Project Snowblind Hands-On

Eidos and Crystal Dynamics are hoping their newest offering, Project Snowblind, is going to create a bit of a storm on the First Person Shooter scene when it ships in late February. From the preview build we have been playing, it looks like they may have hit their mark. The title, Snowblind, refers to the static mess that is created for electronic equipment when an Electro Magnetic Pulse is detonated. Featuring a futuristic sci-fi story and unique weaponry, the ability to upgrade your character with bio-upgrades and multiplayer support for both the PS2 & Xbox (we played the Xbox version for this preview), Project Snowblind is making an honest effort to cover all the bases for an engaging FPS: a great single player game, a good selection of multiplayer options and of course, interesting weapons.

Shocking!

I think I see a monk there!

The year is 2065 and you take on the role of 2nd Lt. Nathan Frost. Lt. Frost is a member of the Liberty Coalition, an international army which races around the globe and helps out wherever they are needed. Sort of like the U.N., but the Liberty Coalition guys can actually kick some butt. (What are you trying to say here, you heathen? Believe in Kofi Annan! - Ed.) The current hot spot that needs help is Hong Kong where an evil warlord is starting to stir up trouble that threatens to spill into other countries and possibly spawn a world war. Sounds like a good place for the Liberty Coalition to chew bubble gum and kick ass.

The game opens with your squad getting briefed by your commanding officer in the courtyard of your command center. I was impressed right from the start by the Chinese influenced architecture and the bright vibrant colors (The mix of the old world, far east style buildings mixed with new age neon and technology reminded me of Blade Runner). Before the officer can finish his speech about how tense the situation is and how the area can erupt into combat at any minute, the courtyard is assaulted by enemy attack choppers and ground troops. Game on!

This first level gets you familiar with basic features like movement, using cover and of course, using your rifle and grenades. As you battle the invading horde, you fight alongside your squad mates (computer controlled) and try to coordinate your attacks as they call out warnings to you about new threats. Just when it looks like you and your squad mates have repelled the attack, the enemy forces drop a large bomb as a parting shot that lands our hero in the hospital and at the front of the line to receive experimental bio augmentation that turns you into a super solider.

Following your implant surgery and recovery from your wounds, you get the chance to move around the base to do a little exploration and get some info on your new implants. Don't expect to come out of surgery and be twelve feet tall and farting fire though, as the technicians are still working out the bugs in some of the powers (basically this is a clever way of making you wait before getting access to all of your new whistles and bells). These first few levels do a good job of getting players acquainted with the controls, but they do it in an exciting manner and manage to advance the story line to boot.

Part of the immediate appeal of Snowblind for me is the futuristic weapons the sci-fi setting allows. Sure the implants you receive after your accident make your player look like Tron with glowing blue lines running up your arms and along your neck, but I'll chalk that one up as a bonus. What really gets my motor running are the guns. Of course the usual standby of pistols, rifles and shotguns are here and each weapon has alternate fire modes, increasing their deadliness. Also included are some firearms not seen so often in other games like a Flechette Gun that spews a steady steam of slivers, the HERF gun which allows you to hit multiple enemies at once or even spiderbots that can be deployed to help you gun down the waves of enemies troops. Finally, you have an assortment of grenades that range from the typical antipersonnel frag variety, to flash grenades that disable the enemy and EMP grenades that shut down enemy bots. You will also find a deployable riot wall that can pop up an energy shield when you need some quick cover.

Three against one; no contest!

My gun may look lame, but I assure you that it's deadly.

While the idea of bio augmentation in a solider is not new in a FPS, (Deus Ex Invisible War springs to mind), in Project Snowblind, instead of going the RPG route of giving the player the choice which powers he will use and upgrade, the augmentations you will make use of gradually come online through the course of the game as the bugs are worked out of the technology and new features are enabled. Some of the powers help you directly in combat, like the ability to fire an electric charge at enemies or shield you from enemy fire; others allow you to boost your own reactions and effectively slow time for everyone else or use your augmented eyes to see others through walls. Each of these powers draws on your bio-energy and you must be careful not to use them when they are not needed and perhaps find yourself out of power at the wrong time.

While slapping the AI into submission with such a wide arrange of firearms and powers is appealing, nothing is more satisfying than laying the smack down on real people. Snowblind features a wide variety of multiplayer options for up to 16 people on both the PS2 and the Xbox. Of course the old stand by of Capture the Flag will be available but so will a version called Fast CTF where you can score if you have the enemy flag and yours is not in your base. Also included will be Assault, where you, umm well, assault the enemy base while they do the same. A variety of other multiplayer and Deathmatch options will be included as well. Halo has spoiled all of us who want variety in our multiplayer choices and Project Snowblind is trying hard to keep players happy.

From this preview build we have been playing it looks like Eidos and Crystal Dynamics are taking their time and not cutting corners in any section of the game: graphics, sound, character animation and cut scenes all look polished and first rate. A wide variety of firepower from conventional firearms with alt fire modes and your bio-mods should provide for varied and exciting game play, in the single player story and the extensive multiplayer modes. We only have about a month before we get to see if the Project Snowblind is successfully executed with the gaming public or if it generates a hiss of static.