Do You Feel Lucky?

XIII, the new cel-shaded first-person action title based on a popular French comic book, blasts onto the Xbox this fall with some of the most innovative graphics to ever grace the console. But, the unique comic-book look is only one part of the equation … How does the game play? I’m happy to report XIII is nothing short of the coolest shooter to hit the Xbox yet. The single-player story is utterly engrossing, the multiplayer elements are cool and extremely well-designed, and the game’s controls will be second nature to anyone who has played Halo. Which should be all of you, right? Good.

But, it’s not just a shoot-‘em-up kinda game—this title is from the folks behindSplinter Cell, after all. Some levels will require you not to mortally wound certain enemies (innocent security guards, for example). You’ll be able to seize hostages and use them to escape. You can use corpses as human shields, or just avoid combat entirely by seizing a hostage (assuming your enemy isn’t the sort to shoot through said hostage). Knowing when to pick up the 9mm and when to throw an ashtray can make all the difference.

As you might expect for a game based on fine French literature, Ubi Soft’s newest masterpiece has a pretty cerebral story line built around a central mystery: —Who are you, and what are up against? At first, you’ll have no idea, so check out our helpful strategies for surviving your first few challenges.

NOTE: Minor early game spoilers ahead.

Friend or Foe? Good question.

Arg! My Brain!
When you awaken on a New Jersey beach at the top of the game, you have no idea who you are or where you are, but bits and pieces will return to you as you encounter certain characters and places. Pay close attention to these memories, which you can actually navigate through (sort of like Ebeneezer Scrooge, if the old dude had been a suspected presidential assassin on the run from just about everybody). A Pamela Anderson-esque lifeguard manages to get you back to the beach house or lifeguard shack or whatever it is, when the place suddenly comes under attack.

Your lifeguard pal is a lost cause, but you’ll need to find weapons immediately. Keep an eye out for a rectangular frame over any given object—that means you can pick it up. At this point in the game, there’s no reason to hold back. Grab some throwing knives and get ready.

Killing guards isn’t always wise.

The first opponent will be visible through the window. Draw a bead on his forehead and let fly with a throwing knife, which should take him out in one hit and reward you with a comic-book-style cut scene depicting his demise.

Pick up the bad guy’s gun and anything else you can get your hands on—keys, med packs, etc. Then, charge out onto the dock and take aim. If you’re quick on your feet, you can dodge their shots and take their weapons in just a few seconds, but beware of snipers on the cliffs. They’re a pain to hit with the pistol, especially with a headshot, but at this point, you have no choice.

After some pretty straightforward combat (unless you choose to sneak through the water and take on the enemy Navy SEAL-style) you should find the keys to the truck sitting on the beach, which will take you to the next level.

He may have no memory, but he can still shoot.

No Deposit, No Return
Next up, you’ll need to infiltrate a bank to retrieve something from a safety deposit box. (Nnaturally, you have only the key and no memory of what’s inside.). This level is much larger, and there’s no room here for a walkthrough, but keep the following strategies in mind:

They didn’t ask for this. Bank guards and other civilians may not be killed when you first break in. (Llater, when the guards start shooting in earnest, this won’t be a problem.). Instead, simply take them out with the old right cross (which almost guarantees you’ll take at least one bullet) or whack them with a chair, ashtray, or some other handy item for a one-hit knockout that won’t trouble your conscience.
Take hostages. This level is a lot harder to get through if you don’t take at least one hostage (simply sneak up behind the hostage and press the action button when you see the appropriate icon). and tThen, make sure he or she is facing the guards to keep them from opening up on you.
Die-hard style. You’re going to need to take some unorthodox routes through this bank if you’re going to complete your withdrawal. Keep your eyes open for vents with breakable screens and handy elevators, even if you don’t know where they’re going.

By Ben Barker