History VideoGame / PerfectDark

The series began in 2000 with ''Perfect Dark'' for the {{Nintendo 64}}, a SpiritualSuccessor to {{Rare}}'s previous FPS classic [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]], with which it shared a (modified) engine. Joanna Dark, having recently graduated the Carrington Institutes's training program with the first ever "Perfect" score, is sent to meet an insider from the [[MegaCorp dataDyne corporation]]. You also end up saving the President of the United States ([[HilariousInHindsight who's black, youthful, and a very idealistic]] [[BarackObama person]]) twice in the process. Things rapidly become more complicated and she soon finds herself in the middle of a war between two alien races who have allied themselves with different factions on Earth.

* AKA47: A selection of weapons from ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'' are unlockable; and not only are their names different from their RealLife counterparts, they're also different from ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'''s own made-up names.
** VideoGame/GoldenEye1997's [[ScrappyWeapon Klobb]] becomes the "[[LeetLingo KLO-1313]]" in Perfect Dark, despite already having a fictional name.

*** Also the [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 RC-P90]] in ''Zero'', which also has a few more straight examples of this (its version of the Superdragon, for instance, is clearly a [=G36K=]).

** The game itself compared to ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'', considering it had much more gore, as well as swearing. ''Perfect Dark'' was rated M while ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'' was rated T (or 18+ and 15+, both BBFC, in the UK).

* DiagonalSpeedBoost: Like ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]]'', it's essential for getting most of the cheats.

* DieChairDie: Not as much as ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'', but most computers and panes of glass can be destroyed, as well as the obligatory ExplodingBarrel.

** In the second level, Joanna punches out a guard in the elevator (possibly a MythologyGag since the same thing happens in ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'').

** Given the game's overall tone, it may actually be a reference to [[PitchBlack another desert planet.]]

The series began in 2000 with ''Perfect Dark'' for the {{Nintendo 64}}, a SpiritualSuccessor to {{Rare}}'s previous FPS classic [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]], with which it shared a (modified) engine. Joanna Dark, having recently graduated the Carrington Institutes's training program with the first ever "Perfect" score, is sent to meet an insider from the [[MegaCorp dataDyne corporation]]. You also end up saving the President of the United States ([[HilariousInHindsight who's black, youthful, and a very idealistic]] [[BarackObama person]]) Things rapidly become more complicated and she soon finds herself in the middle of a war between two alien races who have allied themselves with different factions on Earth.

The series began in 2000 with ''Perfect Dark'' for the {{Nintendo 64}}, a SpiritualSuccessor to {{Rare}}'s previous FPS classic [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]], with which it shared a (modified) engine. Joanna Dark, having recently graduated the Carrington Institutes's training program with the first ever "Perfect" score, is sent to meet an insider from the [[MegaCorp dataDyne corporation]]. Things rapidly become more complicated and she soon finds herself in the middle of a war between two alien races who have allied themselves with different factions on Earth.

** [[AllThereInTheManual Bonus materials]] imply that the real Skedar are the tiny alien creatures, [[LittleGreenManInACan which reside in mechas.]] [[Series/DoctorWho Where have we]] [[MenInBlack heard this before?]]

* {{Action Girl}}: Joanna, obvious. Some of the guards also qualify.

** And there's the fact that the Crossbow has an instant kill function, which kinda averts the trope.

* {{Autodoc}}: The Alien Medpack that you use to revive Elvis in Area 51.

* BlingBlingBang: Trent has a gold-plated magnum revolver that has abilities similar to [[{{VideoGame/GoldenEye1997}} GoldenEye 64]]'s Golden Gun.

* BugWar: The war against the Skedar is like this, despite their not actually being bugs.

* CaptainObvious: Joanna, according to her inner monologue.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: The Skedar.
* CityNoir: The Chicago level.

* ComputerEqualsMonitor: In Area 51, apparently all records are kept on the monitor (!) of a single computer[[hottip:*: What, no cloud computing in 2023?]]. As well, destroying the monitor of a mission-critical computer will result in a failure.

* CyberPunk: Sorta.

* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: The IR scanner, which can detect enemies using cloaking devices, and even find weak spots in walls. (Needless to say, RealLife infrared technology does not work that way.)

* HypercompetentSidekick: Elvis, [[AIRoulette at times]].

* InfinityPlusOneSword: The [=FarSight=].

* ItIsDehumanizing: [=dataDyne=] always refers to Dr. Carroll this way, since they believe he's JustAMachine.

* MoralGuardians: Nintendo might have geared things back enough to allow blood and mild swearing, but there were still demands made; Nintendo forbade any depictions of alcohol or drug use. The "Combat Boosts" were originally "Adrenaline Pills," and the abandoned, useless basement bar in Chicago was probably a casualty of the same policy that forbade there being a bar in one of the [=N64=] ''DukeNukem'' games.

* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: It becomes something of a RunningGag that nearly every time the President is mentioned by other characters, it's almost like he's an afterthought.

** The design of Area 51's laboratories, hallways, and even the autopsy rooms is lifted straight out of ''Film/IndependenceDay''.

* SigilSpam: The weapons-manufacturing {{Megacorp}} dataDyne likes plastering their "dD" logo on all their architecture. (Admittedly, it is quite a cool logo.) Not to mention the fact that the Carrington Institute's logo appears on Joanna Dark's SpyCatsuit (I'm sure that would help with her plausible deniability if she was ever captured!).

* SingleBiomePlanet: The Skedar homeworld is implied to be [[CrapsackWorld one big battle-scarred wasteland]], due to a combination of earthquakes, scorching heat from [[AlienSky the star system's three suns]], and thousands of years of constant warfare on the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Skedar's]] behalf.

* SnipingMission: The first part of the Villa. Averted on Perfect Agent; instead of sniping the guards to save the diplomat, you ''are'' the diplomat and have to use the laptop gun.

* TryNotToDie:

** In the original, foes who have been knocked out can then be killed rather easily, especially if you like headshots.

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: In some levels there are civilians wandering around. You are not allowed to shoot them, and if you do so you instantly fail the mission.

* WeakTurretGun: The Laptop Gun in its SecondaryFire mode.

-->''Elvis''': Oh no, we have a problem. It's a single-seater. Two can get in, but no more.

* WhatMeasureIsAMook: Until you run up against the aliens directly, you're mostly mowing down security guards or government employees. Admittedly, they're working for a corrupt corporation and a treacherous NSA respectively, but you still spend a lot of time killing people just doing their jobs, although to be fair, they're under orders to kill ''you''.

* WouldHitAGirl: Apparently, your enemies.

** The design of Area 51's laboratories, hallways, and even the autopsy rooms is lifted straight out of ''IndependenceDay''.
** The flying cars and neon billboards could be an homage to ''BladeRunner''.
** The K7 Avenger is visually based on the design of the pulse rifle from ''{{Aliens}}''.

*** The "cloaked alien" motif may be from ''{{Predator}}''.

* CriticalExistenceFailure: For some reason, being pistol-whipped or punched will cause the player to stumble and their vision to blur, but not being shot multiple times to the point of near death.

* DarkenedBuildingShootout: In "dataDyne Central: Extraction", the level begins with the lights turned off, forcing Joanna to use night vision. At the end, Cassandra's bodyguards do the same thing and must be fought in the dark. [[hottip:*:Since they're wearing night vision goggles as well, [[BlindedByTheLight turning the lights back on temporarily blinds them]], making them easy to kill.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: The canceled sequel, ''Perfect Dark Core''. Apparently it would have featured Joanna smoking and flirting. Never mind how out-of-character those would be, in the novels at least her reaction to things such as flirting and strippers ranges from utter revulsion and disgust to violence.

* BoringButPractical: The Falcon 2 is a surprisingly decent handgun, considering it's the first weapon you get in the game. It's fast, accurate and even comes with a handy little scope. The CMP-150 also qualifies: it's the most common gun in the single-player mode, but it has a high firing rate, plentiful ammo and a nifty auto-targeting system. It can also be [[GunsAkimbo dual-wielded]].
** Then there's always the option of just disarming an enemy, which works wonders in multiplayer.

** "[[LargeHam OH NO!]] It's a [[OhCrap Skedar army in suspended animation!]]"

* BoringButPractical: The Falcon 2 is a surprisingly decent handgun, considering it's the first weapon you get in the game. It's fast, accurate and even comes with a handy little scope. The CMP-150 also qualifies: it's the most common gun in the single-player mode, but it has a high firing rate, plentiful ammo and even a nifty auto-targeting system. It can also be [[GunsAkimbo dual-wielded]].

* CutsceneIncompetence: The ending of "Carrington Institute: Defense". Apparently Joanna can defeat dozens of enemies per level, [[spoiler: but can be captured by a single unarmed Skedar which knocks a pile of crates onto her]].

* EleventhHourSuperpower:

* ExactEavesdropping

* GangstaStyle: For [[RuleOfCool some reason]], Joanna will fire her pistols sideways at close targets.

** Elvis' [[BadassBoast "I'll kick your ASS!"]] and "Kiss my alien butt!".

** Elvis frequently wields dual Phoenixes.

** MissingMissionControl: Carrington is unavailable in the last two levels. Elvis takes over the mission briefing at this point.

** Joanna's auto-targeting HUD, and the [=MagSec=] machine pistol, both make it clear that somebody on the design team has watched ''RoboCop'' before.

* StickyBomb: The Devastator's grenades have this option.

* SwissArmyWeapon: The Laptop Gun (see above) three functions (laptop, SMG, and [[WeakTurretGun sentry]]).

-->''Jonathan'': Oh yeah, that crate? It ''really'' [[MadeOfExplodium doesn't like being shot]].

* VirtualTrainingSimulation

* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Some Maian body skins sport ''stars and stripes'' outfits and shirts. The Maians really like America.

** Trent invokes this when he has the President hostage at gunpoint. Jo has about a half second to shoot him before failing the mission.

* TheInfiltration: Numerous levels, including "dataDyne Central: Defection", "G5 Building: Espionage", "Area 51: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Infiltration]]", "Air Base: Espionage", etc.

* PoliceAreUseless: The CIA agents in the Chicago level of the first ''Perfect Dark''. Despite being a major law enforcement agency in RealLife, the agents featured in PD might as well be ordinary civilians, and don't even attempt to maintain law and order. They carry no weapons and show no indication of any experience in combat whatsoever, flee at the sight of Joanna carrying a weapon in front of them, and seem to only exist as an excuse for you to fail your objectives.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSoundtrack: The Crash Site level's BGM sounds like a slowed-down version of the ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' theme.

* SingleBiomePlanet: The Skedar homeworld is implied to be one big battle-scarred wasteland, due to a combination of earthquakes, scorching heat from [[AlienSky the star system's three suns]], and thousands of years of constant warfare on the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Skedar's]] behalf.

* SingleBiomePlanet

* AKA47: A selection of weapons from ''GoldenEye'' are unlockable; and not only are their names different from their RealLife counterparts, they're also different from ''GoldenEye'''s own made-up names.
** GoldenEye's [[ScrappyWeapon Klobb]] becomes the "[[LeetLingo KLO-1313]]" in Perfect Dark, despite already having a fictional name.

** The game itself compared to ''GoldenEye'', considering it had much more gore, as well as swearing. ''Perfect Dark'' was rated M while ''GoldenEye'' was rated T (or 18+ and 15+, both BBFC, in the UK).

* DieChairDie: Not as much as ''GoldenEye'', but most computers and panes of glass can be destroyed, as well as the obligatory ExplodingBarrel.

** In the second level, Joanna punches out a guard in the elevator (possibly a MythologyGag since the same thing happens in ''GoldenEye'').

* HarderThanHard: "Dark Agent" is the fan name given to a setting where all the Perfect Dark mode sliders are set to full. Unlike in ''{{GoldenEye}}'', a headshot is fatal even when an enemy has 1000% health (as opposed to requiring ten), so it's actually doable.

* HollywoodSilencer: Roughly the same as ''{{GoldenEye}}'', though the 'first shot from any weapon is silent' rule seems to have been taken out.

* LeetLingo: ''Perfect Dark'' includes an unlockable version of the Klobb gun from ''GoldenEye'', renamed the "[=KL01313=]". Also, in the Attack Ship level, the information screen for Cassandra de Vries' necklace displays the message "Password: [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair I8MOZYM8NDI8S]]".

* MadeOfExplodium: While not as common as in ''{{GoldenEye}}'', things like computers and television monitors will explode when shot. In one level, the flying cars seen outside a tower can be picked off with good enough accuracy, and will go up in a fireball regardless of what type of gun you shoot them with. Any car that blows up after one shot from a handgun at a distance must be very volatile.

* RevolversAreJustBetter - The [=DY357=] Magnum is a ''beast'' of a handgun. There's even a gold-plated version, the [=DY357-LX=] carried by Trent Easton, which is a OneHitKill, as you might expect from it being a [[Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun Golden]] [[GoldenEye Gun]] and all.

** As a CallBack to ''Goldeneye'', all of the guns from the game appear in glass cases on the firing range, and some of them can be used in single player with cheats.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''GoldenEye 007''.

** One of the changes made from ''GoldenEye'' involved making the rolling animation interruptible - that is, a guard no longer finishes his roll, stands up and ''then'' dies if shot mid-roll.

* RevolversAreJustBetter - The [=DY357=] Magnum is a ''beast'' of a handgun. There's even a gold-plated version, the [=DY357-LX=] carried by Trent Easton, which is a OneHitKill, as you might expect from it being a [[TheManWithTheGoldenGun Golden]] [[GoldenEye Gun]] and all.

* BrickJoke: "Not forgetting the President, of course." See RunningGag.

* ShoePhone: The Laptop Gun, which unfolds out of - you guessed it - [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a laptop]]. It even has a kickass secondary mode where you attach it to a surface and it serves as a SentryGun, which you can [[RemovableTurrentGun pick up again and take with you.]] It also [[AvertedTrope Averts]] BottomlessMagazines in this mode, as it'll only have whatever was left in the clip when you throw it.

The series began in 2000 with ''Perfect Dark'' for the {{Nintendo 64}}, a SpiritualSuccessor to {{Rare}}'s previous FPS classic [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]], with which it shared a (modified) engine. Joanna Dark, having recently graduated the Carrington Institutes's training program with the first ever "Perfect" score, is sent to meet an insider from the [[MegaCorp dataDyne corporation]]. Things rapidly become more complicated and she soon finds herself in the middle of a war between two alien races who have allied themselves with different factions here on Earth.

* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Or at least Elvis can.

*** Don't forget the [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 RC-P90]] in ''Zero'', which also has a few more straight examples of this (its version of the Superdragon, for instance, is clearly a [=G36K=]).

* AmbiguouslyJewish: Johnathan's last name is [[AllThereInTheManual apparently]] Steinberg and he has curly hair. Judging by his accent, he's American, so he very well could be Jewish.

** Generally your 1-player buddies (Johnathan and Elvis) are very handy shots, but they will occasionally wander right into your line of fire or otherwise act like idiots just so you can fail the mission.

* AsYouKnow: The meeting in the G5 Building seems dedicated to the conspirators rehashing everything all of them know already about their plan just in case someone happens to be recording it to show the President later.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Doubles as a PunnyName.

* BareYourMidriff: Joanna does this in some missions in ''Perfect Dark Zero''. On a snow covered mountain no less.

** Trent, when he [[spoiler: dies.]]

** BlondesAreEvil: Cassandra Devries, although [[EvenEvilHasStandards she's not that evil.]]

* ChargedAttack: The Skedar Mauler's SecondaryFire. Unusual in that the charge happens automatically when not firing: the gun consumes a few extra bullets (up to five) and starts glowing red.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Cassandra De Vries.

* DeadpanSnarker: Joanna, but also Johnathan. [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Forcing them to work together results in a lot of snarking.]]

** In-game, Joanna and Johnathan are counterparts.

* DynamicEntry: Joanna meets Johnathan this way [[ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind when he shoots an Area 51 guard for her]].

* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning

* ETGaveUsWiFi: Antigravity technology and other advances are due to help that dataDyne and other corporations received from the alien races.

* ExposedExtraterrestrials: Elvis.

** An in-game example is Cassandra de Vries' obvious jealousy of the Carrington Institute, to the point where the dataDyne logo is almost exactly the same as the Carrington Institute logo.

* FastRoping: The first level begins with Joanna rappelling from a helicopter.

* FrickinLaserBeams: The Mauler and the Phoenix are quite weak on their primary setting.
* FridgeLogic: In the first game Jo was portrayed as a British agent and a brunette. In Zero [[AdaptationDyeJob she was switched into a redheaded Canadian]] who, to add to the confusion, was voiced by an American actress based in England. This accent shift seems to have happened to every employee of the Carrington Institute except Carrington himself. Whether this is {{ExecutiveMeddling}} or just plain weirdness, is hard to say. In the [[VideoGameRemake XBOX Live remake]] she was an Asian, with a British accent. The ''Initial Vector'' novelization attempts to HandWave this by citing the many countries she's been to, resulting in a fluctuating accent.
** The Japanese release of the N64 version gave Joanna [[http://www.unseen64.net/unseen-changes/perfect-dark-usa-vs-japan/ a very Asian face,]] but left most of everything else unchanged.
** WordOfGod says she was always a redhead, the first game just had crappy graphics that made her hair look brown. That doesn't explain why she's still brunette in the XBLA remake, though.
** Why do weapons like the Tranquilizer and Crossbow, both with an [[OneHitKill instant-kill]] alt-fire that does just that through chemical/poisonous means, take down an [[DeflectorShields energy shield]] in one shot?
** Why does the RC-P120's cloaking device use ''bullets'' as fuel, to the point of using the ones in the next clip right when the reload animation begins, all through the time you finish reloading?
** Why does Joanna have to activate the autoguns herself in the Carrington Institute? There are guards placed all around the lower levels who could do it for her.
** Joanna is surprised to see that Cassandra's been captured as well, to which she replies "there's no hiding from the Skedar". She was hidden so well in her office...
** If the Skedar really are supposed to be mechas, why do they bleed when shot?

* ICantReachIt: A very lame example when Joanna can't throw a bug onto the antenna in Area 51 without lowering it first. Any fit person should be able to do it. She ''can'' throw it that far, it's just much easier to lower the antenna first.

* ImprobableAimingSkills: Elvis, to some extent. Johnathan also counts since he's equally deadly with a revolver as enemies are with scoped rifles.

* ItHasBeenAnHonour: One of the last things [[spoiler:Dr. Caroll]] says to Joanna before his death.

* PercussiveMaintenance: In one cutscene, Elvis fixes his spaceship [[FunnyBackgroundEvent by banging on it with a hammer.]]

* ScareChord: When Trent [[spoiler:is killed]].

* SchrodingersGun: Whether you or Johnathan stays behind in Area 51 is determined by whether you bring the hoverbike with you into the hangar or not. If you stay behind, he appears in "Carrington Institute: Defense" and helps you out a bit.

* ShoePhone: The Laptop Gun, which unfolds out of - you guessed it - [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a laptop]]. It even has a kickass secondary mode where you attach it to a surface and it serves as a [[WeakTurretGun sentry gun]].

** The design of Area 51's laboratories, hallways, and even the autopsy rooms is lifted straight out of IndependenceDay.

* SniperScopeSway: The game has this feature for all scoped guns, but it's especially bad on the sniper rifle. To compensate, the player can crouch while firing for greater stability.
* SnipingMission: The first part of the Villa. Averted on perfect mode; instead of sniping to save the diplomat, you are the diplomat and have to use the laptop gun. Sadly this is the only mission that actually changes according to difficulty.

* {{Troperiffic}}: It's like Rare attempted to cram as many action movie and sci-fi tropes as possible into a single game.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Apart from the flying cars and alien technology, this could almost be a modern shooter.

* WeakTurretGun: The Laptop Gun's SecondaryFire. [[AvertedTrope Averts]] BottomlessMagazines in this mode, as it'll only have whatever was left in the loaded clip when you throw it.
* WeaponOfChoice: The Falcon 2 for Joanna; the Phoenix for Elvis; the [=DY357=] for Johnathan; the [[GoldenGun DY357-XL]] for Trent.

* SnipingMission: The first part of the Villa.

* BadassBlink: The game features cloaking devices, though the wearer becomes visible while firing a weapon.

* InvisibilityCloak: Of the technological sort, complete with BadassBlink.

* VisibleInvisibility: The Cloaking Device leaves a faint trace of the user's outline. As well, users have to decloak to attack (see BadassBlink).

* ImplacableMan: Mr. Blonde, apparently. He doesn't even flinch when Trent points a revolver in his face. [[spoiler: Of course, he's actually an alien, so...]]

* MoreDakka: The Cyclone is a fairly average machine gun with the extraordinary ability to empty its entire clip in a second or two. The Skedar Reaper is horribly inaccurate, but has an incredibly high firing rate best used to clear corridors (not to mention the highest-capacity magazine in the game - it can hold 200 bullets!). Then there's the RC-P120, which can hold a magazine [[UpToEleven 150% larger than that of the RC-P90]] from ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]]''.

* MoreDakka: The Cyclone is a fairly average machine gun with the extraordinary ability to empty its entire clip in a second or two. The Skedar Reaper is horribly inaccurate, but has an incredibly high firing rate best used to clear corridors (not to mention the highest-capacity magazine in the game - it can hold 200 bullets!). Then there's the RC-P120, which can hold a magazine [[BeyondTheImpossible 150% larger than that of the RC-P90]] from ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]]''.