Total Game Boy


Perfect Dark

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Rare
Machine: Game Boy Color

 
Published in Total Game Boy Issue 11

The perfect portable game is about to arrive... you don't want to miss this!

Perfect Dark

GoldenEye on the N64 made big news and has been voted as game of the millennium by many gamesplayers. A little while ago, Rare released the N64 sequel to the massive shooter and now the portable version is about to make its glorious debut. Perfect Dark on the N64 is just amazing and the miniaturised version will also leave your jaw scraping the floor. It's a guaranteed hit if ever we saw one!

Perfect Cart

Rare has really pulled out all the stops to make this an essential purchase for Game Boy owners. Included is a Rumble Pak, IR port connectability, Game Link Deathmatch mode and Transfer Pak compatibility for swapping information with the N64 version. The IR port is used for swapping multiplayer maps with friends and the Transfer pak will allow you to access a multitude of the hardest cheats in the N64 version including all guns and cloaking devices.

This is not just a game on its own - you can also play death match battles against a friend using the Game Boy link cable. In total there are over twenty different types of multiplayer games including timed challenges, capture the flag, air hockey, defence and counterforce - you will be playing this game for ages.

Ready To Rumble

Perfect Dark

Joanna Dark is a secret agent employed by the Carrington Institute to investigate terrorist activities, but you'll need to undergo an intensive training course first. The game starts by explaining how to control your agent and also how to search for items and rob fallen guards of their keys and ammunition. There's a shooting gallery to improve your sharp-shooting skills and a wide range of additional features, which can be opened by completing the training course. The game has seven solo missins with a number of sub-quests which will take some time to get through and completing certain tasks will also open a range of other features including Sniper mode, Jungle Race and a movie-player.

Sounds Amazing

With the amount of amazing playable code on the cartridge, it is a wonder that there is any room left for sound and other important game elements, but they are here and in full effect too. The Game Boy actually speaks to you and it made us all jump when we realised that this sound was being produced by our tiny hand-helds. The sound effects are awesome and there is even some full motion video in small sections, which is brilliant.

All wrapped up, Perfect Dark is an outstanding cartridge that outshines almost everything we've seen on a Game Boy Color. If this game was a car, it'd be a Ferrari 440. If it was a girl, it'd be Sarah Michelle Gellar. If it was a burger, it'd be a half pounder with extra cheese. If... you get the idea!

Second Opinion

Perfect Dark

This game is really, really, really, really good. Really. No, really! Don't take my word for it though... go and play it! You'll soon see how really good it is. Really. Really really. It's so good that it warps your brain! In fact, I'm just off for a lie down now. Really.

Verdict

Graphics 80%
So very nearly perfect!

Sound 60%
Your Game Boy speaks!

Perfect Dark

Playability 100%
It doesn't get any better!

Lastability 60%
More, more, more - oh yes!

Overall 98%
The perfect portable game.