Go Dark, Perfect Dark

Joanna Dark's been hiding in the shadows for several years, patiently waiting to showcase her new look for the debut of Xbox 360™. After spending all that time on the bench, you'd think she'd have gone soft.

Well Hardcore's here to set the record straight. After spending a few hours capping fools in the game, I can say with all the subtlety of a grenade going off in your pants that Perfect Dark Zero™ will kick your ass, take your name, and leave you begging for more.

Using scopes isn't hardcore.

The Hardcore Lowdown
Shooters. You know I love 'em. If I had to pick between a date with Monica Bellucci and a marathon match of Halo® 2, well let's just say I'd have to flip a coin. All shooters are not created equal, so don't expect the same indecisiveness when it comes to lesser fare—I have standards, you know.

If you're dying too much,
it's because you suck.

That stated, it only took moments for me to see the trigger-happy potential in the game. If you're looking for a challenge, game with PDZ the Hardcore way. Here are some humble suggestions from yours truly on ways to kick it up a notch.

• Difficulty should be obvious: Any bullet magnet can tell you that the easiest way to crank up the fun is to turn up the difficulty setting to the highest level (Dark Agent). But before you can take on this meaty challenge you'll have to unlock the hardest mode by finishing the game on the "next to hardest" difficulty. Want to make it even harder? Play with inverted aim (unless you're a real man who already plays this way … if so, switch it back to "wussy mode" to throw yourself off).
• Make with the headshots: Why waste an entire clip taking out some mindless meatbag when one well-placed bullet will do the trick? Conserve your ammo and use only one round per enemy instead. If you miss the mark, force yourself to bum rush the jerk and take him down with a melee attack. No rest for the wicked!
• Stealth is for sissies: Last time I checked, Perfect Dark Zero didn't star Sam Fisher as the leading lady. Don't use your scope and don't take cover no matter what happens. Keep on the move and pick off your targets before they knock your health down to nothingness. If you're dying too much, it's only because you suck. All right, one caveat. Some missions actually require you to be stealthy (otherwise you trigger an alarm). In those rare instances, I give you a permission slip to skulk around like a ballerina.
• Your name isn't GoldenEye: You're not a real-life secret agent, you've got the charm and wit of a street urchin, and I bet your breath smells, too. Just kidding. But seriously, why play like a distinguished spy of the future when you can rely on pure unadulterated testosterone instead? Joanna's got a big bag full of tricks and toys at her disposal—she's got electronic gizmos and doodads that let you see through walls and everything. These gadgets are great, but they also make your job a cakewalk. Don't use 'em for combat (only for hacking, lock-picking, etc.)
• Play co-op with a newbie: Online co-op is a freakin' blast, especially when you're helping out a chum. If you're feeling charitable, team up with a stranger who's never played before and keep him or her alive for as long as possible. Five minutes into the Rooftops mission, you'll see just how ridiculous a challenge it is.
• Beat the bots: Unlike most shooters, the multiplayer bots in Perfect Dark Zero present a real challenge. Concentrate on eliminating as many of these mechanized monsters as you can in a single match. Having trouble? Team up with a newbie and make it worse.

Taking cover is for wimps.

Get creative, go online, and unlock your inner Hardcore. And if you take a bullet in the back, it's probably me who shot you. Happy gaming.

Article by Hardcore