Geist [GC]

Nintendo doesn't publish too many first-person shooters; but when it does, they stand out. GoldenEye, developed by Rare on the N64, single-handedly evolved the genre when it came out. Metroid Prime showed that an FPS can have the exploration and platforming elements that made 2D versions of the series so acclaimed. Next on the docket is Geist, and while it's not quite in the category of the aforementioned titles, it still carves its own unique niche in one of the most predictable genres in gaming.

You start off as biological specialist John Raimi, who's helping a counter-terrorism group on a dangerous mission. Who would've thought that a mere hour later, you'd be a can of beer, rolling on your own across the floor? Yes, things shift quickly as Raimi becomes one of the experiments the team was trying to stop. He's now a ghost, which pretty much ruins any chance of a love life he has. Fortunately, there are benefits, and being able to float unnoticed is just the start.

Raimi the spirit can possess both organic and inanimate objects. There is a hierarchy to all this, though. The bigger the animal you're trying to possess, the more work you have to do to get it susceptible. For example, you may be able to climb right into a rat, to scurry into tiny holes. A dog will require you to freak it out a bit -- by possessing its food dish and tossing pellets all over. Humans are the toughest of all, and you'll need to really work at breaking down their psyche. The girl shaving her legs in the shower, for example, must be scared by multiple showerheads inexplicably going off, followed by a few tricks with a full-length mirror.

This concept by itself is really interesting, and developer n-Space knows how to play it for maximum effect. You never know what you'll have to do next or who you'll need to become. You may be the same soldier for half an hour, or just occupy him long enough to get through the next ghost-proof door. While possessing him, of course, you can feel free to use whatever weapon he's wielding. There are inconsistencies -- such as hosts that cannot be killed -- but by and large the scenarios are innovative and fun.

When the gameplay gets closer to tedium is when you're stuck as the same person for too long and it degenerates into a mediocre FPS. Fortunately, that doesn't happen too often, but boss encounters and other situations arise where you'll feel like you're playing an inferior game. This is the only first-person-shooter in memory where you have more fun when you're not shooting. You'll enjoy exploring (there are plenty of collectibles and Easter eggs), solving puzzles, and engaging in the mini-games presented.

Geist is definitely not a survival horror game, despite its cover art and likely marketing campaign. In fact, the game goes out of its way to lighten the mood. Humor abounds when checking out miscellaneous objects, and even certain plot points are laughable -- like an escort mission where your ally ends up unceremoniously biting it anyway. This tongue-in-cheek attitude won't hamper the experience, mind you; it just serves to further distinguish Geist from the competition.

From a production standpoint, there's some disappointment with Geist. Its graphics are iffy at best, and the less you compare it to visual masterpieces like Resident Evil 4 the better. It gets points for effort, but the coolness of ragdoll physics is negated when dead enemies clutch their M-16s the whole time. The voiceovers are solid, but very sparse. Nobody wants to play an FPS with text boxes.

Multiplayer is surprisingly fulfilling, as again the ghost gimmick is used to the fullest. Every match type deals with possession in some way, shape, or form. Possess deathmatch is simple DM, but you occupy bodies like most games switch weapons. You may find a sniper to become, or even someone with cool timed/proximity mines. There's even the option to possess explosive crates to catch your foes off-guard. Capture the Host uses soldiers as flags, and you must inhabit one and take it to a specific point to score. Killing other possessed troopers will also earn you points.

Hunt pits hosts against ghosts, as specters try to jack humans from under you. Even if they don't gain total control, they may cause you to commit suicide of some sort -- which is just as rewarding. Unlike other modes, humans can kill ghosts -- who emit an effect unlike heat on pavement when they're nearby. Geist doesn't have the best multiplayer options of all time, but these are some of the most creative out there, and that's almost as good. One of the collectibles in the single-player game rewards you with multiplayer goodies.

As Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, "Personality goes a long way." Geist won't make you forget Halo or Half-Life 2, but it's definitely a memorable experience that should possess your interest and hold onto it for quite a while. Yes, you may get bored of some of the shooter scenes. Yes, the graphics and sound will elicit a grimace or two. But this is a unique title that deserves your attention despite its flaws.