"XIII is an FPS that has been done and seen, though its length and story makes a good purchase for those veterans of the genre"

After playing Ubisoft's other work like Prince of Persia and Beyond Good&Evil, I expected good things from XIII. I rented the game from my Local Roger's video while listening to the nice sounds of Dirt off Your shoulders, which I still am this moment. I came home, popped in XIII, and started playing. The game seemed ok, a good introduction I guess but it was missing something.....Uniqueness!

At the core, it's just the same thing that FPS veterans been experiencing the past couple years. The innovative graphics to the FPS genre is new, but everything else isn't. The level design, the story and the length is what kept this game alive from being overly overshadowed by superior FPS's in the market.

The story starts off with a man that is wiped out of his memory, waking up on a beach greeted by a nurse who assists him. Maybe he was laid by the nurse.... But anyways, more is revealed of this anonymous's mans future, and past as you progress through the game. The story is quite complicated, which then adds interest to it. But nothing is all interesting about the gameplay, since interesting is something you like thats new, but the gameplay is not new at all right?!

The gameplay as I said before, is something I've been playing since Goldeneye. I go in a room and shoot people, shoot them with a rocket launcher, shoot them with a bazooka, shoot them with a tank, or beat them with my hands. I personally enjoy beating people with my fists more than seeing an enemies head get shot with a shotgun. Aside from that, I wish I was able to annihilate my enemies heads a more unique way. Some of us like being gorey, I mean thats what video games are for right? Doing the impossible.

The guns are as well rehashed from games back in 1990's. I felt like I was travelling back in time when things like these were amazing. *sigh* those were the times, but that was last generation! The only thing I have found new, that I have not seen in previous FPS's I've played is the awareness of which direction you're being attacked at. It's very helpful, when someone shoots you at the left direction, an arrow points to the same direction alerting who is attacking you. I rarely get an arrow pointing up or down, or did I ever?

After everything I've said about rehashes and lack of uniqueness, the game is still what has been before, but what has been before was actually good. Nonetheless XIII is still a fun game. The game can also be difficult if you've idiotically thought realistic was the easiest level. Yes, I'm not smart, I have a 56% average in math, though I'm at an academic level.

The level design was done pretty good, though the objectives feel linear and rehashed as well, but some things may never get old, and rehashing don't really mean it's a bad thing right? You'll be visiting some of the same levels again, but I am thankful for that because as I continued to idiotically play on the same difficult level, I know my way around the place. The level design can somewhat help out with the story, and the story itself is amazing. Though its no wonder since the game is based off of a long running French comic book. But because of the game, I might be encouraged to read the comic book.

And the graphics, I found it irrelevant to find an FPS rated M mixed with cel shading. Cel shading is considered to appeal to a younger audience. But then again, its based off of a comic book, and Ubisoft did a fairly good job at creating a comic book off of XIII. It's intriguing at times, there are moments when you eliminate an enemy a specific way, a comic book cloud or square appears with the person falling down to its death. Entertaining while it lasts.

XIII at heart is a simple, basic and known experience to veterans of the same genre, though its not entirely boring, also the story and length will surely keep your attention grabbed for the whole single player game. After that, the game is practically done. The multiplayer is more than horrible, even with the new innovative mode which is horrendous itself, I mean chasing a ghoul named death? XIII will create a difficult purchase for veterans, but somewhat a good buy for those new to FPS.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/09/04