XIII
PS2, Xbox, GC, PC, £39.99 Ubi Soft, ****
As the first of this Christmas's putative blockbusters to break cover, XIII bodes well. Its unique proposition - comic book-style cel-animated graphics - may initially seem a bit gimmicky, but turns out to owe more to Roy Lichtenstein than Marvel. Essentially, XIII is a first-person shoot- em-up with a convoluted conspiracy-theory plot involving an American president apparently murdered by the amnesiac character you play. That plot would translate into a more than usually intelligent Hollywood action movie, but it is XIII's gameplay that sucks you into its stylised but oddly believable world. Mixing shooting, stealth and basic puzzle-solving, XIII tests your co-ordination, mettle and intelligence.
Imaginative touches abound: for example, the only way to break out of a bank populated with armed security guards, which you are not allowed to shoot, is to take a hostage and keep her pointed towards those guards. Later on, you must shoot enemy soldiers with your sniperscoped crossbow (one of the finest in-game weapons ever) and then drag them out of the way to avoid disrupting a secret meeting of the cabal who assassinated the president. If you like to think that you are too old for comic books, fear not, XIII has merely appropriated their visual metaphors for its own ends. Inset frames show you enemies around the corner, or add extra satisfaction to those long-range headshots. There is nothing juvenile about this game.
Steve Boxer
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
GameCube, £34.99 Sega, ***
With day-glo visuals, whimsical plot and Sega involvement, it's no surprise that Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg was developed by the team behind Sonic the Hedgehog. But while colourful cartoon animals may have thrilled gamers in 1991, today's breed are more demanding.
It's unlikely that rolling eggs - essentially what Billy does - will appeal, compared to shooting and scoring. But play without prejudice and there's fun to be had. By using different eggs, Billy can traverse his environment and save the world. And he can do more than roll. Much like Pokemon, different creatures that help progress can be hatched. So, releasing the watery beast will douse the fire. But positioning is frustratingly haphazard and the anachronistic inclusion of "lives" makes for some exasperating moments.
Kiddies, surely the target audience, will enjoy the visual feast, if not the tougher sections. But in these days of licensed blockbusters and gaming conservatism, Billy and his ilk are welcome - if only as a reminder of how things have changed.
Greg Howson
Vega$ - Make it Big
PC, £29.99 Deep Red/Empire Interactive, ***
Serious gamers tend to be wary of the words Sim or Tycoon, which doubtless explains the curious title. It may be smart thinking, too, as Vega$ is considerably better than most recent examples of the tycoon genre.
Although you can practise your entrepreneurial skills without commercial pressure in the Sandbox, the single-player campaign takes you on a gentle learning curve, with each level starting as an empty lot on an imaginary Vegas strip. Fill it with attractions, balance the budget and try to stay ahead of rival tycoons.
Vega$ boasts an impressive 3D engine, allowing you to pan around your complex or zoom in on a croupier. This is hardcore management wrapped in a crisp, candy shell - although the sheer level of detail will wear you down and a sense of humour is also notable by its absence.
Mike Anderiesz
