Running on the celebrated GoldenEye engine and undergoing development at the hands of the very same team responsible for that high-tension classic, Perfect Dark ups the ante on its predecessor in virtually every department. The story is far more ambitious, the objectives more rigorous, the gadgetry more ingenious and the enemies more vicious.

You'll see Perfect Dark in action for the first time at this week's E3 show. For now, though, whet your appetite with these first ever shots from the game.

The Game: When you first start out you hear an erie hum of voices all around you, then the 3D "N" starts turning very slowly as it turns to metal and falls apart to reveal a "PD". Then in Dolby Surround it says, " Welcome to Perfect Dark". The game moves alot like Goldeneye, but smoother and faster thanks to the upgrade in the Goldeneye engine. The graphics are awesome, with real-time raytracing and lighting effects. The new 3D engine also allows for a smoother framerate and detailed textures. The biggest difference from Goldeneye is the smarter AI. For instance, Perfect Dark's enemies hide and duck, and when things don't go their way, they get out of there as fast as they can.

The Weapons: The developers of Perfect Dark have let their imaginations go wild. You can have a numerous number explosives that will stick to any object, like in Goldeneye. And with just the press of a button, you can set them off. ( Unlike switching to Bond's watch ) And instead of just taking out enemies, you can blow up tubes and walls to enter a completely different area. Were you one of those people who liked sniping and targeting in Goldeneye? Then the targeting in Perfect Dark will make you very happy. Some of Joanna's guns are heat-sensitive and acquire targets with the help of on-screen targeting sensors. When you press the "R" button, the crosshairs will automatically lock onto a target. When your target moves, a red square will follow its position even if it's blocked by an object. When another enemie walks in your path, another red square will pop up and label that target "2". According to Rare, Perfect Dark will haveMORE weapons than Goldeneye. If the other weapons are as creative as the ones I've seen, this game could easily be the biggest games of '99!

Gadgets: In one level, Joanna hops onto a AWESOME looking anti-gravity bike( why don't they just call it a hover bike??? ) that is just as easy to get into like the tank in Goldeneye. ( Press "B" ) This anti-gravity bike runs very fast and moves in complete silence, but it can't go thru all areans. You can also push and pull things while shooting in Perfect Dark.

Graphics and Sound: Perfect Dark uses its new 3D engine to the fullest. With awsome water and floor reflections, highlighting, and lighting effects not seen in Goldeneye. In on of the many unfinished levels, you walk thru a room filled with glass windows. Everything is completely seen in the well polished floor. Dead aliens litter the floor and the half-sunked temple in the desert with inscriptions on it. Every visual in this game will just blow your mind. At key aspects of the game, cut scenes appear with Joanna. One of the greatest aspects of the game is the sound. The huge explosions, and crisp sound make the game very enjoyable. The music is very erie and the you'll feel every beat of the music with the best bass on the N64.

Multiplayer: At the E3 Expo a Nintendo Spokesperson confirmed that Perfect Dark would include a 4- player, split-screen mode. There is no doubt in my mind that Rare will make this multiplayer even more fun than Goldeneye's. Even though it is unfinished, Perfect Dark looks like one of the best games on the N64.