XIII

XIII is a first-person shooter heavily inspired by a Belgian graphic novel, utilizing a distinct cel-shaded art style that makes it look exactly like a living comic book. It features visual sound effects like "BAM" and "TOX" appearing on screen when enemies are hit. This was a highly innovative graphical choice for a major shooter release in 2003.

The amnesiac protagonist, known only by the Roman numeral XIII, is voiced by David Duchovny, famous for The X-Files. The game also features the voice acting talents of Adam West, who voices General Carrington. Duchovny’s famously deadpan delivery fits the gritty, conspiracy-laden tone of the game perfectly.

The game follows a man who washes up on a beach in New York City with amnesia and a tattoo of the Roman numeral XIII on his chest. He soon finds himself framed for the assassination of the President of the United States. As he fights his way through enemies, he must piece together his past and uncover a massive government conspiracy.

The game was developed by Ubisoft Paris and published by Ubisoft. It was originally released across multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC. A remake of the game was later released in 2020, though the original 2003 version is generally considered superior by fans.