Original N64 Perfect Dark being revived for Xbox Live Arcade

Somewhat lost in the E3 shuffle last week was much-under-reported confirmation that 4J Studios -- the same developer that helped bring the excellent conversions of Rare's Nintendo 64 platformers Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie to Xbox Live Arcade -- would also be bringing spiritual GoldenEye 007 sequel Perfect Dark to Arcade this "winter."

The sci-fi original IP to Bond's GoldenEye, Perfect Dark was an underdog classic for the console, and marked by troubled development that saw a number of the original designers leave during the course of its development to start their own studios (Martin Hollis to Bonsai Barber developer Zoonami, and a number of others like David Doak to Free Radical, where they founded the TimeSplitters franchise). There definitely comes a shift at a certain point in the game where its taut and sober opening acts loosen to uneven comedy, but it's still one of the finer first person shooters from the era.

The Xbox.com listing confirms that the game will be updated with online capabilities for its very densely packed multiplayer half -- I'm certainly looking forward to returning to briefcase holding after all these years.

Hit the jump for more screenshots of the game in its new full-res HD skin.