• Review: Unit 13

    by
    Beatboxtaun
    Published on 03-11-2012 11:27 PM
    1 Comment Comments
    Unit 13 Developer: Zipper Interactive Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platform: PS Vita Genre: Single player, 2-player co-op Rating: Teen Release Date: March 6, 2012 The curiosity swarming in the minds of PS Vita owners about how a handheld shooter would feel on the system has now been answered with Zipper Interactive's Unit 13. What better team to break in the system with a twin stick shooter than with the team behind MAG and the SOCOM franchise? Presentation Choose one of the Unit 13 operatives to play as and utilize his weapons, gear, specialties, and unlocks. Unit 13 was designed to be the perfect pick-up-and-go game by offering various missions to grind away on. With 45 missions, which include 36 core missions and nine High Value Targets, some can be extremely challenging, if you are in it to ace the missions. This game is easily accessible in picking it up and playing a few missions and coming right back in for more, at any given time. The load times can get frustrating with an average 36 second wait between missions. This is definitely not a game for people who are short tempered perfectionists. The player will definitely go in for the kill of obtaining the most points they can during each mission. This can sometimes lead to the player wanting to spike the PS Vita. You will quickly catch yourself getting greedy and go for all the points you can and end up getting killed and have to start all over again by going for that perfect mission. Let me point out that this is not the game, but more dependent on the player. There are various ways of racking up points on each mission. There is the basic 10,000 points if the player completes the objective. Plus, additional points are rewarded for completing it in a certain amount of time. Since the game is all about points, the player will want to pull off some bonus missions, such as eliminating an HVT (a High Value Target), obtaining head shots, ambushing, accuracy, and even going through undetected by the enemy. Maintaining a high percentage of health upon completion of some objectives will also be rewarded with extra points. I found myself putting the PS Vita down when I was becoming greedy for points to take a breather, collect my thoughts, and jump right back in. The player is being ranked amongst his/her friends, the world, and the PS Vita's "near" service, which can be very intimidating if you're the competitive type. When using the "near" service, the player will receive an HTV target notification from their friends and be able to complete these missions. Your greed can completely consume you, because you are going for perfection. I stopped to disable bombs and take time to kill everyone in a room, made sure I was getting headshots and this resulted in crucial mistakes that resulted in my death and lead to me starting the mission over again. At the end of the mission you are ranked on a five star scale. Graphics Unit 13 was not graphically ground-breaking. The game includes some daytime and nighttime missions. The player is taken indoors and outdoors and through desert terrain and warehouse buildings. While the graphics worked for their purpose, Unit 13 did not push the boundaries of the PS Vita. A lot of the enemies were reoccurring and almost seemed as though you see the same five enemies repeatedly. For this being Sony's first PS Vita shooter, the graphics work well with what the title is intended to be. The environments and minor detail are adequate. The character animation worked well and seemed to move realistically. I have no complaints with frame rate issues or unnecessary pop ups. Sound/Music The music plays a key role in Unit 13 and adds to the anticipation of the missions. The music intensifies before a major battle is about to ensue. The player will get caught up in a relaxed mode during times of mental preparation and it will catch the player off guard and will alert you and prepare you for the battle ahead. Explosions, gunshots, and other mechanics are standard sounds in the game. The enemies will whistle and converse amongst each other in their native language. This connects the player to the setting of the game. Subtitles on the screen will translate what is being said so it is understood. Gameplay Unit 13's controls work well. The twin sticks were a great addition to a handheld shooter. The cover system can be quite frustrating at times. If you set yourself up at a doorway and an enemy is walking in, you cannot knife them. The player is forced to exit the cover system and back away from the doorway to knife the enemy, rather than pull this off while in cover. This threw a curveball in the natural feel of the gameplay mechanics that left me frustrated during those times and allowed me to kill my stealth plan of action and alert the enemies of my presence. I did realize that if the enemy is not facing you, they will not hear your footsteps, thus leading to some effortless stealth kills. The AI seems to act as a whole, rather than as each enemy as a different entity. If the enemies are spread out and you happen to kill one, who is away from the others, all of the enemies are somehow alerted and will come to their aid and completely focus on you. When a weapon appears on the bottom right-hand side of the screen, the player simply touches the front screen to pick up or swap the weapon. This is very comfortable and simple and provides a natural feel. The grenades and bomb defusing work in the same manor. Tossing the grenades was a bit tricky and not as accurate as I had hoped for. There was no trajectory view of where the grenade was going to land. Once it was launched, it was pretty much a hit or a miss toss. Sniping the enemies was quite enjoyable with the inclusion of a good zoom. The player can select the zoom by tapping the screen above the gun to choose the type of scope. For those who are impatient, you can actually run fast as well. Another pleasant aspect is the allowance of the camera adjustment to find the proper angle. This was welcomed since shooters nowadays do not allow the player to lean for a better shot. The game will try to mix things up with a couple of different modes. There are five modes in total: Direct Action (multi-objective), Deadline (Timed assault), Covert (Stealth), Elite (increased challenge), and, of course, the HVT (High Value Target). Overall, the gameplay was good and handled well. Lasting Appeal Not only can the player play Unit 13 solo, but also take it online with a friend using WiFi for some two-player cooperative gameplay, which is where the real fun is. With the PS Vita's built-in mic the players can utilize the full voice chat and strategically plan their execution. I wish that the multiplayer offered a versus mode, although the coop play is the most enjoyable aspect of the game, as a whole. It will definitely have you coming back to check your rank. Zipper has stated that they will be offering different Daily Challenges in which the player can complete, with no challenge repeats for a very long time. You can only play that challenge one time to receive an overall score which includes Friend, Local, Regional, and Global leaderboards. Conclusion Overall, Unit 13 is a very welcomed title to the shooter genre for handheld gaming. This is the PS Vita's first shooter and also the first handheld shooting game that incorporates the dual analogs. Since twitch gaming has become the thing of the future, Unit 13 is the best game for that because it is meant to be played in spurts. It was intended to be a great on-the-go shooter and Zipper Interactive has definitely accomplished this. You can be anywhere and knock out a mission or two and pick it up and play it at a later time. The mulitplayer and Daily Challenge will have the player coming back for more. The game also offers lasting appeal with the players wanting to perfect levels by beating them at faster times and obtaining more headshots and stealth kills to rack up points. The game offers a Platinum Trophy for those Trophy hunters, as well. You will also find yourself upgrading your favorite class for some weapon upgrades. With solo and multiplayer modes, Unit 13 will reward the players by offering leaderboards and challenging missions, while incorporating the PS Vita’s built-in microphone for full voice chat with other players. I found the utilization of this addition quite fun on a handheld device and it made it easier to converse with the other player, rather than just playing together and trying to get through it. Unit 13 is perfect for those that are competitive amongst their friends, their local area, region, and globally. It is not a game for those who are short tempered who are looking for a multiplayer shooter. Those who are looking for a quick get-up-and-go shooter that can be played in segments, Unit 13 is that game. Score: 8.0/10
    Comments 1 Comment
    1. akiachan's Avatar
      akiachan - 03-12-2012
      The only "shooter" I've played on the system so far is that Uncharted game. I'm no good at being a sniper heh. I did get the demo for Unit 13 so if I like it I might look into getting the game when the price drops or when I start seeing used copies. I've never been much of a shooter fan. Thanks for the review Taun!

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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