XIII

In an alternate universe, where video games are purely about style, XIII from Ubisoft sells like tickets to the latest Star Wars flick. Here in the present, however, style does not necessarily make a good game. I have no problems expressing my feelings on how cool XIII's comic-style presentation is. But do have some problems talking about the gameplay, which doesn't quite measure up to the same standard set by the aesthetic aspects. So many things here scream mediocre, and though XIII is by no means a total loss, I felt like many things still needed some tuning up.

The story in the game isn't entirely original, but it's interesting and quite captivating nonetheless. You play as XIII, a mysterious man whose life is just that--mysterious. He wakes up with no inclination as to who he is or what he has been doing. In fact, he is being blamed for the assasination of the president, and it's up to the player to unveil the conspiracy or face the awful truth.

If you have ever played an first-person shooter before, this game will hold no suprises or any truly notable differences. This is my biggest gripe with the gameplay: there is nothing new to entice you. Utilizing a grappling hook and snatching a body hostage to protect yourself from enemy fire is cool, but hardly mindblowing. Instead of focusing on pure, hard-broiled action, XIII injects a good majority of playtime with stealth. Although it's nice to know that killing is not always an option, I don't find it very appealing that a shooter encourages you to sulk around. Plus, stealth doesn't work all too well here, with inconsistent AI and just overall tedium. The weapon selection is substantial, but nothing extraodinary, ranging from a pistol and assault rifle to a grenade launcher and sniper rifle, among a few others. Thankfully, the game controls well enough so that you won't be screaming obscenities at the screen after suffering a death in XIII's rather basic objectives.

Some parts in XIII look admittedly cool. When executing a headshot, comic panels pop up in order to showcase the event. Because the game is cel-shaded, you're not subjected to insane gore when performing said actions, but there is enough blood and violence throughout to earn a Mature rating. Unfortunately, XIII's slick comic-book take on the genre isn't exactly brilliant on a technical level. Most levels are suberbly dull and while the character models are good enough, they don't come close to the intricate detail of, say, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Just because I'm a sucker for aesthetic aspirations in a game, I'll overlook alot of the graphical shortcomings. Just keep in mind that the package could've been much prettier.

The audio in XIII is pretty good, with a few impressive tracks and inclusion of celebrity voices. I especially dig the main theme, which sounds oddly familiar but creates that "espionage" feel nevertheless. Most of the music besides this is above average, and although I won't purchase the soundtrack, some will definitely want to nab it. Well-known faces such as Eve, David Duchovny, and Adam West contribute to the characters quite well. Some of the acting feels extremely stilted, but I've assuredly heard much worse.

Shortcomings aside, XIII remains to be an entertaining romp in the realm of shooters. Over the game's 12 chapters, you'll never be miserable, but you will feel a bit let-down that such a good premise doesn't quite realize itself. A nice multiplayer mode enhances the slim replay value a bit. All in all, XIII is one of those FPS's that will suffice for now. In the future, however, the genre will become chock-full of contenders, leaving no room for a ho-um experience. I'll credit Ubi Soft for teaching me that perhaps thirteen truly is an unlucky number; I just needed proof.