Topic: perfect dark released on XBLA

...and i've got very mixed feelings about it. on one hand, the greatness is there and is just as much fun as ever; seeing it alongside modern shooters like call of duty, i was stuck by how much more simple and fun perfect dark was and still is.

on the other hand the menus have been made very awkward, many preferences that you used to be able to save won't now, and it doesn't help that you have to use the 360's cheap, defective controller. dialing in perfect controls is hard to do even with the added sensitivity options they give you, and it doesn't even seem possible to replicate the same feel the original game had; by the time you get the crosshairs to move at the old speed, your character will be left with an abysmally slow turning speed.
it doesn't help that the 360 controller seems to have the iffiest analog sticks... while trying to make very subtle movements, my crosshairs kept jittering around different directions. it's also awkward trying to adjust to using an analog stick where there used to be digital camera buttons, which makes the old trick of sidestepping while running for a faster speed next to impossible. i found myself wishing perfect dark had found it's way to the wii instead, so that you could just use the wiimote and bypass all this crap. i'd trade the 1080p visuals in a second for it.

as for the saving issues, it won't remember what function you choose to equip each gun with. so if you want to disarm instead of punch, or keep the K7's scanner on, you have to manually select those modes every time you play. the old perfect dark was capable of storing which function you preferred... why can't this one?
it's also disappointing that when playing split screen, only the lead player will have their accomplishments saved. so if you and a friend go through challenges or co-op levels together, only 1st player gets to keep any record of finishing them. bullshirt.

complain/. so if you're looking forward to playing the new version, know that its still very fun and the new visuals and online play are exciting to see, but in the end the old N64 cart may still be the best version.

360 has the best analog sticks.

The 360's analog sticks are perfectly fine. I think the problem here is on the user side.

Agreed. I never understand when people trash the 360 controller. It may not be to everyone's tastes or style, but it is certainly an excellently designed controller. Cheap or defective? Arf?

Yes, i too was/am having the "jittery" aim "problem", but that's simply a consequence of going from a digitial to analog control. Fiddling with the sensitvity should allow for adjustment to suit your tastes. I do admit that i miss the digital C buttons (i actually liked the Turok contols!), but it's just a matter of adjusting.

I don't remember the original on 64 saving your weapon settings, assuming you mean between gaming sessions, but i don't think i ever even noticed/it was never necessry. How long does it take to switch to alt fire, like 1/10 of a second? If you meant mid-level, then they certainly do stay (if i have Unarmed set to "Disarm", switch to a Falcon, then back to Unarmed, it'll still be on "Disarm").

if the problem is mine, it's one i don't have with the n64, gamecube, nunchcuk, or dualshock joysticks. the 360 sticks work well until you need to subtly move them to do really precise aiming, and at that point the cursor jitters up, down, left, and right no matter how firmly and steadily you hold it. couple that with the D pad and i think it's fair to say the controller's cheap. i don't know how many times i've pressed a direction on that pad only to get a completely different response... it is bar none the worst D pad i've seen in the near 30 year history of the things. that said, i like the feel and design of the controller otherwise, so it's not bias talking.

anyway, back to the game, yes the original permanently saved your weapon settings and i consider it really annoying to have to readjust them every single round. there are some guns that you'll plan to shoot in a specific setting right away after picking them up, and realizing it's not set the way you expected in the middle of a fight is really frustrating.

there are plenty of times where you either won't have the time to switch or won't realize you need to until you're getting blasted. i wouldn't mind if the button to switch was the reload button still, but by placing it up on the second trigger you basically need to pull both triggers at once to switch while shooting, or to do that quick switch thing where you do the second function just once and return to normal.

Some of the other controller options/configs might work better for you, as they map the secondary function to one of the face buttons (but then youy need to use the bumper button as like a shift button to scroll backwards through weapons). I was thinking about trying one of them out since it is a bit annoying to have to hit the bumper first when using the SuperDragon and wanting to fire off a quick grenade round, or quick-switching between Disarm and Punch.

I wish there was a more customizable controller configuration deal (something that i still think should be in almost every game), as i'd set things up a bit differently. The additional controller config options are decent, but only change up like two or three functions.

I do have to agree on the D-pad on the 360 controller (though i wouldn't rate it the worst ever, it is towards the bottom of the bunch). Hasn't been much of a problem for me, as i don't play a lot of games that are dependent on the D-Pad. It is annoying in games where it's the hot-swap button (like Oblivion). As far as the sticks, is that a problem you notice or feel in other games, or just PD? Because PD is especially jittery in the aiming. If it's just in general, it might be worth picking up those little extendo-things that snap to the top of the sticks that give a little extra precision (apparently they work very well and are particularly favored by people used to the PS/Dual Shock controllers).

i've been playing modern warfare 2 without as many problems, so you may be right that it's the game itself. i really wish they offered a sensitivity option that would immediately set the sticks to behave just like the n64. i may hook the old perfect dark up tonight to see just how close i match the controls...

Like Shpydar, I don't have a problem with the sticks at all. I've played plenty of systems with plenty of analog sticks, and it ranks right up there with them. Now, if you're just talking about PD, then I can kinda see where you're coming from.The only real problem is the d-pad, which as has also been mentioned isn't great.

The D-pas still isn't as bad as the one on the Gamecube, that thing was horrid

I'll never understand why so many people hate the GCN controller. The D-pad was perfect for what it was used for. it was never meant to be used as a method of controlling; just as another set of buttons/hotkeys

I understand that, but it didn't register properly, at least on any of the controllers I had. Press right and it registers as up.

got it this morning.

I've purchased it and it's in my download queue waiting for me to turn on the xbox.

actually, the settings do revert mid-round; every time you die, in fact. having to switch each gun 20 times within every match is killing the fun for me. i'm so used to being able to do the quick fire in the alternate mode that i can't play without it, and the only control option that lets you do that (spartan) isn't the greatest. what was wrong with just holding the reload button?
i also hate that you can't adjust whether to auto equip the guns you pick up under your personal settings, since force of habit makes me press to equip manually whenever i pick up a gun, which of course counters the auto equip and puts the gun away. guess how many times i've died because of that one...
after giving it a fair shot, i think i'm giving up on the 360 version. i envy those of you who can use this control scheme comfortably, because it would be just as much fun as the original if i could manage that. if i ever feel the need for some perfect dark it'll be the old, crappy looking n64 i go to.

I played the demo, and it was fun, but nothing amazing. Then again i didn't play the original Perfect Dark, so that probably has a lot to do with it. Don't think I'll but it, Toy Soldiers, Mass Effect and Warioware DIY will take up most of my time over Spring Break.