Project IGI - I'm Going In - Retro Gaming Review for Windows PC
Overview
Project IGI (I’m Going In) is a first person shooter game for Windows PC that came out in 2000. It had some really nice features in regard to the gameplay, but was also notoriously flawed so much that it really hindered the enjoyment of the game. Personally, I found the coolness factor wore off very quickly.
In this game, you play a commando type who goes in solo for a mission involving a nuclear warhead. What makes this game stand out is that this is not just another shooter. Instead, you had to sometimes sneak around enemies and employ strategies to get past certain parts of the game. This type of tactical gameplay style was fairly new back in its day, and that’s part of the reason why this game was so popular. It also featured realistic weapons and an overly realistic wound and heal system that often made mistakes quite difficult to survive.
Graphics (5 out of 5)
At the time of its release, the graphics in this game were top notch. They were made even better by cinematic cutscenes that used nice camera angles and lighting to show off the environment. It is a very interactive game in that you do a lot more than run around and shoot, and the game offers you plenty of nice things to look at.
Many gamers have drawn comparisons between the story and setting of this game to something you might expect to see in a James Bond movie. Back when everyone was still playing the first Half-Life, this game looked very good with its outdoor environments.
AI and other flaws (1 out of 5)
This game suffered from two main problems. First, the missions were too long and you could not save the game until you finished them. Some missions would take you literally an hour to complete, and if you messed up at the very end and got killed, this meant you had to start over again. Talk about annoying! Second, and worst of all, was the enemy AI, or Artificial Intelligence. The AI was, in a word, retarded. You could see two enemy soldiers standing next to each other and blow one of their heads off, and the other would just stand there like nothing happened. It became a joke to see what kind of stupid things the AI would do during combat.
Overall (2 out of 5)
Despite some problems with AI and the rather mean save game system, Project IGI was a modest hit that spawned a somewhat better sequel a few years later. I have several friends who loved this game more for its features, but I found it too flawed for any lasting appeal. I ended up using some cheat codes just to finish the game to see how the story played out. In the end, I will say this game did at least open the door for more and better games that would greatly improve upon some of the gameplay elements it introduced.
System Requirements
By today’s standards, Project IGI isn’t a demanding game and shouldn’t put a strain on even reasonably specced-PC’s. The game’s minimum specification is:
- Microsoft Windows 95/98 (there may be compatibility issues with XP/Vista, however)
- Pentium II 300 MHz
- 64 MB System RAM
- 100% DirectX 7.0a-compatible 3d Accelerated Card with 8MB VRAM
- 100% DirectX 7.0a-compatible Sound Card
- Quad Speed (4X) CD-ROM drive
- 500MB free uncompressed hard drive space
- 100% Windows 95/98 compatible mouse and keyboard
Box and Screenshots
