Project: Snowblind

So, you've got biomechanical augments that enhance your strength and vision. What happens when the batteries run down?

Inspired by the Deus Ex franchise, Project: Snowblind had the potential to revolutionize the first person shooter genre. Sadly, what the project began as is not where it finished: Instead of giving us the shooter to end all shooters, Crystal Dynamics has managed to churn out a competent, but sorely average, romp though a sci-fi shooting gallery.

He Is Faster, Stronger
Set in the near future, you're Second Lieutenant Nathan Frost. Recently injured in an explosion, you've been rebuilt as an augmented human. These biomechanical bonuses give you enhanced speed, strength, and vision&but also leave you vulnerable to enemy EMP weapons. Revealed over the course of the game, the bio-augmentations provide an interesting twist from a story perspective, but don't really offer anything new as a function of gameplay. Enhanced Vision? Works just like night vision goggles with a GPS. Reflex Boost? Just another name for bullet-time. More innovation? Would have been nice. Weapons (essential for any decent FPS) fare a bit better in this regard, with a hacking ability that's put to good use and a varied selection of both precision and area effect armaments. Unfortunately, the deck is stacked on the side of explosive ordinance due to the sluggish and imprecise control that plagues the game (especially on the PS2) where it's nigh impossible to quickly turn and gun down an enemy with a single movement.

They Aren't Very Smart, Are They?
The A.I. controlling both the enemies and your teammates is similarly bland, with your compatriots following a highly scripted path while the evil antagonists single-mindedly attack with no sense of tactics or coordination. As a result, all of the combat in the game feels flat. Moving online helps things a bit, as now you're fighting against real, live players, but the control issues are still present. Supporting up to 16 players online or via LAN, the multiplayer mode is heavily slanted towards team play, with the only free-for-all option being classic deathmatch.

Easily forgotten, Project: Snowblind delivers on the promise of an FPS game and nothing more. Were it the only option, it would be instantly snatched up; however in a crowded market, there's no reason to settle for "average" when you could be playing "great."

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