Pre-release XIII was hyped. A lot. E3 Game Of The Show, video game journalists labelling it the new Goldeneye, masses of coverage. I wasn't sure why.
OK, so it had David Duchovny as a voice actor in it. But that seemed to be a gimmick and the plot seemed to rip off The Bourne Identity. The ... Read review
As stylish a game as you'll see,XIIIis a virtual testament to why youcanhave both style ... more
and substance under the same roof. Adopting a comic-book style throughout, from the wonderfully compiled cut-scenes through to the cel-shaded in-game graphics, it f...
Postage & Packaging: £1.94 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
As stylish a game as you'll see,XIIIis a virtual testament to why youcanhave both style ... more
and substance under the same roof. Adopting a comic-book style throughout, from the wonderfully compiled cut-scenes through to the cel-shaded in-game graphics, it f...
Postage & Packaging: £1.99 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Final Fantasy XIII will be the first release in the long running series to grace the Xbox ... more
360 console. Pull off powerful attacks using magic and weaponry. Enjoy stunning next generation cinematic gameplay as you battle through the city world of Cocoo...
Advantages: Stylish and different, it really is different from most FPS. Disadvantages: No split screen multiplayer.
Pre-release XIII was hyped. A lot. E3 Game Of The Show, video game journalists labelling it the new Goldeneye, masses of coverage. I wasn't sure why.
OK, so it had David Duchovny as a voice actor in it. But that seemed to be a gimmick and the plot seemed to rip off The Bourne Identity. The only thing worthy of attention, I thought, was the graphics. They are cell-shaded, meaning they look like a comic. Jet Set Radio had already shown ... .../>
Upon release, XIII got a lot of the critical acclaim that was expected of it. Gamesmaster called it the coolest game of the year. They were right actually. The plot actually wasn't a Bourne Identity rip off, rather it was based on the comic-book series of the same name, which had been running for years.
The plot incidentally is that you wake up on a beach, can't remember who you are or why you are there. Normal Sunday morning ... more
Pre-release XIII was hyped. A lot. E3 Game Of The Show, video game journalists labelling it the new Goldeneye, masses of coverage. I wasn't sure why.
OK, so it had David Duchovny as a voice actor in it. But that seemed to be a gimmick and the plot seemed to rip off The Bourne Identity. The only thing worthy of attention, I thought, was the graphics. They are cell-shaded, meaning they look like a comic. Jet Set Radio had already shown they could look good. And in a way, a comic-book like shooter was an interesting proposition.
Upon release, XIII got a lot of the critical acclaim that was expected of it. Gamesmaster called it the coolest game of the year. They were right actually. The plot actually wasn't a Bourne Identity rip off, rather it was based on the comic-book series of the same name, which had been running for years.
The plot incidentally is that you wake up on a beach, can't remember who you are or why you are there. Normal Sunday morning for you? I won't judge. In XIII's case however, you've also been shot and people try and kill you fairly early on. You can't remember why either.
Soon bad guys are shooting at you, your shooting back, your running and jumping and just generally getting into run-of-the-mill first person shooter stuff. But as you do so, certain events trigger flashbacks, which reveal bits and pieces of the plot. Turns out you might just have assassinated the President Of The United States. And of course, you can't remember a thing.
There are 34 rather linear single player levels where you unravel more of the plot and shoot bad guys. Still fun though. There are 15 weapons, including predictables such as a pistol, sub-machine gun and a shotgun. There is one remarkable feature of the single player game however, bosses. Once upon a time they were the staple of most games, but have been rather thin on the ground in recent years. They aren't too hard, but threw in a bit of variety. Last one was nasty mind.
There is a multiplayer mode, for system link or Xbox Live, but NO split screen mode, which is one thing I consider to be almost necesary. It is however rather good. 21 levels, some guns, and standard FPS multiplayer fare like deathmatch, capture the flag etc.
Graphically the game is amazing. It doesn't look realistic obviously, but then it was never meant to. It looks and plays like an interactive comic, which is a nice change from futuristic, semi-destroyed space stations that seem to be in pretty much every other FPS nowadays. Sound wise it is also rather good. David Duchovny, far from being nothing more than a gimmick, leant atmostphere and personality to the game and the character. Dolby Digital support means it sounds better still for those with decent audio set ups.
Control wise it is standard Xbox. Right trigger fires, thumbsticks move, buttons to change weapons. If you played Halo, Rainbow Six 3, Unreal Championship or any other Xbox shooter will be right at home with this instantly.
XIII is fantastic. I was sceptical to begin with, but it won me over convincingly. It was deserving of the hype, it took a tired genre which would have been almost impossible to improve upon, and they did something different with it. Different look and different feel. This was a great game at £40. It was better still at £30. At £20 it was a steal. Now that it can be found for as little as £10, you have no excuse not to own this gem of a game.
Get it, be spontaneous, live life on the edge. It is well worth it.
*** This is a substantial re-write of a review that I wrote for a different site, where I used the same screen name. I give myself full permission to reuse my own work.
Advantages: Style, tried and tested gameplay with some new twists Disadvantages: Cartoon style doesnt ALWAYS work, multiplayer could be bettter
...of the game.
Controlling XIII is second nature for any FPS player, and could be easy enough for a first-timer to pick it up quickly. Getting used to the inventory takes a while, and at one point I was getting the controls for this mixed up with the controls of Max Payne 2. (RELOAD DAMN YOU RELOAD!) Unfortunately, it took me a good 4-5 hours to REALLY get comfy with the controls. But at least the game was gripping enough to make me get this far.
... ...good example weapon design? But, XIII has a wide selection of good sounding, good looking, good shooting weapons- each with a distinct difference. The AK47 lookalike in totally innacurate but fires like a nutter. Good. The Bazooka is massively powerful and deadly slow to reload. Good. The sniper rifle takes ages to aim steadily but is typically a one-shot one-kill type of firearm. Stranger weapons incude throwing knifes (cool but pointless) and found ...
5kutbag 24.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of XIII (Xbox)
XIII is a game based on a french comic book, hence it's rather odd graphical approach for an fps game. Cel-shading is used here to good effect though and does actually enhance the comic book nature of the games roots, so it's not just a cheap gimmick added in for effect.
The graphics are the most noticable aspect of the game and they are done very well. Shooting a bad guy will result in a pop up catchphrase appearing on screen, like arrrgghh!, just ... ...is spot on with this game.
The single player game sees you take control of a character who has amnesia and you try throughout the game to recall who exactly you (agent XIII) are. This occurs through mainly flashbacks that spontaneously occur at set points in the game.
Gameplay wise, it's very similar to other shooter, but does have a few tricks that set it apart. Such as being able to used enemies as human shields by grabbing them, and the neat ...
DarkDraiman 14.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of XIII (Xbox)
Advantages: Its a shoot em up Disadvantages: Very frustrating
I am a great lover of shoot em ups, I had played all the games I had to the max and wanted to try something new. I was in choices one day and I came across this. I had had a little go one it before around a friends and thought I'd give it a shot.
***The Story***
You wake up on a deserted beach and taken to a nearby car, but before you get there you pass out. When you awaken there is a woman in a swimsuit (who looks like a Baywatch Babe) talking ... ...dead. Now you must find out who you are. the story begins.....
***Playability & enjoyment***
This game unlike other shoot em ups is not hard to put down. after about 30 minutes of playing it I am always stalking round the house looking for something else to do. Its not that its rubbish, its just really frustrating.
***Weapons***
There is a good array of weapons to choose from including hand guns, automatic and semi automatics, grenades and my ...
Kingkarliii 01.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of XIII (Xbox)
Advantages: Stylish, great voice acting Disadvantages: A one way street
...Taking the role of agent XIII (or are you?) the aim of the game is to get the root of a conspiracy, beautifully told via various cut-scenes and smooth in-game action and stealth-heavy play. There are people to kill and secrets to reveal, yet there's only one route through each level; there aren't many hidden extras to be found nor are there tricky puzzles to solve. It sounds limited and in one player it is, but paradoxically 'XIII' is totally engaging. ... ...(thanks David Duchovny) to passable (I'm looking at YOU typical enemy #23). Multiplayer lacks the options of, say, TimeSplitters 2, but some maps deserve endless replays. Ultimately, XIII isn't going to revolutionise the genre but definitely deserves attention.
*Adapted from my article in the University Of Wollongong's magazine, 'Tertangala'* ...
paulgusta 16.02.2004 (04.03.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of XIII (Xbox)
Advantages: Good A.I, very addictive Disadvantages: none
XIII is a 1st person perspective shoot em up from Ubi Soft which has been converted from a french comic book. I'm not entirely sure which one that may be, not i'm not really caring.
Storyline: You take control of Steve Rowland who has woken up on a beach with bad amnesia. You are America's most wanted after being blamed for the assassination of the president. There's a huge conspiracy behind it all, and you're involved in it somehow.
The game is ... ...has online gameplay too.
XIII has been given a 15 rating, but for those who don't like the sight of blood, there has been a parental control added so turn off the gore....not as if there is much but why would they put parental control for 15+?
Price - When it was first released, it was at £39.99. Now it will surely have been reduced in most video game stores and even on most online stores too.
Controls - As you play further in the game, it lets ...
BlackBall 28.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of XIII (Xbox)
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Advantages: good console, looks good Disadvantages: way big, a loud console
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DBZKing 11.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Microsoft Xbox
Advantages: Both great consoles | Powerful Disadvantages: XBOX has limited good games | Playstation 2 can only have 2 players unless you buy extra accessory
the XBOX, and there is this feature called XBOX Live, which allows you to play certain games with this capability with your friends over the internet. You can play XIII, and Halo, that I know of, there are some more, but they are the only ones that I know as I own them.
The Instruction Manual was very useful to me, even though you don?t really need it to Install the XBOX, its simple enough, as I told you how to above in the review. The Instruction Manual also has other Information about XBOX live, and how to use the features on the XBOX. The XBOX is very easy to use, you only have 2 buttons, there is and eject button, which ejects the CD drive, so you can put in a game, and take out a game. The there is the on and off switch, which is directly below the eject switch, pretty simple if you ask me. You can get good manufacture support ...
DBZKing 04.11.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Microsoft Xbox
![Xiii 13 Thirteen For Xbox Xbox 360 [sealed] Mega Rare](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/icons/no_pic_generic_S1.gif){kind=icon}
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