Project: Snowblind – Hands On Preview

Project: Snowblind was first unveiled at E3 this year, and it was on show at the very first EGN/Game Stars Live exhibitions in Londonâ??s Docklands earlier this month. The game is set in a futuristic world of guns, bleak environments, and bio-mods. Thatâ??s right, bio-mods. If the fact that you can develop your characterâ??s skills with bio-modifications sounds suspiciously familiar to some of you, then ask yourself thisâ?¦is Project: Snowblind, the action packed version of Deus Ex that was rumoured to be in the works a while backâ?¦.?

Project: Snowblind is currently being developed by Crystal Dynamics, and publisher Eidos were keen to show it off at EGN/Game Stars Live just over a week ago.

The game looks really good, and having played a bit of the game on both Xbox and Playstation2, we can say that the graphics for both formats are great. Even though the PS2 is underpowered compared to the Xbox, the graphics for Sonyâ??s monolith were virtually on par with it.

The game is set in Hong Kong in 2065, and you play the character of Lieutenant Nathan Frost, who has been given Bio-modifications after signing up for the global army, the Liberty Coalition and undergoing painful surgeries to become a super-soldier. The implants allow Frost to be on the frontline in the war against an as yet unnamed regime. Events take a turn for the worse though, when a military coup leaves Frost and a small number of soldiers cut off from the main command of the Coalition.

The situation is further compounded by the threat of a secret weapon held by the militia. The nature of the bio-mods is being kept secret by the developers at the moment, but with the gameâ??s release date of January 2005 approaching ever closer, details are sure to be leaked out little by little.

Vehicles will feature in the game although at present specific details on these are being kept a closely guarded secret; we do know however that some will have to be used as â??obstacle solving toolsâ??, and will also have to be used on rescue missions.

The Single-Player mode will take place over 11 missions that sees you fighting across 16 maps that will include the wreckage of an Opera House, sprawling wasteland, and the jungles on the periphery of the city. In the game, youâ??ll also have the ability to heal injured comrades, but â?“ and hereâ??s the guilt trip â?“ if you ignore them and allow them to die, then their names will appear on War Memorial Wall at the end of the game.

The Single-Player mode will offer two different game types, â??Total Warâ?, and â??Infiltration.â? Of course, the main point of infiltration missions will be to infiltrate installations by evading traps and various security systems that the enemy has in place. Total War, however, sees you having to fight through the levels alongside fellow freedom fighters, which is sure to create a feeling of all-out warâ?¦

As well as the strong Single-Player storyline, the game will also feature a number of multi-player maps, with up to 16 players being able to battle it out amongst themselves on both Xbox and PS2 platforms. John Chosanec, Producer of Project: Snowblind at Crystal Dynamics confirmed that, â??Project: Snowblind makes dynamic usage of high tech gadgetry and futuristic weapons in combat situations. This, combined with 16 player online action, will no doubt bring about a frenetic gameplay experience that gamers will want to experience. Project: Snowblind is the answer for those longing for a non-stop, action-packed ride.â?

The weapons, as youâ??d expect from a game set in the future, are very high-tech and original. The range of weapons include the Riot-Wall, which is a moving force field that pushes enemies away, and a gun that creates electric â??waspsâ?? that scare your enemies. On top that, all primary weapons in Project: Snowblind will have â??secondary fire optionsâ?? that essentially means that they're dual tasking.

Donâ??t panic all you technophobes, because the standard fare of weaponry will also be made available including Rocket Launchers and Assault Rifles. Away from the offensive weaponry, players will also have access to demolition gear and other high-tech gadgetry that will be made available as the game progresses. Eidos have promised that, â??The gadgets and tools used in Project: Snowblindâ??s single player missions take on a whole new dimension when used in the online multiplayer game.â?

An Eidos representative was keen to point out that the demo shown at Game Stars was actually a few months old, and that improvements to the code have been made â?“ cue increased levels of anticipation.