Project Powder

Overview
Full Review
Screenshots
Videos

Area: USA,Global
Official Site: Project Powder
Publisher: Outspark
Developer: Studio Bluecat
Platform: Microsoft Windows

Like this game? Tell your friends!

MMO followers - 0
MMO friends - 0
Bookmark

Overview

“Project Powder” is a 3D snowboarding MMO that features three modes: race, battle, and coin, and customizable characters.

Features

Various game modes and team races increase longevity
Easy to learn and play
Fun in short bursts
Fast-paced racing action

Area: USA,Global
Official Site: Project Powder
Publisher: Outspark
Developer: Studio Bluecat
Platform: Microsoft Windows

Review

Project Powder isn't an MMO in the usual sense; rather, it's one of the newer online-only games, finding their way into the MMO genre by association. That's not to say Project Powder isn't for lots of players it's just not massive, per say.

The game falls into the category of snowboarding, and like Coolboarders and SSX before it, it's a mix of both arcade and realistic. Starting out, players pick one of three characters, Max, Beth, and Ross, and then hit the slopes. Characters matter only for aesthetic purposes, and the choices basically boil down to young adult male, young adult female, and young teen male. Once you're in the game, you can customize your appearance by buying gear and equipment (more on that later), but for the most part people are going to look the same.

Thankfully, there's little chance to examine character appearances, as almost all of the game takes place in various courses. There are three game modes available: Race, Battle, and Coin. Race is exactly what it sounds like. There's you (or you and your team) and the others, and you want to cross the finish line first. Doing so will get you more experience points, which will help level your character up, which will let you learn new tricks, such as grabs, manuals, and flips.

Battle is similar to Race, but like Mario Kart, there are items strewn about the course that can greatly impact the outcome. Attack items, support items, defensive items there's a variety of things to use, many of which can alter who shows up in the winner's circle. At times it can be a bit frustrating losing after being ahead the whole race, but hey, that's life!

Coin is my least favourite mode, but sadly one of the most necessary. While racing down the slopes, you’ll need to collect the most coins to win. These coins not only help you win (thereby earning exp), but they also transfer into your character’s coffers after the race, making this the best way to earn in-game money.

In-game money is very important in Project Powder. While you can purchase SparkCash via Outspark to buy items and apparel, you can also do this with in-game currency. The downside? Items are often on a timer. (Usually seven days.) This means that you'll have to not only save up to buy the better gear, but also keep saving up for it week after week, assuming you want to keep using it without paying real life cash.

That's the form the grind takes in Project Powder. Level grinding is present, but exp is earned by participating in and winning races, and higher levels results only in racing tougher competition, and learning a few advanced tricks here and there, via the License Challenges. Is it fun unlocking new tricks? You bet. But, in the heat of the race, you'll usually fall back to whichever tricks you're most comfortable pulling off, and a lot of them won't ever be used.

Gameplay-wise, Project Powder plays with your keyboard, with the arrow keys controlling movement, space controlling jumping, and WASD serving as grab modifiers in the air. It's a simple scheme to learn, and works well.

If there's one downside to the game, it's that, on the whole, it's not very social. There are always people online racing, but given the nature of the game chatter is at a minimum. No one has time to type while they're trying to win a race, after all. In my days playing Project Powder, I can count on one hand the number of people who actually try to spark up conversations. (And, from that number, roughly 2/3 isn’t in English.)

Is Project Powder a fun game? If you like racing titles, or played the snowboarding games of old, then yes. It's free, it's fast-paced, it's easy to play, and it's fun to play in short bursts. If you're looking for a long-term game or something to socialize with, though, you'd be better off picking something that's more of a traditional MMO. But if all you want is a good time for a few afternoons, give Project Powder a shot.