Perfect Dark Zero [X360]

After months of teasing and waiting, we've finally had a chance to roam freely through a near-complete build of Microsoft's tentpole launch title for the Xbox 360: Perfect Dark Zero. While previous experiences with the title have been limited to multiplayer demos, at Microsoft's 360 preview day we were able to investigate much of the game's single-player campaign.

Rare's introduction to the single-player game is a level called Rooftops. Here, Joanna Dark and her father Jake are on assignment, but she and Jake are separated. As Joanna, players have to roam walkways and rooftops providing cover fire for Jake as he evades enemies and attempts to rejoin his daughter. Like every mission in the solo campaign, rooftops can also be played in co-op mode; we'll get to that in a minute.

Our first trip through the level on a medium setting wasn't too successful, thanks to the many snipers placed at points throughout. But once accustomed to the various functions of each weapon, things got easier. The pressure-sensitive zoom, for example, seemed initially quite touchy, but soon enough we were able to use the left trigger to quickly get the desired level of magnification.

Even more advantageous was the game's cover system. When near most objects, players can quickly take cover (as in a stealth title) then target enemies and fire from relative safety. Cover is plentiful, and will be a huge part of the game. Since Joanna can easily take out enemies from behind boxes and corners, however, we're hoping this won't tip the solo missions too heavily in the player's favor.

Playing Rooftops in co-op completely changed the feel of the level. For one, the hint system was enabled, so both Joanna and Jake were provided with pathways that showed the optimal route to success, complete with marked hotspots for certain actions and firing points. Like many of the game's areas, Rooftops is huge, and the relatively open urban area has quite a few places to get lost in. The hint pathways kept both players on track.

As each player ran though the level, we were able to enjoy the fact that Rare has designed the pathways such that each person has their own tasks, but can also frequently see what the other is doing. Since much of Rooftops is organized around one character providing cover fire for the other, the occasional line of sight helps. There's also the option to use picture in picture windows to get a better view of the other players.

When a large helicopter with hovering jets appeared, both players were able to target it from completely different areas of the level. Communicating with each other, we were able to focus fire on weak points to bring the machine down quickly. Of course, it reappeared stronger than ever at the end of the level, when many enemies on foot also swarmed the area. But by assigning one player to the copter and another to the foot soldiers, we were able to emerge alive from a battle that was much more difficult played solo.

Another level played in co-op showed off some of the game's more useful secondary weapon capabilities. After landing in a dense forest, we were assaulted by a large number of enemies who were partially hidden in the thick foliage. Detecting them with the naked eye was very difficult, and we were soon shot down. But one rifle comes equipped with a biometric threat sensor that placed a red glow over persons intent on doing us harm, making them impossible to miss through the foliage. In this build the biometric threat sensor could be used perpetually; in the final release it will be limited by a self-charging battery pack.

Based on our experiences, it seems that Perfect Dark Zero becomes more interesting with more players. Much as in Halo, the solo campaign seems like a good way to become acquainted with the game's mechanics and many weapons. The co-op mode is certainly more fun, especially as competition inevitably brews to see who can take out certain enemies first. And with huge multiplayer levels to roam, Perfect Dark should come into it's own over Xbox Live.