Page 1: Project Snowblind Review
Project Snowblind (Xbox) Review
By Yodasmokes
Project Snowblind on Xbox unfortunately suffers, as many multi-platform releases do, from the graphical limitations of the Playstation 2. Had the Xbox version been given a little more graphical attention including hi-res texturing, and improved character and weapon polygon counts it could have been absolutely brilliant. That being said, the game does several things to make up for its lack of Xbox graphical polish. The most notable are the game’s unique weapons, and engaging gunplay. These are backed up by a well-paced story, and enjoyable (if not particularly original) class based multiplayer.
Weapons and gunplay are the heart of any first person shooter and Snowblind developer Crystal Dynamics knows it. The weapons each have primary and secondary modes of fire and range from FPS standards like the Carbine and Shotgun to the new and strange. The HERF (High Energy Radio Frequency) gun shoots an EMP burst, or launches a globe of energy, which shocks any enemies walking within range. The Flechette gun fires a devastating stream of flechettes toward the enemy, or its secondary fire launches a swarm of homing “smart” flechettes. Making up somewhat for the lackluster graphics in other areas, nearly every weapon has unique and spectacular particle effects. Joining the guns, are a couple of special devices like the Icepick for hacking robots and security systems, and the kinetic kicker, used to bounce objects about. The game also includes every standard type of grenade (Frag, Gas, Flash, EMP) and a couple of new twists like Riotwalls, a kind of portable cover, and Spiderbots, which seek out and shock the enemy.
As protagonist Nathan Frost, you’ll also be endowed with a number of biomods as you progress through the story including IR Vision, Reflex Boost, Ballistic Shielding, Cloaking, and even an energy discharge. I found all but the energy discharge to be particularly helpful at one stage or another in the game, but none of the mods was essential to gameplay.
The game’s vehicles are the weakest aspect of gameplay. Cars and tanks are painful to drive when compared to the gold standard Warthog, and the guys who designed the controls for the games walkers could have benefited from playing a round or two of Mechassault. Overall the game’s vehicles get a barely passing D+.
The game’s environments, while not as richly textured as in other Xbox titles, have a look, which uniquely captures near future Hong Kong setting. The environments vary nicely as the story progresses going from courtyards to military base to urban battlefield to futuristic laboratory. The path is fairly linear, but often offers some sort of secondary path to each objective. The many weapons and biomods can also be combined in a multitude of ways to successfully overcome each challenge.
The story pits Frost and the Coalition against the forces of the Republic, attempting to stop an EMP attack that would destroy the world’s technology. While not particularly original, the story is well paced and ties the action together nicely. The cut scenes are decent, but lack the high-end CG and high production voice acting of a triple-A title.
What would an FPS be without Multiplayer? This game was originally envisioned as Deus Ex: Clan Wars before Deus Ex creator Warren Spector left Eidos, and anyone who is a Deus Ex fan will certainly see its roots. Despite the name change, and removal of certain plot points the multiplayer does a decent job. It contains all of the FPS standard game types, and breaks down the weapons and biomods from the single player game into 6 different classes, each with different primary and secondary weapons, grenades, and one of the game’s 5 biomods. In the short time that I’ve played, the classes feel well balanced (although I’m sure that there are plenty of glitches to be abused by cheaters), and the maps well laid out. Dispensers for health and ammo are intelligently located in each of the game’s spacious and varied maps. It’s a shame that I couldn’t find more active games. The multiplayer shows great potential to be an all out fragfest if I could just find a few more players. While I could usually find at least one active game, I never played in any games with more than 4-6 players in a game which supports up to 16.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Project Snowblind and grade it a B+.
By Yodasmokes
Project Snowblind on Xbox unfortunately suffers, as many multi-platform releases do, from the graphical limitations of the Playstation 2. Had the Xbox version been given a little more graphical attention including hi-res texturing, and improved character and weapon polygon counts it could have been absolutely brilliant. That being said, the game does several things to make up for its lack of Xbox graphical polish. The most notable are the game’s unique weapons, and engaging gunplay. These are backed up by a well-paced story, and enjoyable (if not particularly original) class based multiplayer.
Weapons and gunplay are the heart of any first person shooter and Snowblind developer Crystal Dynamics knows it. The weapons each have primary and secondary modes of fire and range from FPS standards like the Carbine and Shotgun to the new and strange. The HERF (High Energy Radio Frequency) gun shoots an EMP burst, or launches a globe of energy, which shocks any enemies walking within range. The Flechette gun fires a devastating stream of flechettes toward the enemy, or its secondary fire launches a swarm of homing “smart” flechettes. Making up somewhat for the lackluster graphics in other areas, nearly every weapon has unique and spectacular particle effects. Joining the guns, are a couple of special devices like the Icepick for hacking robots and security systems, and the kinetic kicker, used to bounce objects about. The game also includes every standard type of grenade (Frag, Gas, Flash, EMP) and a couple of new twists like Riotwalls, a kind of portable cover, and Spiderbots, which seek out and shock the enemy.
As protagonist Nathan Frost, you’ll also be endowed with a number of biomods as you progress through the story including IR Vision, Reflex Boost, Ballistic Shielding, Cloaking, and even an energy discharge. I found all but the energy discharge to be particularly helpful at one stage or another in the game, but none of the mods was essential to gameplay.
The game’s vehicles are the weakest aspect of gameplay. Cars and tanks are painful to drive when compared to the gold standard Warthog, and the guys who designed the controls for the games walkers could have benefited from playing a round or two of Mechassault. Overall the game’s vehicles get a barely passing D+.
The game’s environments, while not as richly textured as in other Xbox titles, have a look, which uniquely captures near future Hong Kong setting. The environments vary nicely as the story progresses going from courtyards to military base to urban battlefield to futuristic laboratory. The path is fairly linear, but often offers some sort of secondary path to each objective. The many weapons and biomods can also be combined in a multitude of ways to successfully overcome each challenge.
The story pits Frost and the Coalition against the forces of the Republic, attempting to stop an EMP attack that would destroy the world’s technology. While not particularly original, the story is well paced and ties the action together nicely. The cut scenes are decent, but lack the high-end CG and high production voice acting of a triple-A title.
What would an FPS be without Multiplayer? This game was originally envisioned as Deus Ex: Clan Wars before Deus Ex creator Warren Spector left Eidos, and anyone who is a Deus Ex fan will certainly see its roots. Despite the name change, and removal of certain plot points the multiplayer does a decent job. It contains all of the FPS standard game types, and breaks down the weapons and biomods from the single player game into 6 different classes, each with different primary and secondary weapons, grenades, and one of the game’s 5 biomods. In the short time that I’ve played, the classes feel well balanced (although I’m sure that there are plenty of glitches to be abused by cheaters), and the maps well laid out. Dispensers for health and ammo are intelligently located in each of the game’s spacious and varied maps. It’s a shame that I couldn’t find more active games. The multiplayer shows great potential to be an all out fragfest if I could just find a few more players. While I could usually find at least one active game, I never played in any games with more than 4-6 players in a game which supports up to 16.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Project Snowblind and grade it a B+.