| INFO | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft Paris |
| Genre | FPS |
| Platform(s) |     |
| Release date | 2003-11-18 |
A first-person shooter game based on a lengthy Belgian comic series, whose main storyline (about conspiracies, secret societies, assassins, mafiosi, spies and banana republics) was published on a total of 19 volumes from 1984 to 2007, and of which it loosely adapts the first five. It was widely publicized for its extensive use of cel-shading graphical techniques, and while this had been used in several games beforehand, it's true that the effort made here to convert the Unreal Engine 2 into a comic book experience was remarkable.
Apart from simple lightning, colorful textures and the cel-shaded models, one can also enjoy inset panels that render something interesting happening out of your line of sight (and that give that "24" feeling of split screens sometimes) or replay the instant death of an enemy, and onomatopoeias for some important sounds. This ones in particular can be very useful to determine the location of patrolling guards, as they act as your character's "sixth sense" that is mentioned in his personal file.
The gameplay is that of a standard linear shooter with minimal additions. Stealth is mandatory in some missions, but it's mostly a trial-and-error issue. You can grab many objects that would be normally considered "props" (such as a chair or an ashtray) and wield them as single-use close combat weapons. You may take a hostage and hold him in front of you as a human shield, though this happens quite seldomly. Your inventory contains a few 007-type gadgets, like a grappling hook, and that's the sum of it. Just run and gun. Not complaining, of course.
The plot is perhaps the most interesting asset of XIII. The one seen in the original series has taken some twists and turns, but the main concept is left untouched: your character is accused of having killed the President of the US, and you are on the run from the authorities plus a squad of hitmen that want you for some reason. Luckily, you seem to have the training of an elite soldier. In the background, a secret group of very important people are planning some evil. It may sound worn-out, but you dash through chapter after chapter, always wanting to know more. It's a bit short and you'll get to the end in the blink of an eye and yearn for a sequel, which was sadly never realized. We only got a questionable remake in 2020.
I must admit I fancied this game back in its day and played the campaign several times. Never tried the multiplayer though, but I heard good things about it. As I am supposed to judge every game in a fair, impartial manner, I must say that combat isn't very satisfactory in this one. I can't place what it is exactly, but there's something about the weapons, the recoil and bullet spread, the way enemies react to being shot and the lack of ragdoll physics that makes it feel lacking in comparison to other shooters of the era. Carefully ambushing a sentry and getting an arrow head through the back of his skull I find more rewarding than having a shootout.
But yeah, it's good nevertheless. Give it a try, enjoy it for a couple of days and move to another title. Short and sweet. Who knows, maybe you'll pick it up again someday.
Playing
Buy it on GoG and make sure to install the community patch (you can get it from a fan site or ModDB).