Give it a snowball's chance

Project: Snowblind (Xbox, PS2; $49.99; Rated T; projectsnowblind.com)

(four stars)

Releasing a brand new sci-fi shooter in the wake of fantastic winter holiday FPS would set most titles up for failure, or at best, a luke-warm response. While many gamers are still deeply involved in “Halo,” “Half Life 2,” or “Killzone,” who would even stop to notice a brand new Intellectual Property on the market, or one from a relatively unknown developer?

To not give “Project: Snowblind” a try, however, is shooting yourself squarely in the foot with a plasma rifle.

Players’ control of regular infantryman Nathan Frost is put to the immediate test as enemy forces attack Frost’s first steps off of his transport chopper. After running and reacting before even really becoming accustomed to the controls, players find themselves taking out an onslaught of enemy troops and mechanical tanks before being blown away in an explosion.

Frost is brought back from near-death by scientific miracles, and while he was out, the good doctors of the military decided to upgrade his entire neurology by enhancing his abilities to super-human standards.

In addition to nifty new glowing blue arms, Frost can receive neurological upgrades which allow him to become a Superman packing heat- x-ray vision, super speed, and temporary invulnerability are all on the menu.

And thankfully, “Snowblind” eschews modern shooter protocol, and allows players to carry as many weapons as they can find, so there’ll be a tool for whatever situation fits. Want to snipe? Go ahead. Better yet, use the alternate fire which implants a chip in the target and makes them attack their comrades. Feeling a little passive-aggressive? Neuro-hack an enemy mech and turn the enemies’ machinery against itself. Take that you futuristic pinko commies!

“Snowblind’s” action is frustrated only by its confusing controls. Although a standard FPS layout is the foundation of the control scheme, the addition of alternate fire modes, special items, and neurological abilities complicate the control layout, making certain abilities (like throwing a grenade) not where one would commonly expect to find it. Thankfully, the controls are never too frustrating to take the player out of the experience- the benchmark of any solid game.

Helping to keep the player in tune and playing are the fantastic animations, vivid colors, fluid framerate, and awesome sound. The addition of a solid multiplayer experience that keeps the experience close to the single-player campaign is only icing on the cake.

Undoubtedly, a certain sci-fi game that takes place in a Galaxy Far, Far Away could learn a lot from this new kid on the block. A solid rental, and a must-have for shooter fans.