The most difficult part of reviewing a mobile phone game is in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the platform while also looking at the value the game provides. For example, XIII for mobile phones costs $3.00! When a game is that cheap, it is more difficult to evaluate because after all, what do you expect? Thankfully, the bottom line on XIII is that it is worth a purchase but you won’t remember the game beyond the time you spend playing it.The story behind XIII reflects that of the original comic as well as the console versions of the game. You are XIII, identified by a tattoo you find on your body after you wake up with no memory of yourself or your life. As you progress through the side scrolling shooter, you fight to discover more about your past. As in most mobile games, plot development in XIII is light, and it helps if you’re familiar with the other games or the original source material. The action gameplay, however, is what drives the game, and the pacing of the levels is well done. Simply, it is fun going around the game’s levels shooting things. The action never gets boring, though the game can be finished in an hour or two.
Control in XIII is generally acceptable, but can be problematic in numerous scenes that require faster twitch control. Gamers with joysticks on their cell phones will undoubtedly have a much easier and enjoyable time playing the game; the game maps well to the keypad, but the faster actions scenes can be difficult to respond to on a keypad. On a technical level, XIII looks good although I did experience a problem in which the game took up only 1/3 of the total size of my screen. The audio complements the graphics well enough.
XIII is a perfect example of a game you play when you need something to do. It’s short, simple, and generally easy. There’s nothing particularly memorable about the game, but it’s a good distraction if you find yourself wanting to play something. For some reason I can’t really figure out, XIII reminds me of SNK’s Metal Slug games (a good thing) and for its low price, XIII is definitely worth purchasing.
Test System: Sony Ericsson W800i
I love video games. I just don't play too many of them. I grew up always having to learn about games through my (incredibly cheap) subscription to Video Games and Computer Entertainment (10 years later, this magazine is now known as Tips And Tricks). I'd read through each issue several times, remembering all the screenshots and details, but it was rare that I'd actually to get play any of the games featured just because I didn't have the money to do so. Now, I'm lucky enough to work in the industry, at a position that requires me to be a video game expert. Apparently I really did learn something from all that reading back then! I still don't play a lot of games though.
I enjoy virtually all game genres, except for PC war strategy, which I'm sure I just can't handle in terms of sophistication. My true calling in gaming is the PC FPS. It's the only genre where I'm willing to overlook major flaws in a particular game, finish it, and enjoy it anyway.
I also have a fascination with digitized video games (Fox Hunt, Psychic Detective, Angel Devoid), a now-defunct genre. Back when full-motion-video was all the rage, these games were supposed to be the next step in bringing Hollywood to the gamer, but most of the time, these efforts resulted in hilarious (and ridiculous) "interactive" movies that, instead of bringing innovation to the industry, only paved the way for the bad voice acting that the industry still suffers from today.
