So, there's some interesting stuff surfacing about the cancelled Perfect Dark reboot. A former developer at The Initiative shared some internal documents, and it gives us a peek at what could have been. It sounds like they were aiming for this "eco sci-fi" vibe, which honestly, sounds pretty cool.

Apparently, the team saw an opening in the secret agent game market because Metal Gear Solid and James Bond were MIA at the time. Funny enough, both franchises are back now. Maybe that's why this Perfect Dark reboot didn't quite make it – perhaps it couldn't carve out its own unique space. I mean, trying to revive a classic like Perfect Dark from the N64 is a tall order.

The documents, which are from around the time the game got the axe, hint at what players might have experienced. The goal was to give the franchise a fresh spin while keeping the essence of the original. They even looked to the HBO series Westworld for inspiration, aiming to blend classic elements with new themes.

One thing that stood out was the "Adrenaline System." It was like a resource that refilled over time, letting you do things like heal, boost your damage, or even slow down time for those perfect shots. And if you took down multiple enemies quickly, the slow-motion effect would last longer. Sounds like it could have added a fun, tactical layer to the gameplay.

Until April, they were working on a "vertical slice" for what they called "Season 1." This suggests they were planning to release the game in episodes. I can see how that could have worked, allowing them to tell a more extended, detailed story.

I remember when Perfect Dark was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase last year. The footage showed Joanna Dark in a futuristic Cairo, and it looked pretty impressive. There were rumors that the gameplay was fake, but one of the designers said it was in-engine, even if it had some "fake stuff" in it. I think that kind of thing is pretty common in game reveals, though.

The documents also included artwork, showing off different designs for Joanna and these futuristic environments that really highlighted the "eco sci-fi" theme. It's a shame we won't get to see it all come together.

As you might know, Perfect Dark got canned back in July, alongside layoffs at Microsoft. Rare's Everwild was also a casualty. It's always tough to see projects like these get shelved, especially when they sound so promising. Hopefully, some of the ideas and talent find their way into other games down the road.