Finding Fun #7: Perfect Dark

When Every Shot Counts

The game's quick-fire combat system creates an immediate sense of satisfaction. Guns have snappy fire rates, enemies react quickly to being hit, and the overall pace encourages momentum-based gameplay that keeps you engaged whether it's your first or your 100th time pulling the trigger.

Just Listening To Guns Fire Is Fun

Every action in Perfect Dark is accompanied by satisfying audio feedback. From the mechanical clicks, or sometimes even otherwordly noises, of reloading to the distinctive firing feedback of each weapon, the sound design makes even basic actions feel rewarding and impactful.

Beyond the Mission Brief

Perfect Dark's unique blend of espionage and alien technology creates an intriguing setting that keeps players in anticipation of what's next. The mix of corporate intrigue and extraterrestrial elements provides a fresh take on the spy genre, offering surprises throughout the campaign.

Battlegrounds Built to Last

Despite many maps like Complex and Temple coming from Goldeneye, they were carried over because they demonstrate excellent arena design principles. These maps combine open combat zones with interconnected corridors which offer varied engagement opportunities and ensuring matches remain dynamic regardless of player count or playstyle.

Weapons That Break the Rules

The secondary fire options transform familiar weapons into entirely new tools. The laptop gun's transformation into a sentry turret and the FarSight's ability to track and shoot through walls exemplify how creative weapon design can add layers of strategic depth and moments of revelation when a gun acts as the perfect tool for the situation.

Digital Teammates That Level The Playing Field

The inclusion of customizable bot AI in multiplayer was revolutionary for its time. This feature not only extended the game's lifespan but also made competitive play accessible to groups with varying skill levels, ensuring everyone could participate meaningfully in matches. If someone wasn't great at the game, adding low difficulty bots meant their killcount still stood a chance of being competitive with those who were better.

After tons and tons of multiplayer sessions, my friends and I discovered our perfect configuration: 1-shot kills, maximum bots, and a race to 100 kills. The satisfaction of clearing a room of bots or strategically placing a laptop sentry was what kept us coming back. What fascinates me now is how this wasn't just a random setup we decided on, we naturally evolved to this set of options after realizing that direct player-vs-player combat in split-screen led to inevitable screen-peeking. By shifting to a bot-hunting competition, we transformed a technical limitation into a unique social experience. This kind of organic adaptation to local multiplayer constraints was part of Perfect Dark's magic as I bet every group likely found their own preferred ruleset that maximized what they considered fun.

Wrestling with the Controls

Even after countless hours of practice the N64's C-button aiming system never really gets to a point of being fun to handle. I'm not sure there was a really an alternative control scheme available at the time, but it's bold to build a game that relies on this awkward scheme as a main gameplay mechanic.

Escort Missions Are The Worst

Perfect Dark's escort missions detract from rather than enhance the experience. The combination of AI limitations and the inherent tension between protecting an NPC while maintaining combat momentum comes across as more frustrating than fun.