4) Perfect Dark
Platform: Nintendo 64 (2000)
Joanna Dark had some expensive shoes to fill following in the wake of the revolutionary and highly acclaimed Goldeneye 007. When Rare debuted Perfect Dark, it was with a huge sigh of relief that fans found the transition from James to Joanna was not only successful, but irresistibly fun. A first-person shooter, Perfect Dark is one of the most technologically advanced games ever made for Nintendo 64. As an agent of the Carrington Institute, Joanna Dark was sent to foil the plans of the enigmatic dataDyne corporation, and during the course of her mission became embroiled in an even bigger plot of interstellar intrigue. The graphics are intricate and feature beautiful lighting techniques, which provide for an intense feeling of immersion during gameplay. Perfect Dark maintained the precision controls of Goldeneye, but fine-tuned them even more, making the addictive multiplayer more of a blast than ever. While Joanna’s debut wasn’t quite as groundbreaking as Goldeneye, Perfect Dark was a wonderful spiritual successor and just as memorable.