First Impressions: Is this game included in Bill O’Reilly’s France boycott?
Mention the phrase “first-person shooter” to most gamers, and visions of beefy military men armed to the teeth with M-16s, flame-throwers and grenades will immediately jump into their heads. Chances are, one won’t immediately think of an obscure European comic book. Such conventions haven’t deterred Ubi Soft, however, as they decided to turn XIII (pronounced “thirteen,” not “X-I-I-I”), a graphic novel from across the Atlantic, into a unique-looking FPS. I’ve seen conflicting information on whether the comic book itself is Belgian or French. The author, Jean Van Hamme, is definitely Belgian, and the comic book is definitely in French (French is one of three official languages of Belgium -- there’s no such language as “Belgian”), but I can’t track down the country of origin for certain. Suffice it to say, it’s from somewhere in Western Europe, with decidedly more socialist policies than the U.S.
Now that the lesson in geography, language and politics is over, I’ll get on with the game! Many of us first became acquainted with XIII when it was included as a “special preview” on Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. And I’d venture most people’s reactions to the trailer were similar to mine: “Absurdly weird-looking, but definitely intriguing!” Now that the game is farther along in development, it’s still just as intriguing.
Despite my interest in XIII, I’ve never really warmed all that much to FPS titles -- partly due to having my clock cleaned one too many times in the college dorm by guys with monikers such as “chaddog” while playing Quake. However, XIII seems to be a FPS designed for guys like me, with the focus on the twists and turns of the story and the gameplay of the single-player quest, rather than frustrating (for players like me) multiplayer matches.
The first thing that catches your eye about XIII is its dynamic visual style -- since it’s trying to capture the feel of a graphic novel, that’s understandable. XIII is the first FPS to use cel-shading, and that alone means large portions of you already love or hate it! I personally love the look, as it adds a dreamy and surreal quality to a game -- perfect for a title like XIII. The cel-shading is certainly what’ll draw you into the game, but the graphics look outstanding regardless. The game seems to run very smoothly, with fast-paced action FPS fans are accustomed to -- it’s being created on the Unreal engine, so that’s to be expected.
Despite its European origins, XIII takes place in 1960s America, in a secret agent world full of conspiracies, espionage, double-crosses, and the general “just-who-the-hell-is-on-my-side?” feeling. Of course, it’s a French/Belgian interpretation of America so you know it’s gonna be slightly wacky. The original comic’s story was based on the events surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy (one reason the comic never came out here), but the video game simply features a generic young president. Still, it’s a bit eerie to see a Kennedy-esque assassination recreated in cel-shaded comic book style (particularly if, like me, you’ve been to Dallas to see the “Grassy Knoll” itself!).
The game begins with a scene out of something like The Bourne Identity (and indeed, the comic was inspired by Robert Ludlum’s novel). The main character wakes up on a beach in New England with no memory, no idea where he came from or how he got there -- the only clues to his identity are a tattoo of the roman numeral XIII near his neck (hence his moniker, “XIII”) and a key in his pocket. He soon finds out that many powerful and dangerous people think he’s behind the death of the president, and it’s a constant battle to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. His quest will take him to varied locales, such as an industrial complex, a military base, the mountains and the proverbial “snow level.” There are eight chapters in all, with multiple missions to complete on each.
Like any good FPS protagonist, XIII will certainly be well-armed. He’ll have access to things like an M-16, AK-47, bazooka, grenades, shotgun, sniper rifle and a good ol’ Beretta handgun. He’ll also have non-traditional FPS weapons available, like a crossbow, harpoon and throwing knives. Not only that, he’ll also be able to use regular objects he’ll find lying around, such as bricks, shovels, clipboards, shards of glass and broken bottles. He can even deliver a chairshot to the back of an unsuspecting foe, WWE-style! How many chairs to the back does one ever witness in a game of Quake?
Overall, XIII is more stealth-based than the typical FPS. XIII has a “sixth sense” that warns you when an enemy is near, and like another Ubi Soft star, he’ll be able to shoot out lights so that he’s not as visible to the enemy. He’ll also be able to take enemies hostage and use them as “human shields” while traversing through a level. Still, the action will be varied -- some levels are easier if you don’t announce your presence, while others require a gung-ho “shoot-anything-that-moves” style.
Besides the cel-shading, comic book touches are everywhere in XIII. Comic-style text indicates the sounds of various goings-on throughout your quest. High-flying planes “WHOOOOOOOOOOOSH” as they go by, and powerful bazookas “BAOOOOOOOOM” loudly. Enemies emit a stylized “NOOOOOOOO” or “AAAARG” when you’ve struck them, and people’s shoes “TAP TAP TAP” as they walk by. The onomatopoeia is even specific to what kind of weapon you’re using -- a regular gunshot will “BAM,” while a brick or shovel will “CRAC” across an opponent’s skull, and a bottle will “CLING” (cling...?) while cutting a baddie’s jugular vein. The music seems to be another strength of XIII -- well, if you’re partial to ‘60s spy music, at least! The tunes sound right out of stuff like James Bond and Austin Powers, and do for the game’s audio what the cel-shading and comic book style do for the game’s visuals.
Given that the story is such an integral part of XIII, Ubi Soft is opening up the checkbook for some well-known voice talent. While it’s not the most star-studded cast ever seen in a video game, it’s certainly above the level of games like Final Fantasy X and Metal Gear Solid. To begin with, X-Files alum David Duchovny stars as XIII himself -- my initial reaction was that he’s a perfect fit for the role, since he’s a veteran of conspiracy-themed stories. However, his understated and cerebral delivery worked with the slower pacing of the X-Files. After hearing some of his work in the game, his voice seems a little...low-key for the fast-paced action of XIII.
Hip-hop diva Eve will play Major Jones, XIII’s “guardian angel” who may or may not be on his side. Any time I see “hip-hop diva” and “actress” in the same bio, I cringe, having seen Beyoncé Knowles’ “performance” in Austin Powers: Goldmember. While I’m not enamored with giving a hip-hop diva such an important role in the game, I’ll give Eve the benefit of the doubt.
Finally, eccentric ‘60s Batman star Adam West lends his voice to the cast as Gen. Carrington, who guides XIII through his various missions. Kind of like Col. Campbell from Metal Gear Solid, except he’ll give you Batman flashbacks. Of all the voice actors, I’m actually the least concerned about West. He’s done a good job in guest shots on stuff like The Simpsons and Family Guy, and if anything, his penchant for the bizarre should only add to the surreal feel of XIII.
While the game certainly has star power, it remains to be seen whether this trio will actually have the talent and chemistry necessary when the project all comes together. A little-known voice actor can put on a virtuoso performance, as David Hayter has proven with Metal Gear’s Solid Snake.
XIII is coming out on all three consoles, as well as the PC, but the GameCube version (as usual) is the only one not supporting online play. However, since this game is so story-driven, it may not matter so much. Plus, it’ll spare you any humiliating online encounters with “chaddog.” But you will have the option for up to four-player “capture the flag” and “deathmatch” games via split-screen, GoldenEye style (still, that game’s six years old -- you would think Nintendo players would have better options these days...).
