A unique but linear adventure into the world of conspiracies.

User Rating: 8 | XIII PC
I've been waiting to get my hands on this interesting looking game for quite some time now. Now that I finished it the question is, is XIII as interesting to play as it is to look at?

I didn't want to but I guess I have no other option than to start with the graphics which are, to say the least, very interesting looking. The game is made with cell-shaded technique and because of that it seems like graphically this game aged very well. The looks are on par with more modern games such as Team Fortress 2 and Battlefield Heroes. Not only the graphics quality but the art style is also pretty good. But let's concentrate on other more important elements of games such as gameplay or story. Even though it is made in a unique comic book style with every conversation written in a speech balloon and every shot accompanied with a written BANG, XIII is in it's hearth a classic First Person Shooter game which means that you shoot enemies and enemies die. True, it tries to add something more to the game and it is quite successful in doing that. At certain points in the game you are either forced or allowed to use a grappling hook in a similar way Batman uses it. This can be fun but is at times frustrating as it tends to make you dead from time to time where the other side of a building or a cliff is far away. It's also optional and at times nececery to go stealth mode. This has the same effect as the grappling hook as it adds some excitement to the game but can be frustrating especially since the game is incredibly linear. Don't expect to be given more than one option in this game. If you see a ventilation shaft, that's the only way ahead, if you see a corridor, it's again the only option to advance. This is a shame as different possible approaches would have made the game a lot more interesting. Nevertheless the gun-play is alright and the weapons are interesting to shoot with. The problem here is though that you do not get to keep already found weapons and your inventory is rearranged to what the game thinks you'll need after every mission. This goes for med-packs, ammunition as well as special tools so it's pointless to save grenades or med-packs for later use. This takes us to the story which is pretty good for a game of that period and tells about the twenty conspirators who killed the president of the United States and tried to take over the country and then possibly the world. I noticed very early on that this couldn't be a story from an American comic book rather it is from a European one. It's got a certain feel to it that I immediately recognized since I'm quite familiar with European comic books. The story is presented to the player in prerendered sequences and graphic novel panels which is, as we know from Max Payne games, a good way to tell a story. The story itself is a bit stuck in the sixties though and could have easily been a James Bond movie plot and the main protagonist (number 13) the legendary James Bond (number 007) himself. We do encounter some interesting characters and are witnesses to some impressive character development (of the main protagonist). This is definitely a plus but I think the developers could have gone a bit further and introduce some close romantic/sexual relationships to the game.

XIII is not a superb game and that's not just because of it's flaws. It's mostly because even the best things in this game are at a very good mark instead of great. For example the story is good but it lacks realism to be great, gun-play is good but it's nothing special, level design is good overall but too linear etc. While worth playing and very interesting this game never really amazes you.