N64 Emulator and Perfect Dark FAQ - Guide - Everything You Need To Know

What do I need to play Perfect Dark online?

You can play Perfect Dark Nintendo 64 on Xbox Live Arcade or you can play online using a PC emulator (software that simulates the actual Nintendo 64 console).

Is there an advantage to the Xbox Live Arcade Version over using an emulator?

Perfect Dark XBLA has one huge advantage. That is single screen multiplayer online. In addition, Perfect Dark XBLA has a matchmaking system along with the ability to play custom game setups with friends. The framerate is consistent using the Xbox 360 and it claims to be 1080p resolution.

Are there an disadvantages to Perfect Dark N64 on the Xbox 360 vs. an emulator?

First, you are using the Xbox 360 controller and not the original Nintendo 64 controller for which the game was designed with. There are some advanced controller settings, but you are still limited to what you get. Dual stick fans will be happy with this. Those folks claim that the aiming is superior. I'm not so sure of that.

Only the hardcore Perfect Dark N64 players will notice, but there are some slight variances. The reason for these variances comes down to the fact that the Xbox Live Arcade version is not a direct port of the original game. As Ken Lobb from Microsoft said, the game was built from the ground up. You will notice crates or weapons cannot be shot out of position. You will notice slight variances in splash damage from weapons like the Phoenix. It's more deadly on the Xbox Live Arcade version. There is also slight differences in explosive residuals. They tend to dissapate quicker on the Xbox version than the original.

What is a Nintendo 64 emulator?

It is a program that makes your PC the Nintendo 64 console. There are many N64 emulators, but Mupen64k and Mupen64++ are the only ones with impressive online ability.

Is an emulator better than the actual N64 console?

Yes it is. In fact, you will be blown away at the details in Perfect Dark that you missed because you were playing on a TV and not on a computer monitor. Beyond that, if you lined out your PC video to a television while playing Perfect Dark on an emulator, you will be amazed at the better clarity, especially across large areas like in the Temple. Framerate is another thing. Processing power of a PC can do things that your Nintendo 64 console can't. In a sense, you can get an emulator to perfect Perfect Dark at a 1080p resolution on your HDTV. You can remove a lot of the jaggies, but you should have a decent computer so that it doesn't reduce the game framerate.

Here are a few screenshots from Perfect Dark via emulator:

How good of a computer do I need for N64 Emulators?

1 GB of ram minimum. Go to Control Panel > System and it will tell you there how much you have. How about the rest of your computer? Almost an impossible question to answer. You need to test and fiddle around to see if your computer can play Perfect Dark. My system plays it as fast as imaginable and my computer isn't new. I have a 3200+ AMD Athlon XP, 1.5 gigs ram, and an ATI All in Wonder 800XL. Just try to run it on your computer and see what happens is my best advice.

What type of controls can I use playing N64 Perfect Dark on an emulator?

How about the authentic Nintendo 64 controller? Yes, it is true. Buy a USB adapter. Aside from that you can use a mouse/keyboard setup just like a regular FPS, however this is not the proper way of playing Perfect Dark. Right? Perfect Dark deserves to be played like it was intended. Having said this, you can configure practically any controller you own to play Perfect Dark on the PC.

What are ROMS and aren't they illegal?

An emulator needs a Perfect Dark ROM to play. It's like an Mp3 player needing Mp3 files to play. Read this here about legalities. A ROM (a backup of your actual Perfect Dark cartridge) can be made using a Gameshark Pro with a working parallel port hooked up to your PC. Is that illegal? Not sure. You can make Mp3s from your cd's right so is that different? I'm not sure. To me, it's my game and I can play it on console or on the PC now. It isn't somebody else's game that I'm using.

What are plugins?

These are files that tell the N64 emulator how to handle graphics (called video plugin), audio (called audio plugin), and input configuration (input plugin). There are many different authors out there for plugins and there is also a wide range of quality. That means, you can test many different plugins for each aspect of emulation. That is video, sound, and input. This is where emulation gets complicated. You have to copy and paste these plugins (usually consisting of only one .dll file) into your emulators plugin folder. Once you have added them into your emulator plugin directory, you are able to simply select and change plugins using an emulators settings menu. That is the easy part!!

Adding to the plugin complication is the fact that there are many different releases or versions of the same plugin. So, take Jabo's video plugin. Just because it's Jabo's video plugin, you need to know which of the 4 or 5 different versions it is. Confused yet? Bringing this explanation into the N64 Perfect Dark online subject, you need to be running the same plugins as all of your opponents or likely problems will arise! IMPORTANT: You need to know what plugins and what versions you are using and ensure your opponents online are using the same!

Can I play online with Anisotropic Filtering on?

This is an option in Jabo's Video Plugin and will likely cause a desynch with online gameplay. Sure it makes the game look very pretty, but it will cause problems. So, keep the setting to OFF.

Can I play online using full screen or with a large windowed resolution?

Yes you can play at full screen, although I would strongly recommend a size of 800x400 out of respect for the other players. If your system can't play fast at the full screen resolution, the online performance for everyone will suffer. Large windowed resolution of 1024 or 800 max is what I recommend for the reasons stated earlier. Be considerate of the other players!

Can I still use Mirc or instant messaging while playing N64 Perfect Dark online?

Yes, these programs use very little system resources and will not cause problems for you playing online.

How do I send a text message to my opponents when I'm playing Perfect Dark Online?

Ctrl-M and then type your message, which will appear in the lower left corner of the window.

Do you have a Nintendo 64 website or Perfect Dark site? Let's link exchange! Email me here!