Perfect Dark · Nintendo 64
Perfect Dark Decompilation
n64decomp/perfect_dark is a complete matching decompilation of Perfect Dark for the Nintendo 64, mirrored from GitLab. Compiled with the original developers' compiler, it produces exactly the retail ROM, combining the decompiled source with assets extracted from your own ROM. It is marked Playable; it rebuilds the N64 ROM, not a PC program.
How to build it
- Dump your own Perfect Dark cartridge. Save it as pd.ntsc-final.z64 in the repository root, not byte-swapped; the first four bytes should be 0x80371240.
- Install the build tools the README lists for your Linux distribution, including armips and a MIPS binutils and gcc.
- Extract the assets and build. Set the ROMID variable to build a version other than the default ntsc-final.
Game version you need
- NTSC · final
- NTSC · 1.0
- PAL · final
- Six known versions; the build defaults to ntsc-final
Hardware & system
No minimum stated in the README. Runs on: N64 build (emulator / hardware).
Versions, platforms & known issues
| Project | Type | Release | Status | Runs on | Game version | Last update |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n64decomp/perfect_darkComplete matching decompilation per its README: builds the exact retail ROM from source plus assets from your own ROM. GitHub mirror of the GitLab project. | Decompilation | No tagged release | Playable | N64 build (emulator / hardware) | NTSC · final +2 | Mar 14, 2025 |
Related links
About the game
Perfect Dark is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It is considered the spiritual successor to Rare's earlier first-person shooter GoldenEye 007, with which it shares many gameplay features. Perfect Dark was first released in North America on 22 May 2000; PAL and NTSC-J releases followed soon afterwards. A separate Game Boy Color game, also titled Perfect Dark, was released in August 2000 as a supplement to the game and allows certain features within the Nintendo 64 game to alternatively be unlocked via a Transfer Pak. The game features a single-player mode consisting of 17 main missions in which the player assumes the role of Carrington Institute agent Joanna Dark as she attempts to stop a conspiracy by rival corporation dataDyne. It also features a range of multiplayer options, including a co-operative mode and traditional deathmatch settings. Technically, it is one of the most advanced games developed for the Nintendo 64, with an optional high resolution graphics mode and Dolby Surround Sound. A Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak is required to access the game's campaign and most of the multiplayer features.
- Original platform
- Nintendo 64
- First released
- May 22, 2000
- Release · Europe
- Jun 30, 2000
- Release · Japan
- Oct 21, 2000
- Release · North America
- May 22, 2000
- Developer
- Rare
- Series
- Perfect Dark
- Genre
- Shooter, Tactical
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction, Stealth
- Modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
- Perspective
- First person
- Rating
- ESRB M · PEGI 18
- Critic score
- 70 / 100
Artwork
Screenshots
Trailer
More videos: Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Games – Nintendo Direct 6.18.24 – Nintendo Switch · Perfect Dark - N64 Gameplay
Game details, cover art and screenshots from IGDB via LizardByte GameDB, retrieved Oct 18, 2026. Images are © their respective owners.
About this project
The README documents six known versions by MD5, including the NTSC 1.0 initial release, which it calls buggy, the NTSC and PAL finals and beta builds. The extract step also creates a folder of compiled code segments used only for comparison. Status is published on a separate page linked from the README, and the GitHub repository is a mirror of the GitLab project.
FAQ
Is the Perfect Dark decompilation complete?
Yes, per its README: it is a complete matching decompilation that builds the exact retail ROM from source plus your ROM's assets.
Which Perfect Dark ROM does the decompilation use?
It defaults to ntsc-final, saved as pd.ntsc-final.z64. Other versions, such as ntsc-1.0 or pal-final, are selected with ROMID.
Does Recompedia provide the game, ROM or BIOS?
No. Recompedia does not host or link to ROMs, ISOs, BIOS files or game assets. n64decomp/perfect_dark ships no game code or data either; it needs a ROM dumped from a cartridge made from a copy of the game you own.
Recompedia does not host or link to ROMs, BIOS files or game assets. Every project listed requires a copy of the original game owned by the player. Status checked against the project's own repository on Oct 18, 2026.