One of the best FPS to grace a console.
The graphics, even by today’s standards, hold up very well. The attention to detail is abundant and the special effects are pulled off very well. It has some of the best graphics for the N64 and even makes a few modern shooters look crummy. The attention to the guns’ detail is what really impressed me. The sound is also of a very high caliber. The music sets the mood with its futuristic cyber punk vibe and doesn’t annoy with any repetitive tunes. The guns sound great and add a realistic element. After playing numerous FPS on newer systems like the PS2, Xbox, Xbox360, and Gamecube, I was astonished how well Perfect Dark played for a game that is 6 years old on an obsolete system. With the newer systems, most FPS use dual analog sticks to control and aim, something I have grown quiet accustomed to. When I went back and started to play Perfect Dark again, I was a little concerned that the controls would feel limited. My concerns were quickly put to rest when I realized how smooth and precise the controls were. This brought back memories of Goldeneye and aiming my shots for the first time instead of pointing in the direction of the enemy and firing. Since this is now common place in console FPS, a fact that makes them enjoyable to me, I have games like Perfect Dark and Goldeneye to thank for pioneering the way for console FPS.
One major selling point to me for an FPS is a huge variety of guns to choose from. Perfect Dark has one of the most diverse collections of firearms I have ever seen in an FPS. Each gun is highly detailed and most have a secondary function that proves useful on many occasions. Each gun has its own unique feel which is nice since it doesn’t feel like some guns are just mere copies of others. Perfect Dark is one of the many games that I wrote off as hype and ended up very impressed. Being one of the first great console FPS, it still can hold its own to today’s shooters.