Welcome back to Barely A Gamer!
Today I’m checking out XIII on the Nintendo Switch — a first-person shooter developed by PlayMagic and published by Microids. This is a remake of the original 2003 game, which later received an updated version in 2022 for newer platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
I went into this game completely blind. I didn’t know the story, didn’t know it was an FPS, and honestly had no expectations at all. I just downloaded it and jumped straight in.
🎨 Visuals & Art Style
The very first thing that stood out was the art style. The game uses a very cartoonish, sketch-like, cell-shaded look that gives it a strong comic book vibe. Personally, I think this style works quite well on the Switch, especially in handheld mode. It’s artistic, readable, and visually distinct, and it fits the Nintendo Switch vibe nicely.
Cutscenes look stable and clean, and overall presentation-wise, the game looks good on the system.
🎮 Gameplay & First Impressions
Gameplay-wise, XIII is a traditional first-person shooter. Shooting feels fun and responsive, and mechanically, the game itself isn’t bad. I only played around 15 to 20 minutes, but the core gameplay loop felt enjoyable enough.
Story-wise, the game follows an amnesiac protagonist who wakes up stranded on a beach with no memory of who he is. As the story unfolds, he finds himself caught in a massive conspiracy involving the attempted assassination of the President of the United States, with the FBI now hunting him down. It’s an interesting setup, even though I didn’t get far enough to fully judge the narrative.
⚙️ Performance on Nintendo Switch
This is where the game struggles the most on Switch.
• Targets 30 FPS
• Frequently drops below target
• Frame rate often hovers around 25–27 FPS
• Cutscenes run better than gameplay
• Playable, but not smooth
While the game is playable, the inconsistent frame rate is noticeable, especially if you’re used to smoother gameplay experiences. It’s not unplayable, but it can feel a bit disappointing at times.
💭 My Verdict (So Far)
Visually, XIII looks good on Nintendo Switch, and the gameplay itself feels fun. However, the performance issues hold it back. Because of that, I’ve decided to continue playing this game on PS4, where I expect a smoother experience.
If you’re planning to buy this on Switch, I’d recommend watching some gameplay footage first and deciding whether the performance is acceptable for you.
📺 Played on: Nintendo Switch
🎮 Game: XIII
📆 Year: 2022 (Updated Switch version)
🎥 Style: First-Person Shooter Gameplay
🎙️ Vibe: Honest first impressions, performance-focused review
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