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"Perfect Dark or Halo? Indoors or Outdoors?"

So Rare are coming to the Xbox and bringing some of the worlds most popular franchises with them.
I know that one you're all looking forward to is Perfect Dark.

Goldeneye was VERY special. It beat "superior" PC's at their own genre and redefined the genre. Perfect Dark was it's superb sequel.
It was sort of held back by the N64's limitations though.
The sort of limitations that the Xbox doesn't have.


But while it was the definative FPS on the N64 (with Turok being the only serious competitor), when Perfect Dark 0 comes out on the Xbox, it'll be in direct competition with Halo 2.

Which one will be better?

There's no hope of knowing until thay are both released, but assuming that both Rare and Bungie's coding is flawless, it's not down to better, but down to which style you prefer.

In what way are they different?

Well assuming they are like their predecessors, Halo is outdoors while Perfect Dark is indoors.


That's right.

Now this isn't simply down to the particular levels in each game, this is down to the way the game is played, from the controls to the game engine mechanics.

Halo (originally develloped for the Mac), was based around a PC style shooter (it adapted some of Goldeneye's ideas like reloading weapons, headhots and a splitscreen multiplayer, but it's control style is completely different).

Perfect Dark, meanwhile, was based on Goldeneye's way of controlling things.



You only have to play each game to find where their strengths lie.
Halo's best levels were by far the outside ones, especially where Marine allies were involved. The spectacular battles over huge levels was one of the things that made this game so impressive.
The indoor levels weren't so great, often being repetitive and dull.
Don't get me wrong, they weren't awful, just a disappointment after the fantastic outdoor levels.

The two best multiplayer maps?
Sidewinder and Blood Gulch.

Again, large outdoor levels.
One of the game's best features? Vehicles - outdoors only.
One of the best weapons? Sniper rifle - worked best outdoors.

I think we've yet to see the best from Halo.
When Xbox live drops into town and 16 player deathmatches become an option, the battles will be superb - all on outdoor levels like Blood Gulch and Sidewinder (and I expect that more battlegrounds will be available to download).



Perfect Dark/Goldeneye had a few outdoor levels.
But these weren't free-roaming ones.
Normally they were inside some sort of complex of sorts like the Dam and the area 51 base or the Skedar ruins.

Perfect Dark being a "one man" (or woman in this case!) secret agent game, rather than a "squad leader" war game like Halo.
The game is based on tactics and stealth rather than all out battle manauvers.

You normally have to stop to aim, but aiming is a lot more accurate.

Another difference is that you fight more with your wits than pure brawn.




This inside Vs outside, secret agent Vs battle, has other strengths and weaknesses.

I think that the Secret Agent style allows for a more in depth single player experience, with more fun to be had with the AI and a more involving story/mission.

But the war style most likely suits the multiplayer more, with it's shooting based action and "moving while shooting" manauvers.



My advice?
Even if you're into single player games, Halo 2 will also offer some advantages over PD in the single player, and PD's multiplayer will cover ground that Halo 2 doesn't.

So get both! :-)

erm yes, Timesplitters has the depth believe you me.

Anyway... Perfect Dark... first person ala N64 game or Third Person ala GBC game.

Why make her look so good and be a first person game?

i know this proberly wouldn't happen, but it would be so cool if they re-made Goldeneye on all three next-generation consoles (to save fighting). it would be better now. one thing is that, eg; Max Payne - the bodies don't dissapear when they're dead. it's more realality if you know what i mean. the bodies would stay there to make it more realistic. they could do that now because "dead objects" wouldn't slow down the frame rate

Hmmm...

Not sure where Timesplitters 2 fits in.

Still, I'll be playing it in a months time so I'll be able to compare it then. From what I've seen, it doesn't have the tactical depth of Perfect Dark, or the epic scale of Halo...

PERFECT DARK, HALO 2 or

Timesplitters 2.

Money's on the latter.... first game to outclass Goldeneye they say.

Hmm...

I can't quite choose either.

I think Outside will hold a BIG advantge when Xbox live hits town...

I'm firmly sitting on the fence with this one-I love both!

Indoors is great because its more focused. PD had some cool levels and objectives which Halo lacked sorta and each level was different it has to be said. The best thing about PD IMO was the multiplayer challanges, those 30 levels which could be done from 1-4 player against those pesky simulants.

Outdoors because of the freedom and the combat is more open. Veiches are an obvius advantage and the way Halo 2 will have Warhogs that carry 6 people will only re-emphasise the squad based nature of the game. Blood Gulch and Battle Creek are my favourite levels, both are outdoors.

With Halo 2(Xboxlive enabled),Halo, RT Castel Wolfenstibe(Xboxlive enabled), PD(probably xboxlive enabled), SOF2 double helex(xboxLive enabled) and Unreal Championship(xbox Live enabled), Xbox owners are spoilt for choice when it comes to the FPS genre!

...

I think it will be live enabled.
It's already got the option for Link/network next to the splitscreen option. MS would be fools if they didn't take this one online, especially with levels like Blood Gulch and Sidewinder designed for 16 players...

How will Halo come to life on March 14th? Its not Live Enabled :p

Unless Bungie release a downloadable patch for Live Gaming.

Out doors is good for battles and skirmishes, which were definately Halo's strong point. I think that the rechargable shield suits this style VERY well (because it would be a pain to have your energy permanently wittled down by stray shots).

This is currently in fashion because computers werent powerful enough to manage these battles before (Perfect Dark managed it to a small scale on the N64, although despte being impressive for it's time, these skirmishes were more atmosphere and effect than genuine fights).


There are advantages to the classic indoors style though.
There's usually much more scope for clever AI and more interesting missions. Sneaking around taking out unsuspecting enemies can be great fun.
This gives "indoors" the single player advantage.

Working with team mates isn't so much fun when they're AI sims.
Working with HUMAN team mates is fantastic though, which give's outside arena's the edge when it comes to multiplayer.

Halo will REALLY come to life come March 14th.

For me, what makes outdoors that bit better is the epic battles you can have. You can set up a sniper, vehicles can play a part (nothing like trying to outflank a tank) and you can move freely without having to worry so much about backing into something and getting caught.

I mean I like indoor FPS as well, but outdoors has that little extra special touch to it. ;-)