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Geist cube Game Reviews
Geist
Critic Score
Metascore: 66 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.4 out of 10
based on 43 reviews
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How did we calculate this?
based on 20 votes
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In the hallways, labs and chambers of a shadowy compound, an unseen power is lurking. As a ghostly Spectral Operative, players must search for a physical body, which is mysteriously being kept alive somewhere in the enormous complex. Players won't always be alone though--as they explore, they must collect the energies of indigenous spirits to help unravel a mystery and build their own power. Some will help ... but beware, for not all the spirits are friendly. Prepare for a first-person adventure with a spectral twist! 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. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: n-Space
GENRE(S): First-Person Shooter, Action, Adventure
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88
N-Insanity
The unique multiplayer modes offer a different type of multiplayer experience and can be a ton of fun for long term FPS fans. In addition (I reiterate this point), the style of gameplay is so rarely seen that I suggest everyone at least try it out before turning away from it.
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86
Gaming Nexus
Some minor control issues, slight framerate stutters and a brief musical selection prevent Geist from being perfect, but the intriguing story, innovative multiplayer and spectral gameplay keep the game fresh and make it a must-have for GameCube owners.
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82
Gamer's Hell
An original videogame that unfortunately lacks the overall power and control mechanics to emerge as the game it could easily have become.
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82
BonusStage
The ambiance and musical score do a reasonable job setting the dark and spooky atmosphere, however the voice acting is noticeably weak in most cases, which helps in dragging down the story at times, and many of the weapon sound effects lack the satisfying punch a great shooter needs to have.
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80
Inside Gamer Online
Just an all around good game. Where it lacks in polish it makes up for in character.
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80
NintendoWorldReport
Geist’s pacing is far more deliberate that that of a first person shooter. It requires you to think, not just act. The compelling story and incredibly fun and unique possession mechanics allow Geist to rise above its competition.
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80
Yahoo! Games
This tongue-in-cheek attitude won't hamper the experience, mind you; it just serves to further distinguish Geist from the competition.
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80
eToychest
It is Geist's multiplayer component that manages to outshine the single player game, delivering a tremendously entertaining multiplayer experience, and fun to be had by all involved. However, after the thrill of multiplayer has passed, it is unfortunate that the single player game is not more equipped to pick up the pieces.
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80
GameZone
Fun, original and edgy, Geist is an action-packed ghost story that attempts go well beyond the usual shoot-um-up fare. It’s a rare blend of bullet-fueled action and puzzle-solving that involves spiritual possessions of souls and objects.
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78
IGN
The only problem is that the game's technical prowess does not match its play ambitions. The simple truth is that Geist doesn't look quite as good as it could or run as smoothly as it should, and the latter problem occasionally has a detrimental bearing on gunplay.
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78
GameSpot
The shooter portions of Geist aren't all that special, but there's a lot more to this game than meets the eye.
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77
Kombo
The possession mechanics are ingenious, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re ripped off by some other company in the future. A lot of the puzzles and scenarios [are], in a word, unforgettable.
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77
Gaming Horizon
it’s a first-person shooter that involves an interesting theme (possession) and brainpower (puzzles). You won’t find a plethora of intense weaponry or a gripping, daunting plot, but you’ll enjoy the gameplay and be intrigued enough to finish the product.
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76
Da Gameboyz
Geist is a game that has some really well executed and original gameplay ideas only to get hurt by some technical issues.
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75
netjak
The story coupled with some truly unique game play elements easily pushed me to the very end despite some rather frustrating moments.
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75
Detroit Free Press
I like this game simply for its twists on an old genre. I enjoy many shooter games, but the ability to change characters gives this one a real personality.
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74
My Gamer
Geist is intriguing enough as the sum of its parts to elicit forgiveness for its shooting gameplay.
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72
Pelit (Finland)
Geist is the kind of game the Gamecube needs. The idea of a wandering spirit works fantastically and is fun to play, but as a shooter Geist has nothing to offer. [Oct 2005]
71
Cincinnati Enquirer
An undeveloped but great take on first-person views makes this a strong rental but iffy purchase.
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70
Cheat Code Central
Thanks to some new mechanics tossed into an old (and some would say dying) genre, Geist delivers a FPS experence that you've never had before and that definitely counts for something.
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70
Maxim Online
Unfortunately, you spend more time scaring the crap out of people than blowing the crap out of people, which slows down the action.
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70
GamePro
The first-person combat is lively, but decidedly average. The controls are overly-sensitive and a little imprecise, particularly for movement up and down (the y-axis). Oddly there are no adjustments to dampen or even this out.
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70
AceGamez
I would love to be sitting here writing about how great this unique game is, but after creating such a cool concept the developers let the rest go and forgot to add the things that truly make a shooter great, like good AI, freedom of approach and a gripping story that progresses in interesting ways.
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70
Gamezilla!
The game also suffers from some real clipping issues when the action begins to ramp up, as well as graphics that don’t do the game justice.
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70
Deeko
If possession is nine tenths the law, then Geist succeeds in possessing a game with a few genres mixed together all in one game. It's just too bad this game doesn't exactly raise my spirits.
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67
GameShark
The spiritual possession adventure/puzzle solving aspects of the game were very fun and refreshing. Unfortunately the game’s engine just could not quite deliver on the other elements of the game that strung it all together.
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60
NTSC-uk
If you are willing to forgive some of the niggles with the engine, then underneath lurks a program full of idea, invention, wit and life (although the motorcycle section seems somewhat out of place).
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60
G4 TV
It’s riddled with great ideas that are realized using merely decent execution, and saddled with a painfully linear level design.
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60
EuroGamer
As much as n-Space tries to do things a little differently, and as fun as it is to walk around in bodies that don't belong to you, too much of the game plays it by the same old rules.
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60
Game Informer
Despite a few memorable sequences, the occasional good puzzle, and some barely adequqte multiplayer modes, Geist fails in most respects. [Sept 2005, p.106]
60
GameSpy
Geist isn't a great title, but it is pretty good. If you're looking for something a little different than the standard FPS fare, Geist is definitely worth taking a look at.
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60
Armchair Empire
There’s really no way around it; while Geist offers some neat ideas, it’s an entry level shooter with an okay story and few interesting gameplay elements.
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60
WHAM! Gaming
Playing as a ghost who can possess people, animals and inanimate objects is a definite novelty, but a lot of the game's action sequences have a been there, done that feel.
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60
N-Europe
If you’re desperate for an FPS on your Cube, Geist is one of the few choices out there, but if you can help it, save your money.
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55
Play Magazine
The game can be a murky, sloppy mess, and even when it's trying something interesting, comes off incomplete and badly implemented. [Sept 2005, p.57]
53
Electronic Gaming Monthly
A sloppy mess of nonsensical plot points, dumb puzzles (which often boil down to trial-and-error guessing), and yet more bland blasting sections toward the end of the game, when this whole ghost train really derails. [Sept 2005, p.114]
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50
Game Revolution
It certainly has something going for it with the unique possession mechanic and clever puzzles, but the linear gameplay, mediocre delivery and short story makes it a house more cursed than haunted.
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50
Game Chronicles
With normal graphics, background music that tends to be forgotten, and low replay-ability, Geist is better off on the store shelves than in your Gamecube, at least until it hits the bargain bins.
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50
Nintendo Power
The enemies are dim-witted but manage to stay alive longer than they should thanks to awful hit detection. [Oct 2005, p.100]
50
1UP
The overall effect is that you're playing an unholy union between an old -- and not very good -- point-and-click adventure and a five-year old first-person shooter.
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50
GameCritics
The potential of a ghostly character capable of leaping from soldier to soldier, causing chaos in the middle of a firefight has barely been scratched, not to mention the poltergeist scenarios that could be crafted around possessing exploding lightbulbs, flying bedsheets, rattling pots and pans, or any number of other things that could be employed for the purpose of haunting.
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42
Gaming Age
Disappointed because the concept was really cool, but the implementation blew. And disappointed that even Nintendo couldn’t turn this one around.
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40
Edge Magazine
Unfortunately, no sooner does Geist suggest it can blossom into something fresh and exciting that it’s undermined at every turn by a frustrating insistence on being nothing more than a mundane firstperson shooter. [Oct 2005, p.88]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a4:
The graphics are average, the puzzles are boring, and the game is just totally uninteresting. There are also lamer mags than EGM and the preview of Geist was pretty much the same as the final product. Oh, and before people get angry at me for giving Geist a 4/10, I have actually played through the game. Get Metroid Prime instead.

Christoph H. gave it an8:
I like this Game, and I don't understand, why everyone criticizes it.

Kars B. gave it a9:
Highly underrated game. Due to long development expectations were (too) high. In my opinion the game delivered more then I expected. A well story driven game with unique playability and frantic fun. Some reviewers say this looks like a 5 year old game. O.k, but the games which spring into mind are "Half Life" and "Unreal Tournament", so that can only be a good thing. And the graphics, gameplay mechanics etc. are all certainly up to date, the game has so much attention to detail. Buy it, you won't be dissapointed for sure!

Rick A. gave it a9:
This game is good and chalenging. It is excellent in multiplayer too.

Leonardo gave it a9:
Very inteligent, a great game, you need play.

Roger Keibler gave it an8:
The game is better than you might expect. The GFX are above average (better than the MOH titles) with much love for details. The Sound is spooky good. The overall gameplay is a bit choppy but well solved and refreshing new because of the Ghost-Feature. If you`re searching for a game that is a bit different and no mainstream at all, try this !!!

Tom Z. gave it an8:
Don`t trust the EGM review. They played only a preview. What a lamer mag. I played the game on the last GC and it`s absolutely worth it. Give it a try !

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