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There are over 1,000 downloadable games at pcgameworld.com, one of the major sources of PC Game Demos.  My goal for this column is to provide the reader with a guide to these demos.  Specifically, I will tell you which ones are worth your time and your hard drive space and which ones are not. 

All demos will be rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest. Five different points will be considered in the evaluation process:

Playability
Graphics and Sound
Computer Specs
Fun Factor
Overall

PROJECT IGI (I'm Going In)

With a name like IGI (I'm GOING IN) I just had to download this bad boy.  The name alone evokes trigger-happy emotions and visions of a one-man slaughter-fest that ends with a hot LZ extraction and a couple hundred dead bad guys.  Which would actually be the case if Eidos Interactive had taken the time to making this game anything more than a simple FPS.  It combines some of the same elements that you'll find in Thief (stealth) along with basic FPS strats (kill 'em all).

The official web site for IGI still states: "SITE COMING SOON."  Huh?  This game has been out for months now!  Whatever.  The tag-line for this game is: "Think your way in.  Shoot your way out."  Right-O!  But no, you won't be enjoying any of this in the demo, or the full-version for that matter, because there is no save feature in the game and it's likely that you'll end up deader than JFK Jr. and his big Presidential daddy in a matter of minutes.

However, there is one saving element here: the gawd-damn Dragunov Snipe Rifle.  You can pick this up from the sniper in the water tower to your immediate left when you enter the game.  Um, FYI - you're going to have to do more than just ask him for it.  Keep your finger on that silenced MP5.

After you obtain one of the best sniper rifles on the planet and crank out a few extremely tight, accurate rounds on those guys you can't even see with your naked eye, you'll be quite pleased that you downloaded this demo.  After you blow out all of the ammo, hit escape and exit the game.  There is no more ammo for the Dragunov on the map, I assure you.  The rest of the mission is a waste of time.

Playability: Bor-ing. Yeah, the stealth factor would be cool if it actually worked. I'm walking through a tiny room (crouched, so no one can see me behind the desks, of course) and the next thing I know I've got AK-47 fire lighting my ass up. Say all you want about stealth, you really need to do more than just tiptoe around in this game if you don't want to die and start the whole damn mission over. Also - it takes way too long to climb ladders. I understand the realism factor, but you don't have to make the player wait that long while this guys seeks out the Dragunov.

Graphics / Sound: Sound effects are pretty good, with nice work on the actual weapon sounds.  Graphics are okaaaaay, and I do like the open environment, but it's pretty elementary in design.
 
Computer Specs:  PII 300 / 64MB RAM / 500MB Hard Drive Space - this is pretty much run-of-the-mill anymore for games.  I'm surprised it doesn't require "user-willingness to succumb to a poorly thought out game."  

Fun Factor: Dragunov.  If you know the cheat for more ammo, let me know.  I will gladly download this game again and sit atop that water tower with unlimited ammo.

Overall: In-game movies and creative story lines are fine, but if I can't truly operate as a true mercenary with that damn Dragunov, then what's the point?  Different missions and stuff aside, which is what makes this a demo, there are too many limitations.  Nothing to see here; move along.

TOTAL SCORE: 6.0

PROJECT IGI
Demo Size: 46.3MB
System Requirements [P233/32MB/Win95/98/ME + DirectX]
Download Time: 56K: Over 2 hours. 128K: 42 minutes. DSL/Cable: 10-15 minutes.
Download Here: PROJECT IGI (46.3MB) from Eidos or PROJECT IGI (46.3MB)

Greg A. Bruns is a freelance writer residing in Phoenix, Arizona. His monthly column "Straight Up with a Twist" appears in the Arcadia News. His first book, Tales from the Scenic Route, is currently unpublished. Greg also pens "Ask the Faceless Assassin" - an "advice" column.
Note: Featured author in October
E-mail: greg@gregbruns.com
Writing interests: Humor, Strange News, Nonfiction, Short Stories, Memoirs
I.D. Theory articles: Your Guide to College,  Instant Gratification, Survive This!, Letter to the new President, The Things We Do For Love, Seattle: Emerging Character
PC Demo Game Reviews: HITMAN: Codename 47, Project IGI (I'm Going In), Diablo II, No One Lives Forever, Deus Ex, Delta Force Land Warrior, Motocross Madness, HEAVY METAL F.A.K.K. 2
Links: GregBruns.com, Tales from the Scenic Route, Ask the Faceless Assassin, More alphabet zen

Screenshots
from
Project IGI
(click to enlarge)
Images courtesy of Eidos Interactive and have really nothing to do with the demo.

Not in the demo.

Also not in the demo.

Guess what?
Yep - not in the demo.

Just so you can see how the scope works. Uh - this scene isn't in the demo.