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Taking
cover is easier said than done thanks to the fact
that you must be cordially invited by the CPU to do
so. You can't just perform this move anywhere. Your
character must be positioned at a select spot before
the CPU prompts you with the icon of the A button
which is displayed onscreen when you've reached a
hot spot. Press the button, take cover and keep your
fingers crossed.
Specific
weapons will be needed to complete some levels. There
are ranged weapons such as sniper rifles and melee,
stealth style weapons such as the Viblade. These weapons
also include secondary systems such as a radar sweep
that can be combined with gadgets such as the CamSpy
and the AudioScope. You have four slots per weapon
which limits you to carrying only one large main weapon
such as a shotgun, Superdragon, P9P, pistols or SMG.
Stealth
and puzzle solving are minor elements in the game.
They occur predictably in every mission but are a
welcome change from the repetitious pace of the core
shooting gameplay. One of the most frustrating aspects
of the game is having to replay levels when you screw
up near the end. There is a checkpoint where you can
respawn in the middle of the level but at the expense
of keeping your stats. If you want to complete the
entire single-level mode in all difficulties, you
will need these stats and thus have to start all over
again if you get killed. The scripted code requires
that your memory is superior to your reflexes since
events are not randomized.
Playing
through the campaign in co-op mode is certainly a
lot more fun than going it alone, although the training
you receive will serve you well for online play. The
split screen allows each player to tackle different
objectives from different perspectives while working
toward a common goal. Certain gameplay elements force
you to into teamwork situations which helps to solidify
the nature of the co-op mode.
Online
modes include Co-op, Deathmatch and DarkOps, each
with various sub modes. Modes in the Deathmatch category
include the basic frag fest fair such as Capture the
Flag, Team Deathmatch, Killcount and Territorial Gains.
Customizing features allow you to select the weapons
set, number of players and dispersion of bots. DarkOps
modes include Eradication, Onslaught, Infection and
Sabotage. Eradication is like a team-based last man
standing. Onslaught has one team attacking while the
other defends. Infection is every man for himself.
Each player begins with full health and if he become
infected he tries to spread it around so as to infect
as many players as possible. Sabotage is similar to
Onslaught but teams now attempt to defend property
while the other team tries to destroy it.
There
are not a lot of vehicles in these modes but you will
get plenty of use out of the jetpacks and the hover
tank. Using the jetpacks you can take a machinegun
with you to do a good amount of damage but keep in
mind that you're a sitting duck in the sky when the
other team spots you and gangs up on you. The hover
tank accommodates one driver and one gunner who can
choose from an assortment of weapons such as turret
guns, machine guns or a rocket launcher. The vehicles
respond nicely and are a joy to drive but they are
vulnerable so you probably won't be in danger of overusing
them.
The
online games run smoothly. There are only half-a-dozen
maps but they are huge and include a variety of terrain.
The Deathmatch announcer really gets on my nerves
and there's no way to get rid of him short of turning
the sound off.
The
graphics are clean, almost to a fault as virtually
every surface displays too much gloss - even on dusty,
dirty stonework. The environments display a good blend
of natural scenery and human architecture that is
consistent with the epoch. Some of the buildings and
structures such as some bridges are on such a huge
scale that you really need a large screen to do it
justice. The animations are great as are the character
models. Guns and explosions are crisp and loud and
punctuate the soundtrack which features an eclectic
mix of techno and rock with traces of twangy spy riffs.
Perfect
Dark Zero must be played online to be appreciated.
If you don't have Xbox Live, this is the perfect reason
to get it.
By
Colin Thames
CCC
Freelance Writer
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Update:
Rare recently released more screens of their upcoming
X360 launch title and we have to say that we're
just not impressed. For all intents and purposes
most of the screens look as though they could be
easily running on Xbox hardware.
