Tactical first-person shooter game
Project I.G.I is a tactical first-person shooter released in 2000 by Eidos Interactive. The game is not presently available for download except through emulators. Criticized for its features but praised for visuals, how does it fare against the competition?
Plot
The game plays much like a typical shooter, right down to the plot. The game follows a protagonist who infiltrates an enemy base alone to find a stolen nuke. The enemy learns that the nuke has been stolen from them and they attack. The plot is basic but easy to understand.
Aesthetics
For the era, Project I.G.I was praised for its sound design and visual style. The game used the same engine as another popular game, Joint Strike Fighter, to produce this beauty and design. The game was not revolutionary, but the aesthetics proved enough for the company to produce a sequel, I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike, and the upcoming prequel, I.G.I.: Origins, set to release in 2021.
Drawbacks
The game lacked the features that made other shooters of the era famous: strong A.I and multiplayer. This game was also extraordinarily difficult due to the lack of a save game feature. This meant that the game that has a total of 14 missions, has to be beaten in a single session without a game over. Despite this, the game prevailed and shined in other areas of gameplay.
Competition
Project I.G.I has stiff competition in the genre. The I.G.I series has to compare to the widely popular Counter-Strike series, SWAT series, and even other genres of shooters such as Call of Duty. The gameplay is tried and true, but the game needs to appeal to a modern style of gameplay. If Eidos Interactive wants to appeal to modern gamers, a battle royale mode may be necessary.
Our take
Eidos’ Project I.G.I is a classic first-person shooter game with mild results. The upcoming prequel game will need to work harder to break this cycle. Especially with how much the market has changed in 18 years since the sequel’s release in 2003.
Should you download it?
Yes. If you can emulate the game and want a classic experience, you should download it.