You take the role of a scientist and counter-terrorism expert sent into a facility belonging to the Volks Corporation, partially to extract your own agent alive. However the mission fails badly, and swiftly you become the latest subject to undergo the radical experiments performed at the institute. Unlike many who went before, these experiments known as Project Z have not left you mentally scarred. The process removes your soul from the confines of your physical body and allows you to move gracefully, unseen by almost all and armed with the ability to possess various objects. Gamestyle cannot think of another game where you have the ability to possess everything from a dog bowl to a ladder or an engine never mind an actual soldier. After coming to terms with the situation, you then have to plot your own escape but only after freeing your friend and the necessary bodily reunification. The problem is that the facility is heavily guarded, full of secrets and with your new powers you can see the negative effects from experiments slowly seeping into the real world.
The first person shooter action adventure (or whatever you wish to call it) genre is one of the most competitive and certainly one where features and graphics matter above all. The benchmark continues to be raised and it is no surprise that when Geist finally shipped, it did feel outdated. The graphics engine is a real disappointment, textures and details are lacking and the environments brought back visual memories of Goldeneye on the N64. The combat is clunky and lacks precision, feeling very much like an early first person shooter. The physics are over exaggerated and physical movement feels awkward, but in reflection these seems stylistic choices to demonstrate the difference between our world and the spectral realm.
The possession aspect is the strongest element of Geist and even today marks it out from the crowd. It is only when you start to scour environments for secrets and potential items to possess that you can piece together a plan to overcome the next boundary. In this respect Geist is more about puzzles, there is real satisfaction when you do string the chain of events in the necessary order to move on. At times it does feel a too choreographed, as you can easily identify what is required but some encounters are memorable. If only n-Space had managed to build upon this promising work, tidy up the graphics, improve the control system and give Geist a sense of freedom seen in Deus Ex then this would have been a real treat.
The main mode is a decent length and while the cinematics and plot could do with polish, the general storyline works well. This is especially true as you begin to discover the origins of your phantom helper (Gigi), her family background and the intrusion of demons into the world, as we know it. The boss encounters are of varying quality and these will mark the end of a chapter. A particular ceiling boss appears several times and for a game with much promise and imagination, these serial battles begin to feel like filler. Even a motorised boss is over and done with during one particular brief segment that we'd not even try to stick a boss label on it. The checkpoints that allow you to save are badly spaced out, with several only arriving after the player puts in a tremendous amount of problem solving and overcoming armed guards. A more favourable save system would be beneficial, as repeating the necessary actions can, even with a title as enjoyable as this, because tiresome.
For those that search areas particularly well, then you can acquire collectables that expand the storyline. Also available are icons that unlock new features and options in the multi-player mode that can cope with four players and a decent amount of AI opponents. The options are standard to the genre but with the ability to move between hosts at will, it turns a familiar formula into a thoroughly entertaining experience.
Geist is a solid experience with its potential going unfulfilled. For those considering a return to the Gamecube or utilising the Wii’s backward compatibility features, it’s a trip worth taking.
