Geist

Publisher: Nintendo

Platform: GC

Category: Shooter

Rating Info

Release Date: 07/10/2005

Member Rating:

Number of Players: 1-4

Geist Description

Geist has been in development a long time at n-Scape. Play the first few minutes and you could get the wrong idea - it appears to be another one of those First Person Shooters which chuck you in a strange laboratory complex with a load of guns and lets you get on with it. But play on a little further and it'll become clear that the game has something else up its sleeve. It's not long before you are captured and have your soul ripped from your body by people using some dark and sinister science. Luckily, Geist is not just a very short game with a sudden, unavoidable and anti-climactic ending. You are able to survive the splitting of your physical and spiritual selves, and continue to exist as some kind of ghost - a ghost who wants his body back. But although it would be easy to become desperate when relegated to such an ethereal state, you'll quickly realise that there are advantages to your new form. You are able to 'possess' all manner of objects and make them shake, rattle and roll. Not just objects, but little animals too, like rats and dogs. The 'geist' of the title is short for 'Poltergeist', you see! But as you explore your newfound skills further, you'll quickly find that your powers are greater than the mere ability to throw cups across the room. Use poltergeist activity to spook observing humans enough, and you'll be able to possess their bodies and use them to run, shoot and open doors for you. And so the game becomes a kind of puzzle game, requiring you to scare and possess the correct people and exploit them (be they mouse, soldier or scientist) as you try to find where they are keeping the physical you. But a puzzle game with still has shooting elements and an engaging plot. Exclusive to Gamecube, Geist is certainly a rather unique and interesting game.

Screenshots

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Write a review of Geist

Reviewed by: JNMGibbs	Date: 09/09/2006	Rating:
On the surface, Geist is your standard FPS, much like TimeSplitters. However, the control system of Geist isn't as well done as the latter, with you often having to fiddle with the C and analogue sticks to get unstuck when floating. The multiplayer option is good, although nothing spectacular. The appealing thing about Geist is the plot - through possession of different bodies you can figure out about what happened to you and discover more information about 'the rift' via their memories. The unique ability to possess people, animals and objects (though sometimes it can be frustrating to spend ages looking for something to possess). Graphically, there's nothing particularly awesome about the game. The little icon on the bottom left of the screen to remind you of what you're doing (running, floating etc.) is unnecessary and annoying. The slip and possession animations are very well done, with each possession having a slightly different approach to how it is done. Many have said that the makers of Geist were merely 'playing with something shiny without knowing how to use it' (basically, they use more powerful graphics but now understanding it). I would be inclined to agree with them. The voice acting is done very well, but the subtitles make it easy to switch the volume off. There's nothing in the game that makes use of sound integral to the story or the gameplay, and o it follows the standard for FPS. This game scores extra brownie points for the possession ability. Being able to possess things from the cleaner to a bucket of paint (and have some satisfaction by making it explode simply for the joy of watching it explode). The way that the game blocks off areas - scaring an individual so much they are to terrified to go back to the object of their fear - is quite cool. Overall, this is an enjoyable game If you want something overtly fantastic from a shooter, try TimeSplitters 2 or Resident Evil 4. If you want something different and to try out supernatural abilities in the FPS genre, then I recommend this game to you.

Features

Explore the compound as a ghost, then possess more than a dozen unique character types using their weapons, equipment, skills, and even memories, to complete your goals. Possessions range from soldiers with guns to dog- and mouse-like creatures that can perform specialized physical tasks

Choose different characters and see the world in different ways

Travel through the human world virtually unseen, using your abilities to slip through cracks, interfere with electronics, move objects and more. Face challenges from two unique angles--as a possessed human or a lurking spirit hunting its prey

Prepare for death matches with the dead in all-new multiplayer modes that combine first-person combat with unique ghost and possession mechanics

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