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This review covers the 2022 updated remake of XIII, not the 2020 remake or the original 2003 game. It is a more convincing return to the graphic novel’s comic-book look, and reviewers noted improvements to presentation and stability—but its shooting, stealth, and level design remain divisive. Whether it is worth playing depends in part on which version you choose and how much you enjoy a linear, retro-style shooter.
Which XIII game is this?
XIII has three versions that are easy to conflate: the original game released in 2003, a remake released in 2020, and an updated remake released in 2022. The 2022 version is associated with publisher Microids and developer Tower Five. It revises the remake rather than being a new game or a return to the original release.
The game is based on the Belgian graphic novel by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance. That comic-book source matters to the remake’s identity: reviewers singled out the 2022 edition’s visual style as a notable improvement over the first remake.
What changed in the 2022 update?
Reviews describe the 2022 update as an effort to improve the 2020 remake’s presentation and technical stability, including a stronger return to the source material’s comic-book aesthetic. They do not describe a complete redesign, nor do they suggest every weakness was resolved.
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- A new artistic direction that respects the original work and its iconic cel-shading design
- Numerous references to the eponymous graphic novel, including onomatopoeias, speech bubbles, panels, and more
- Varied gameplay with action, infiltration, and exploration phases and fierce multiplayer fights
- A breathtaking solo campaign with 34 levels; a brutal arsenal of 15 weapons to help you get your memory back
Platform matters when interpreting those reports. Comic Book Video Games’ discussion of the update is based on PS5 observations. It reports a free upgrade for owners of the 2020 game on PS4, but does not establish a general upgrade policy for every platform. Its comments about Xbox upgrade behavior are uncertain, so check the relevant listing for your edition rather than assuming the same arrangement applies.
How do the reviews differ?
The available reviews reach sharply different conclusions. These are individual judgments of specific versions, not an aggregate score or a universal consensus.
Rank #2
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| Review | Version assessed | What the reviewer highlighted | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push Square, 2022 | PS5 mini-review | Praised the comic-book styling, weapon selection, and performance; criticized gunplay, level design, enemy AI, and required stealth sections. | 5/10 |
| 8Bit/Digi, 2022 | PC review | Praised the comic-book design and faster gameplay; retained reservations about cutscenes and controls. | 8/10 |
The gap is a useful warning against treating a single score as the definitive verdict. A reviewer who values the presentation and brisk, old-school shooter feel may come away much more satisfied than one who puts greater weight on combat, enemy behavior, and level design.
What is it like to play?
Presentation and comic-book style
The visual identity is one of the update’s clearest strengths in the reviews. Push Square and 8Bit/Digi both praised the comic-book look, and the 2022 update was described as moving back toward the style that helped distinguish the source material. If that aesthetic is a major reason you are interested in XIII, the updated remake is more appealing than the reputation of the 2020 release alone might suggest.
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Rank #3
- The remake of the legendary first-person shooter released in 2003 for PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube
- A completely new design based on the original comic and cel shading look
- Numerous references to the comic of the same name: sound painting, speech bubbles, comic pictures
Shooting, stealth, and level design
The action is less consistently praised. Push Square found fault with the gunplay, enemy AI, and level design, and objected to mandatory stealth sequences. 8Bit/Digi, reviewing the PC version, highlighted faster gameplay but still had reservations about controls. The evidence supports a mixed picture rather than a claim that the update makes the shooting polished or the stealth optional.
Technical behavior
Reviewers described better stability or performance in the updated version, but those impressions are tied to the platforms they assessed. They are not a guarantee of identical behavior on every platform, or a statement about the game’s current patch status.
Rank #4
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- If a player dies during a chapter, they will come back in the next chapter with a different character, adding an additional level of replayability.
- Last Friday Revised Edition is a game for 2 to 6 players, divided into four chapters full of horror and suspense (“Arrival at the Camp”, “The Chase”, “The Massacre”, and “The Final Chapter”), with a playing time of 30 to 45 minutes per chapter, which you can play individually or together in a long night of terror!
Which version should you consider?
- Choose the 2022 remake if you want the updated presentation and are interested in a linear shooter with a comic-book identity. Reviews indicate improvements over the 2020 remake, though they disagree on how successful the game is overall.
- Be cautious if responsive gunplay, strong enemy AI, carefully designed levels, or minimal stealth are essential to your enjoyment. Those are among the specific shortcomings raised in the PS5 review.
- Check your platform and edition before buying or upgrading. Push Square lists September 13, 2022 as the PS5 release date in North America and Europe; coverage also describes releases on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC. These are historical release details, not confirmation of present stock, price, or upgrade eligibility.
Verdict
The 2022 XIII remake is a meaningful improvement over the troubled 2020 version in the areas reviewers emphasized—especially comic-book presentation and, in some accounts, stability—but it is not a clean fix for the game’s design and combat weaknesses. It is easiest to recommend to players drawn to the graphic novel’s look and a brisk, linear shooter, and harder to recommend to anyone expecting uniformly strong shooting, stealth, and level design. The 5/10 PS5 mini-review and 8/10 PC review show how much the final call depends on reviewer priorities and platform experience.
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- Figure Size: W 82mm x D 262mm x H 180mm
- PVC painted finished product
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