Publisher: UbiSoft
Platform: Xbox, GameCube, PS2, PCWhen I first saw XIII, I thought that UbiSoft was out of its mind. A cel-shaded shooter? What are they thinking? Then it became evident to me. By utilizing cel-shading, you can do a lot more with the game than just rendering. In freeing up some of the processing power from typical rendering tasks, you can feed some of that power to other areas in the game's performance, or at least free up some of the developer's time to come up with some unique tricks. And having more of that is never a bad thing.
What I particularly liked about XIII is the fact that it's not your typical FPS. You are required to use some stealth and some cunning at times. Additionally, you don't have radar. Instead, you have to rely on the stylized on-screen "Taps" to locate your enemies. Of course, if they're not moving, you're not going to know where they are. This little skill comes in very handy when you're grossly outnumbered.
Another cool thing about XIII is the fact that you can break certain things in the game in order to make weapons out of them. I particularly liked using chairs and ashtrays as bludgeons, while simultaneously being able to fashion shivs out of shards of glass.
Overall, the game presents itself magnificently as a graphic-novel. Similar in some respects to the way Max Payne presented itself, but with more stylistic conceits peculiar only to comic books. The soundtrack is good and the controls are intuitive. Also, the online (and offline) multiplayer modes are quite impressive. You would do well to have the Xbox, PC or PS2 versions in your collection.
FPS Etiquette
If ever there was a time to discuss etiquette, it is now. With games like Battlefield: Vietnam and Unreal Tournament 2004 hitting the streets, multiplayer first-person shooters are at an all-time high in their popularity. Of course, other games like Counter-Strike, Halo, Half-Life, Battlefield: 1942, and many more currently dominate the genre. Needless to say, there are some tips and tricks to avoid being kicked and banned from certain games and being labeled a hopeless n00b ("newbie" for the unenlightened).
First of all, the easiest way to garner a lot of hatred is to cheat. Thankfully, companies are making examples of cheaters and hackers by banning their CD keys from games, thereby making that $40-plus purchase worthless. Other companies have been employing software-like "Punkbusters" to try to trim the ranks of cheaters. Unfortunately, they still exist. Needless to say, regardless of whatever temptation exists, don't cheat. It's stupid and you deserve a virus for it.
Next, don't go running off to try the latest vehicles, airships, vessels and whatnot without practice. Nothing sucks more than to get up to where something is about to spawn and then have some worthless n00b cut in line only to crash it five seconds later. After that, you have to wait until the bloody thing respawns to go blow the living hell out of shit. Besides, if "friendly fire" is turned on, you'll probably get shot the next time you try to cut in line. Practice in a controlled single-player environment before attempting to use vehicles. That way, you might actually earn the right to be first in line.
Finally, one of the most obnoxious traits in any multiplayer FPS is camping. You sit and you wait for someone to come along or wait for equipment, weapons or power-ups to spawn. It's a sissy tactic. Sure, we're all guilty of it from time to time, but when all you ever do is camp, you might as well be an STD. Get some originality in your tactics and you might actually have more fun than just sitting around and taking cheap shots. Sure, you'll get killed a lot initially, but as you develop a good strategy, you're going to find your frag counter adding up quickly.
Anyway, for the love of god, please keep this etiquette in mind when you engage in your next multiplayer FPS. No one likes cheaters, cheap shots and (line) cutters. Hmm, sounds like grade school again, huh? Except now, only your computer gets beaten up...