Mansion Infiltration Walkthrough

The prequel to the genre-defining first-person shooter Perfect Dark has been a long time coming. Luckily, patient gamers have been rewarded with the release of the Xbox 360™ masterpiece Perfect Dark Zero. In the game, you take control of the sassy agent Joanna Dark on a series of wild missions set in the near future.

Snipe this guard in the head and grab his radio.

While the game is definitely challenging even for veteran shooter fans, the Mansion Infiltration mission is one of the hardest that you encounter early on. To alleviate some frustration (and some busted controllers), we've drafted a walkthrough to aid you.

This mission has a set of specific goals, some primary and others secondary. There are multiple ways to go about completing them, so how you approach combat is entirely up to you. The following walkthrough covers the basics of the Mansion Infiltration mission. Try to finish it on your own before resorting to the hints listed here, otherwise you may lose the thrill of discovery that makes the game so much fun to play.

The Mission Begins
You start this covert operation at the bottom of a slippery slope. Having just tossed a goon off the side of a cliff, you're sufficiently warmed up for the impending combat. Rush up the path and stop just before you pass through a moon gate (the circular archway). Equip a silenced weapon and aim for the guard walking over the bridge to your left.

Disrupt Security Communications
The mansion is crawling with armed guards. Sure, you could rush in with guns blazing, but you'd likely take a few too many hits to make it worth the effort. Instead, stealth is the name of the game here.

Take out the closest guard patrolling by the bridge. He drops a radio when he takes the dirt nap—you want to grab it. Now, before you rush out into the open for the radio, scan the area for more guards. Depending on what skill level you selected, there are probably guards in the two towers, patrolling along the outer defensive wall, and in the tower off to the far left, plus a handful wandering the grounds.

If you're feeling lucky, snipe each guard you see with a headshot to thin the herd. When the coast is clear, run out into the open and grab the radio. Activate communication by tapping the D-pad left or right and be prepared to respond to the fellow on the other end. His initial statement is randomly generated, so be prepared to adjust your reply depending on the guard's mood. Here are the proper answers:

• If the guard thinks you're maintenance, bluff.
• If the guard sounds nervous, threaten.
• If the guard is friendly, charm.

Activate Satellite
Now that you've tricked the guards into radio silence, it's time to move in. Sneak along the path to the left until you come to a snow-covered staircase. Follow it upstairs until you come to a locked stone door. Creep up the next staircase, but stop short of the top and take out any guards patrolling the catwalk that you may have missed.

Hang a sharp left and locate the satellite controls. As soon as you get near them, you're assaulted by a bunch of goons from down below as well as by the staircase. Duck to avoid taking damage, and eliminate nearby soldiers.

Hack the satellite controls with the datathief, and then head to the opposite end of the platform and activate the satellite itself. Go downstairs and through the newly unlocked stone door towards the mansion front entrance.

Infiltrate Mansion
Before you go marching up to the front door, make sure you aren't being followed by guards. Once you're sure that you're alone, target the camera in the upper left of the doorframe and shoot it down. Walk up to the intercom and speak to the interior guard. Reply to the guard as you did before—if all goes well he lets you in.

Don't panic if you choose the wrong response; reinforcements arrive and you have to fight your way through them, but you won't fail the mission just yet. After you gain entry to the mansion, stash your guns (tap up on the D-pad) and enter the courtyard with your fists. Head to the right and into the museum room.

Inside are a number of laser-tripped display cabinets. Crouch and dive-roll your way past each laser until you reach the opposite side of the room. If you take damage, pause in a safe spot to heal. Follow the pathway to the center of the courtyard, and then head directly back through the giant stone door flanked by a pair of guards.

Defeat Mai Hem
The host of the party is a big fan of deathmatch, and he's especially proud of his buxom daughter Mai Hem's skills. Your final objective is to defeat her in a rather difficult round of gunplay. After a brief cutscene, you spawn in a circular chamber with two balconies.

In the lower portion of the room are some clay warriors. Take aim at Mai Hem and fire away, but be sure to avoid her shots (hide behind the pillars for cover). After you plug her a few times, she multiplies.

Continually destroy her main and duplicate forms. Eventually the clay warriors come to life and pursue you. Dodge Mai Hem's attacks and destroy each wave of guards as they approach in ever-growing waves.

When it comes time to request a new weapon, select the M60 and keep hammering away at Mai Hem. If you run out of ammo, grab a refill in the center chamber. You'll likely find the Superdragon rifle towards the end of the round. Snatch it and put Mai Hem out of her misery. Though the battle is long and difficult, you should be able to beat your opponent through sheer perseverance.

The M60 is a formidable weapon.

Now that you've proven yourself in battle, it's time to delve deeper into the mansion to uncover its many secrets. Sit back, enjoy the ensuing cutscenes, and prepare for another difficult mission.

Article by Franklin Beans