XIII – Classic is a first person shooter from 2003. This game is loosely based upon the comic books of the same name (explicitly volumes 1-5). In which you partake in various missions such as infiltrating military bases and escaping a bank. Whilst you are being hunted down by various agencies that are interested in stopping you. Specifically the CIA, FBI, and a conspiracy organisation that wants to take over the United States.
Whilst the premise of this game seems pretty cool for a spy type thriller. Although the game isn’t as interesting to what it could have been potentially. I feel that whilst the game does a good job of providing a good amount of combat that works well. But at the same time I feel that some of the levels are lacking and work in a bizarre way.
The stealth levels in game are a perfect example of this. I was on a level that involved sneaking through a military base and stealth was necessary. In this mission I was picking off guards 1 by 1. I was also able to use my m16 to take the last guard out in each area, which failed in alerting no one. Even though I was yet to sneak into other areas of a military compound that had soldiers present.  This game shouldn’t have allowed me to do this.
However the moment I’m in the vicinity of a tent I’m to plant a bug in I cannot use my m16. After actually planting the bug and listening into a meeting inside the tent I managed to sneak out of the tent. At that moment there was 1 soldier walking around and 2 standing guard outside the tent entrance. The 2 guards outside the tent could see the guard walking. I picked off the walking guard which had no effect to the guards visibly watching somebody being picked off. Later I picked off the guard closet to me. Even though the other guard was oblivious of this, so I managed to take him out. I was also quite surprised that no alarms had been raised. Considering that I was also playing on the hardest difficulty too.
I do also like the plethora of comic book style effects that play out in the cutscenes. The effects also appear in specific moments that occur during gameplay. I like the visual onomatopoeia that occurs when a gun is fired or when someone yells. There is also cinematic cues such as the speech bubbles when a character is talking. It even appears when a character falls. Which triggers a box that appears and then shows you the character falling from wherever they where until the land on the ground.
The multiplayer mode in this game is lacking for many reasons. I don’t like how the game doesn’t have a local multiplayer mode and that the game was either a choice of playing with AI or playing online (which is no longer available.).
I particularly dislike that there is no form of customisation whatsoever. There isn’t any option to decide what weapons you will use in each match. Since the mode/map will dictate that for you. The game also doesn’t allow you to customize the characters in game. As a result of this you are placed with a few random selected avatars. I would have liked it if you could have picked what characters are in the map and who you play as. On top this you should be able to pick the names of the AI characters. Primarily because the AI characters use names that are silly (as seen above).
You cannot change your in game avatar or name. The name that the game gives you is Roger (for whatever reason). The avatars on all levels are the same with no distinguishing them. I would have liked it if you had preferential characters to use the characters from the level. Mainly because it seems odd for a guy dressed as if he is on holiday to be running around an asylum/military base. When there were medical staff/soldiers that could have been used in the respective maps.
The gameplay for the multiplayer is ample and it works like in any other game of the time. Although many of the maps consist of an empty maze, the maps do work adequately. However some maps visually speaking are bland and dull such as the asylum. Since the asylum is a largely grey map with little to no hiding places. But there are over a dozen maps to play on so there is some variety. However with all the maps on offer there was nothing impressive. When it comes to modes there are 6 different modes to play on. Although you can only play against bots since there is no multplayer options. Out of the 6 modes on offer 4 modes are your standard modes that you get in other FPS games. These being deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag and sabotage.
The other 2 modes on offer are deathmatch mode with a few slight differences. The first mode I will discuss is the hunt mode. This mode is essentially deathmatch with 2 differences. That being there is a grim reaper character that is running around the map. Which you need to avoid as if he manages to touch you as a result die and lose points. However, whenever I was playing on this mode. The AI opponents weren’t trying to hunt/avoid the grim reaper they were shooting each other. As a result of this the mode is essentially a deathmatch mode if you’re playing this mode. This is because you will end up being the target of everyone. The last difference is that there are restrictions of what weapon you have. As there are only 3 weapons you get to use these being a pistol, grenades and a hunting shotgun.
The final mode on offer is power up. This game mode is quite similar to deathmatch. However the only one difference between the 2 modes. That difference being there is boxes that are placed across the map. Each box contains a random item such as a gun, armour or health. However there is also a chance in which you lose health or points. Also one last thing I did notice in multiplayer is that you never ever run out of ammo. This is because whenever you fire the pistol you are magically given ammo for it after each shot has been fired. I feel that it is weird that this happens as it is hard to run out of ammo. But at the same time it at least makes the game gentler to inexperienced players.
Overall I cannot particularly recommend XIII – Classic to most people. Primarily because the single player to this game is as short as it is fun to play on. Although XIII – Classic has no real replay value after you have completed it once. Sadly the multiplayer to XIII – Classic is basic, has little customization options and feels like a last minute afterthought. Frankly the only time I would even entertain buying this game is if it is on sale. As this game is a good game to play on a rainy day.
