XIII (2003 video game)
| XIII | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft, Feral (Mac) |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Director(s) |
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| Engine | Unreal Engine 2.0 |
| Platform(s) | GameCube, PS2, Xbox, PC, Mac, Mobile Phone |
| Release | November 25, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
XIII (pronounced: Thirteen) is a first-person shooter video game released for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Mac and the PC, and based on the Belgian XIII comic series of the same name. XIII was developed and published by Ubisoft and released on November 25, 2003. The game was published for Mac OS X by Feral Interactive.
Similar to The Bourne Identity, the plot of the game centers on the main character, who has awakened with amnesia. XIII is unique in that the characters and weaponry are cel-shaded, giving a deliberately comic book style appearance, including onomatopoeic words contained in bubbles for sound effects.
The story begins at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York City where XIII awakes, badly wounded and with no memory of his past. The game follows the storyline of the first five volumes of the comic (the first fifteen issues), although there are several additions to the storyline, and minor changes were made to better adapt the story to game format. The game ends at the exact point where the comic's fifth volume ended, and as such, the complete story is unfinished, leaving room for a sequel (which as of 2006, however, has not been announced).
Characters
XIII: The story's protagonist, and the main playable character. XIII wakes up on a beach in New York City with a mysterious tattoo of the Roman numeral for thirteen on his shoulder. XIII learns that he is being targeted by a hitman called The Mongoose and his army of mercenaries. He is also wanted by the F.B.I. for the murder of the President of the United States, William Sheridan. Throughout the game, XIII struggles to uncover his true identity and a conspiracy plot involving a group known as The XX. At the end of the game XIII's identity is revealed as Jason Fly.
Jones: Jones is a soldier who works for General Carrington. She knows that XIII is not guilty of the president's murder and is willing to help clear his name. Jones is tough, courageous, and pretty good at handling The Mongoose's thugs.
Carrington: An old war veteran, Ben Carrington is another one of XIII's few allies. He knows very valuable information about the president's death and is willing to help XIII. However, he was arrested and brought to a military station in the Appalachian mountains to be silenced by the conspiracy. XIII must infiltrate the base and free Carrington if he is to learn about his past.
The Mongoose: An infamous hitman hired by The XX to carry out assassinations and other evil deeds. The Mongoose is a cruel and cold-blooded murderer who carries out his orders with eagerness and glee. He commands an army of hitmen to do some of his dirty work. XIII encounters The Mongoose many times and must eventually face off against him near the game's end.
Walter Sheridan: The brother of the recently deceased president, William Sheridan. Walter promised that he would finish the work that his brother had started. Walter helps XIII try to stop The XX's scheme near the game's end.
Colonel Amos: A wise and old man. Colonel Amos is in charge of the investigation of the president's death. Amos believes that XIII is guilty and attempts to hunt him down and bring him to justice. XIII must prove his innocence to Amos in order to gain his trust.
Number I: The leader of the conspiracy known as The XX. Number I is a mysterious figure who hatched the plot to take over the United States. Number I's identity is unknown except to Number II in the conspiracy.However at the end of the game number 1 is no other than Presidennt Elect Walter Sheridan - Brother of the assassinated president.
Kim Rowland: The wife of the deceased Steve Rowland. Kim and her husband were both members of the conspiracy. Kim was Number XVII and Steve was Number XIII. But now that XIII has returned, despite claims that he was shot by The Mongoose, Kim believes that her husband is still alive and tries to explain to XIII the mystery sorrounding his identity.
William Standwell: An American general with a fiery temper. Standwell was elected chief of staff and had replaced General Carrington. Standwell has mysterious and shady ties to The XX.
Seymour MacCall: A gruff and old colonel who operates an army base in Mexico. He is Standwell's right hand man and always takes orders from him. He is also suspected of being involved with The XX.
Weapons
- Knife
- 9 mm Pistol
- Grenade
- .44 Special
- Crossbow
- Shotgun
- Pump-Action Shotgun
- Harpoon Launcher
- Mini Gun
- Kalash
- Assault Rifle
- Machine Gun
- Bazooka
- Sniper Rifle
Online Mode
The multiplayer over Xbox Live, PS2 Online, and System Link hosts a maximum of eight players. The game features four different game modes.
- Team Deathmatch
- Deathmatch
- Capture the Flag
- Sabotage - each team is made up of two players or more, each of which has a specific skill. The offensive team tries to blow up the defensive teams checkpoint. The game ends when either time has elapsed or the checkpoints are blown up.
Each gametype has different maps with a set maximum players.
TEAM DEATHMATCH/DEATHMATCH
- Hualpar [4 Players]
- Asylum [4 Players]
- USA [4 Players]
- SS 419 [4 Players]
- Platform 02 [4 Players]
- AFM-10 [4 PLayers]
- Emerald [4 Players]
- Warehouse 33 [4 Players]
- Winslow Bank [6 Players]
- FBI [6 Players]
- Brisotl Suites [6 Players]
- Spads [6 Players]
- Plain Rock [6 Players]
- XX [6 Players]
- Kellownee [6 Players]
- USS-Patriot [8 Players]
- New York [8 Players]
- Temple [8 Players]
CAPTURE THE FLAG
- XX [6 Players]
- Kellownee [6 Players]
- USS Patriot [8 Players]
- New York [8 Players]
- Temple [8 Players]
SABOTAGE
- Docks [8 players]
- Choland [8 players]
- Camp [8 players]
Voice Cast
- XIII - David Duchovny
- Major Jones - Eve
- General Carrington - Adam West
- Mongoose, Colonel Amos - Ken Starcevic
- Walter Sheridan, Others Men #1 - Eddie Crew
- Kim, Conspiracy Members #4, Nurses/Other Women #1 - Jodie Forrest
- Pam, Nurses/Other Women #2 - Adriana Anderson
- Pacha, Conspiracy Members #8 - Gary Cowan
- Galbrain, Johnansson, Conspiracy Members #2 - Christian Erickson
- Standwell, Conspiracy Members #9 - Mike Morris
- Willard, Others Men #2, Conspiracy Members #1 - David Gasman
- Winslow - Joe Sheridan
- Mac Call, Others Men #3, Conspiracy Members #3 - Jerry Di Giacomo
- Spads #1, Conspiracy Members #6 - Peter Thias
- Spads #2, Conspiracy Members #7 - Andy Chase
- Spads #3 - Dominic Gould
- Matt Geczy - Matthew Geczy