication: A team-only game. Teams take turns trying to eliminate each other. The team that stays alive the longest, or that kills the other team while still living wins.
  • Onslaught: A team-only game. Teams take turns defending and attacking a base. The defenders get one life (but can be revived), and can purchase weapons. The attackers have unlimited lives, but have basic weapons (choice of a Falcon, CMP 150 and a DEF-12 Shotgun). The team that holds the base the longest wins.
  • Infection: A free-for-all game. Players start as either infected or uninfected. When a player dies, they become infected. If the uninfected stay alive for the duration of the round, only they get points. If the infected eliminate them, then only they get points. The player with the most points overall is the winner. (This can seem like a team game as uninfected huddle in a room to survive, or as infected team up to eliminate them).
  • Sabotage: A team-only game. Teams take turns attacking and defending certain pieces of property on the map. The team that destroys the most property or eliminates the other team wins.

Xbox Live

Perfect Dark Zero has full support for the Xbox Live service. Any of the multiplayer modes can be played online with player counts up to 32 players. You can either choose to play a ranked Deathmatch or DarkOps, where you will be matched with players using a system called "TrueSkill Matchmaking", or you may choose a player match where you can choose your game from a list of player hosted games. These games can be highly customized and can include bots.

Maps

There are ten maps in Perfect Dark Zero, however each map has two variants, defined by the placement of each teams base, "Bases 1+2" variant gives you access to sections on the maps and different bases for each team that are not accessible in the variant "Bases 3+4" and vice versa, the maps are large enough and the variants differ in similarity to the point that it could be argued that you effectively get two maps in one. The two map variants apply to all of the maps in the game and typically cater to the games ability to host 32 players and are thus large maps; however there is a small variant for each map in the game that are ideal for 4-16 player games but can be played with 32 players if desired.

On June 7, 2006 Rare and Microsoft added "Perfect Dark Zero Map Pack One" to Xbox Live Marketplace, the map pack cost 500 MS (Microsoft points) and contained four new maps to add to the games original amount of six, these new maps are "Gasplant", "Trench", "Rooftops" and "Plaza". However this map pack only contained the "Bases 1+2" variant of each respective map. Currently, no plans have been announced as for a second map pack possibly containing the "Bases 3+4" variant, or any other additional maps.


The Original Maps:

  • Desert: A vast desert setting containing a run-down temple, canyons and ridges.
  • Urban: An urban city landscape filled with many streets, buildings, and parking garages.
  • Subway: An underground subway station housing two empty trains, a pump room, and a station check-in.
  • Old Town: An abandoned "old town" in a desert. It features sandstone buildings and sand covered stone floors.
  • Temple: A murky jungle level with thick leaved plants, water, amidst a ruined and overgrown temple.
  • Tower: Snowy and mountainous, It holds a large three story tower in the center, rolling hills of snow and rock, as well as two outposts.


Map Pack One:

  • Gasplant: A dark and abandoned gas plant sits within a snow-capped mountain with long corridors, industrial machinery and a helipad.
  • Rooftops: A multi-tiered set of office towers still under construction connected with sewers, parking garages and of course, rooftops.
  • Trench: Consisting of two temples sitting among ruined statues, in between, trenches surround an excavation site to an unknown, ancient artefact.
  • Plaza: Quite unlike the other maps and perhaps one of the darkest, this map takes full advantage of some of the weapons secondary abilities (Flashlight, Nightvision etc), it has many buildings all with multiple floors, there is a tower in the centre of the map overlooking the town square.

Updates

On May 3 2006 an auto-update made available via Xbox Live, responsible for fixing some bugs in the game. This included code to prevent an ongoing problem where players could walk through the air and also to prevent an issue where the plasma/rocket weapons could make use of rapid fire. The update also included 8 new bot types:

  • Vanilla Bot:Basic Bot AI
  • Judge Bot:Hunts and attacks the player with the most kills
  • Bully Bot:Hunts and attacks the player with the least kills
  • Ghost Bot:These bots are always cloaked at all times, but when firing
  • Venge Bot:Hunt and attacks the last player that killed it
  • Feud Bot:Picks and attacks a random target each time it spawns
  • Prey Bot:Hunts and attacks players with low heath and armor
  • Random Bot:Uses a random bot type.

References

  1. ^ "Ken Lobb on Perfect Dark sequel". Retrieved 7 February 2006.
  2. ^ "Microsoft Acquires Video Game Powerhouse Rare Ltd." Retrieved 23 November 2005.
  3. ^ "Miss Dynamite" Originally published in Edge issue 155 (November 2005). Online version retrieved 23 November 2005.
  4. ^ IGN: Ourcolony Update 5.10.05. Retrieved 7 February 2006.
  5. ^ "Microsoft confirms Perfect Dark Zero, others for Xbox 360". Retrieved 7 February 2006.
  6. ^ "Joanna Dark To Infiltrate Xbox 360". Retrieved 7 February 2006.
  7. ^ "IGN: Perfect Dark Zero Walkthrough and FAQ". Retrieved 09 February 2006.


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