Talking Point: 25 Years On, What Do You Think Of The ‘Perfect Dark’ Franchise?

Believe it or not, this month marks 25 years since Perfect Dark commenced its journey on the Nintendo 64 on May 22nd, 2000 – and regrettably, it has been a tumultuous path since, with merely two titles released in a quarter of a century.

The initial game was spectacular, of course, and some enthusiasts still argue it surpassed GoldenEye 007, while its 2010 Xbox Live Arcade adaptation for the Xbox 360 continues to be enjoyable even today, particularly since it has been made backwards compatible for contemporary Xbox systems.

2005’s Perfect Dark Zero did not garner nearly the same level of acclaim, debuting as an Xbox 360 launch title that arguably ought to have been a hallmark first-party release but ultimately did not meet the extraordinarily high expectations established by its predecessor. Some of the creators of that game detailed the difficulties faced during the development of Perfect Dark Zero in an interview with our sister outlet Time Extension – a feature well worth exploring if you have the opportunity.

And then, we have the Perfect Dark reboot that was unveiled back in 2020. It has been five long years without a hint of a launch for The Initiative’s major first project, but we were treated to an exhilarating glimpse of gameplay during last year’s Xbox Games Showcase, and we’re hoping it makes another appearance at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 in June.

So, as Perfect Dark celebrates its 25th anniversary, what are your sentiments about the franchise overall? Do you perceive it as a triumph due to the remarkable original title (and perhaps Perfect Dark Zero as well), or a lost opportunity that has only spawned two games in over twenty years? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.