Gaming Target - GameCube: Geist

Written by Jonathan Nicklas on June 20, 2003

First Impressions: Replacing those white sheets and chains with fresh human flesh and a gun...mmm...

The recurring phenomenon of ghosts has been played to death for centuries, but Nintendo and developer n-Space are attempting to reinvent this tired-out gimmick into an exuberant, exciting game with innovative concepts. One of Nintendo's pleasant surprises of E3 2003 t, Geist is another part of the company's eternal struggle in grabbing teen marketshare in a generation dominated by MTV rap videos and glorified punk rock music.

At its heart, Geist (German translation: ghost) offers unconventional gameplay, featuring frenetic first-person combat and possession mechanics. Players assume the role of a ghostly Spectral Operative and possess over a dozen character types, including humans, dog- and mouse-like creatures with special skills for stealth purposes. Possessions come along with weapons, equipment, and most interestingly, memories. Seemingly a science-fiction thriller that isn't for the faint of heart, expect corporate espionage and governmental conspiracy in the storyline, and most importantly, fun.

Generally, sneaky tactics and creating diversions such as interfering with electronics and moving objects pave the way for possessions. One example in the E3 2003 demo was closing a laptop of an unsuspecting female. Sneaking through cracks also plays an integral part. As the game progresses, character possession will require more effort. Obviously, the element of surprise has never been more important. Nevertheless, solid first-person action with powerful weapons and impressive graphical effects will also play a major role in the game.

Graphically, Geist suffices thus far. Character models, featuring attention to detail such as facial expressions, offer impressive details and transparency effects of ghostly apparitions get the job done in fine fashion. At arm's length, the game features amazing reload animations and impressive art design. Multiplayer arena environments include great backgrounds and weapons include shotguns, sniper rifles, and other futuristic designs. As for single-player levels, we've seen dark caves, jungle environments, and shadowy compounds. Otherwise, basic particle effects and lighting only heighten the visual oomph.

Beyond the single-player experience, multiplayer options offer extended value with four-player death matches featuring possession mechanics. Solid details are sketchy at this point, but animal-centric characters may provide some extra tactical offense, setting things up for a tumultuous ride.

Controls pay homage to the Turok series for the most part and include several subtleties. The control stick involves turning while B and X are used for strafing left and right respectively. Finally, A possesses while R is primary fire and L is secondary fire. Reportedly, other control setups are in the works for increased functionality.