Welcome to the most detailed Perfect Dark Zero rumors/preview page to hit the 'net. I can safely say that you'll enjoy this piece.
The Story So Far
As of now, the info about the storyline is rather short, but also somewhat sweet. Picture it as a little ear of corn spiced-up with salt and plenty of butter. Ever wonder why Rare's next spy FPS is currently called Perfect Dark "Zero" instead of Perfect Dark "2"? It involves the storyline, of course. If you happened to notice this statement made at RareWare's website, "There is a 50% chance Joanna may not be in PD2", it's actually a hint disquised as a joke, according to sources. You see, according to rumor, you play as another agent for a time and you have to rescue Jo Dark. Rumor has it that you have to go back in time, before 2023, hence the reason behind the name Perfect Dark "Zero" instead of "2".
Level Editors?
Many have been chattering about the level editors that have been rumored to be in the game. Although this hasn't been confirmed yet, I've got an idea of what players might be able to do with these editors. A lot of fans have been dreaming and hoping for a level creator option. However, do to the complexity of creating multiplayer maps, I doubt this will be an option. For single player, things such as objectives, number of enemies, the weapons enemies use, sky color, and other general features will most likely be the level editor options. For multiplayer: weapons, weapon spawn locations, player spawn locations, sky color, fog, and all of the options from Perfect Dark will probably make up the editor.
The Character Editor
The character editor in PD was detailed, but not detailed enough, most people thought. The character editor in PD0, however, is said to be highly detailed. You will be able to edit heads, hats, lower bodies, upper bodies, name, height, and even weight. If the final version happens to have all of these customizations, it'd be nice if your customizations affected your character's performance, as Kevin stated in his column concerning PD0's multiplayer. For example, a tall and heavy character would move more slowly, but would be able to take more damage and have mor streangth compared to a fast and light character that would be able to move quickly but wouldn't be able to take much damage or deal much damage. Oh, and here's something interesting. I've been told that a certain "cheat" will exist that enables players to use their custom characters in the single player missions.
The Weapons
PD0 will offer a vast array of weapons. Many of them will be upgraded versions of the ones featured in Perfect Dark, as well as the return of a few Goldeneye ones, probably. You can expect to see the usual classifications: pistols, submachine guns, rifles, explosives, and close-quarters combat (CQC) weapons. Two CQC weapons rumored to be in the game are a flame thrower and a throwing star. Another rumored weapon is the KR5 Sub-machine Gun, which relates somewhat to the D5K in Goldeneye. There will definately be reloading animations, of course. Expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 50+ different weapons.
Cheats
We'll all see the usual methods of getting cheats; simply beating levels or by beating a certain time, plus a few other little methods that we'll find out about sooner or later. Prepare to see most of the same cheats from Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, plus a mouthful of new ones, such as the "use character in single player" cheat mentioned above in the Character Editor paragraph. It is said that you will only be able to achieve some cheats in the Combat Simulator.
Blood and Gore
Blood and gore is always a controversial issue when it comes to videogames. Too much blood and guts and the media has a fit. Too little blood and players aren't happy. Well, I can assure you that we won't be seeing arms and legs fly when we place a mine near a guard's feet, although it would be kind of sweet (maybe not to some people, I guess). We will see pretty much the same stuff we saw in PD. Bloody wounds and blood spraying onto the walls and floors.
The Singleplayer Missions
PD0's singleplayer will keep players occupied, literally for entire days. We'll most likely see the return of three difficulty levels plus the usual editors (notice the plural on "editors"?) that you will receive after completeing all three difficulties. You will be playing in actual real-life places all over the globe, and even all through time. One rumor states that there is a level located by the famous Leaning Tower of Piza. We will see the return of another tundra-like level, sort of like a combination of Goldeneye's Surface and Perfect Dark's Crash Site: plus more. The rumor even says that in this tundra level enemy paratroopers will fall from the sky with parachutes (sort of like the multiplayer ammo crates in the N64 game, The World is Not Enough), and you will even be able to shoot them down with one of your trusty rifles on hand. No more (well, at least not as much) of this "guards appearing out of thin air" trick. Hopefully, however, we'll still be able to have battles with endless amounts of guards, like in Goldeneye's Facility level. There's nothing like fighting endless amounts of enemies until you can escape, or, until you die.
The objectives will probably be more thought-out and mainly a little harder to accomplish (more like some of the puzzle-like objectives seen in Perfect Dark's Pelagic II level). Many believed that the objectives in PD were far too easy, with little to no thinking needed to complete most of them. Speaking of completing objectives, much more stealth will be needed in PD0 in order to complete them. Expect it to be like Goldeneye: Make one little mistake and you're dead and the mission is failed. Thinking and using stealth will definately be vital in many missions. You won't be able to use any 'ol weapon from your huge arsenal and expect to complete the level alive. In this game, a silenced pistol will be a better weapon than a loud ammo-eating machine gun (well, in singleplayer, that is ;).
Multiplayer Combat
Like PD, PD0 will be highly devoted to multiplayer combat. Scores of options, even more than in PD, will be available to players. It is rumored that players will be able to make more customized teams and players, and even be able to somewhat "create" their own objectives. It is also rumored that multiplayer challenges will be much like solo player missions, only more teamwork is involved. For example, it is said that there is a challenge in a Post Office-like enviornment in which you and your team must defeat the enemy and save the hostages without injuring them. Speaking of which, there is rumored to be a "civilian sim" that won't fight much, only walk around, stand there, or follow your team around, depending on what the player oders it to do. This is perfect for "save-the-hostage" scenerios that highly revolve around teamwork.
With the dawn of PD0 will see a staggering amount of customizable options, as stated above. What will some of these options be? One interesting option that is rumored is something like a "number of lives" thing. Using this option will allow players to select how many times each player/simulant can die before being out of the game until the match is over. So, players will be able to have a "last man standing" match. Just give every player one life, and the last player alive wins. Another interesting option is "Strobe Lights." Perfect Dark was originally planned with a Floodlights feature, which would've made all of the arenas very bright, but it was taken out. This time around they're talking about strobe lights. This option will make the arenas completely dark, and all of a sudden light-up in quick pulses or intervals. Strobe lights in turn have three options: Random, in which the light will randomly pulse on and off; Interval, in which the lights will pulse on and off at the same pace; and Beat, in which the lights will pulse on and off along with the beat of the music currently playing. Expect every option in PD plus two handfulls more.
What will the arenas be like, and how many will there be? According to rumors, a whopping 30 multiplayer arenas are planned to be completed. Some will have outside environments, some indoors, and some with a little bit of both (like Area 52 from Perfect Dark). I've heard that the arenas are being thoughtfully and carefully developed, instead of being swapped and jumbled like in Perfect Dark. This time around players will be able to use more tactics and stealth. For example, multiple sniper perches and possibly even pillboxes or sandbags will be scattered around the arena. And what about interactivity with the arena? Rumors say that the arenas will be highly interactive, but they currently don't mention many of the options. One, however, is being able to use a security camera when doing a three-player match, in which players wil be able to look at the once empty part of the screen and view down a high-traffic hallway. This idea will probably be scrapped, however.
One rumor that seems to be exciting gamers is the fact that you may be able to utilize the GAMECUBE's online play system that will be ready sometime in 2002. Many have peed their pants right after reading this rumor. Just imagine having tournaments with other people living on the other side of the world while you sit in your nice, comfortable chair. That is one of the many ways people will use the online play for. Others will get together and start their own teams, or clans, as most gamers refer to. PD0 will be the new "Counter-Strike" of the 21st century. Another possible way players will use online capabilities is for downloading new things. New items would be available, such as characters, weapon skins, and maybe even arenas. This is the new age of console gaming.
Conclusion
When will PD0 be released? This is only an estimate, but probably in the ballpark of October, 2002. It's a long way away. When it is releasd, however, expect a great game that will surely become a legend, as did its predecesors. Many will be flocking to the stores as soon as that day comes. Let's hope that this game will be worth the wait, which I can probably say will.
© Deadeye006- August 30, 2001 -RareDark.com
|
