However, several other titles, some underrated and others outright ignored, deserve to be remembered. It could be the port of a PC title or that one legendary movie tie-in that no one else remembers. Let’s dive into them.

The Thing

Trying to make an impact in the survival horror genre, especially with juggernauts like Silent Hill and Resident Evil around, is no easy task. Nevertheless, The Thing had interesting hooks, like the Fear/Trust system. If an NPC believes you were The Thing, they could attack, but even if unsure, they’d remain distrustful and ignore orders. They can also become scared, lash out, commit suicide or die from heart attacks. It wasn’t perfect, but The Thing presented a tense atmosphere with strong environmental variety.

A new gameplay trailer has been released, showcasing improvements to the AI and art direction. Technical performance has also been improved with support for 60 frames per second gameplay. Though not showcased, multiplayer will support up to 13 players, which is a step down from the original game but still fitting.

The XIII remake is out on September 13th for Nintendo Switch along with its free update. In the meantime, you can check out our review for its less-than-ideal version here. Stay tuned for more details once the update is live.

Development on XIII is being handled by French studio Tower Five. Alongside working on a major update for the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions of the game, the studio has also been working on the Switch Port.

XIII on PS4, Xbox One, and PC will be getting its online multiplayer mode in the update. The multiplayer mode will allow for up to 13 players. The update will also be bringing with it improvements to the game’s performance, and will essentially act as an overhaul for the entire game. This comes largely thanks to the backlash XIII recieved at the launch of the remake, with Metacritic scores indicating it being one of the worst-reviewed games of the year.

“We are fully aware and terribly sorry that the initial launch of XIII Remake on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC did not reach players’ expected quality standards,” said Microids CEO Stéphane Longeard. “A bit more than a year ago we took the decision to hire the studio Tower Five to finish the development of the game. Tower Five worked with us in the past, notably on the great port of Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders on Nintendo Switch. We really wanted to take the time to fix the game and offer owners of XIII Remake a free update paying the best possible tribute to the original game we all love. The Nintendo Switch version of the game will of course benefit from all the work done to improve the game as well as the multiplayer mode, which will mark the end of the game’s development. We can’t wait for players to put their hands on this improved version of the game and (re)discover the classic adventures of Agent XIII, as soon as it’s released after the Summer.”

XIII was originally released on PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2020. A remake of the 2003 FPS with the same name, XIII revolves around an amnesiac protagonist that is on the run from the FBI following the assassination of the president of USA. The game is an adaptation of the first five volumes of Belgian graphic novel XIII by artist William Vance and writer Jean Van Hamme.

SILENT HILL HD COLLECTION

Never has there been a more infuriating example of a remaster that completely misses the point of what makes the original game so good. Silent Hill has always been all about the atmosphere, and the visual changes made in the HD Collection did everything in their power to completely destroy that, from the almost complete removal of something as crucial to the experience as the mist to the baffling lack of improvements made to character models, objects, and environments.

Ubisoft’s 2003 cel-shaded first person shooter XIII might not be the most high profile shooter out there, but its got a dedicated cult following nonetheless. That following has been looking forward to its remake, developed by PlayMagic, for some time now, and that remake is now out.

Publishers Microids have released a new launch trailer for the game, showing off its stylish visual aesthetic and setting the stage for its story, which will see the amnesiac protagonist on the run from the FBI and involved in the assassination of the United States President. Fans of the original are likely going to be happy with how faithful the remake seems to be to the original, at least based on appearances. Take a look at its launch trailer below.

XIII is out today on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and will release for the Nintendo Switch at some point in 2021. There’s no word yet on whether a next-gen version is planned, or if the game will feature any enhancements on next-gen consoles.

Earlier this year we got an announcement that the cult classic XIII would be returning. The cel-shaded shooter based on the French graphic novel of the same name flew under the radar somewhat when it originally released in 2003. It’ll be out next month (on most platforms, but more on that in a second), and today we got a new trailer to highlight the good ol’ times.

A new trailer highlights the various weapons you’ll be able to use from the standards things such as the 9mm pistol and the M16 to the more inventive ones such as the Harpoon and Combat Knives. There’s also a few other useful tools at the end, such as your lockpick. On the less nostalgic side, alongside the trailer also came confirmation that the Switch version would see a delay, though the other versions are still on track.

XIII will release on November 10th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The Switch version will now release at some point in 2021.

No One Lives Forever

Zany 1960s spy aesthetic, hilariously clever writing, unique mission objectives and an endearing protagonist. What more could you want? No One Lives Forever was also releasing in a post-Half-Life era where stronger story-telling was valued in first person shooters. Alas, its success wasn’t to be. Despite rave reviews from critics, NOLF would release in November 2000 and only sell 36,501 copies by the end of the year. Even worse is the fact that current-generation players can’t experience it due to muddled IP rights. Nevertheless, whatever the future may hold, Cate Archer will forever be in our hearts.

Cel-shaded first person shooter XIII might not have the mainstream popularity that other properties in the genre do, but as its dedicated and strong fanbase would be happy to tell you, it’s one hell of a game. The stylish shooter is in line for a remake this year, and now, we know exactly when it will be dropping.

A new gameplay trailer of the XIII remake recently debuted at the IGN Expo, and as was leaked earlier today, the shooter launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in November, later this year. The remake will feature enhanced visuals and remastered voice overs and music, while the base game experience – including the multiplayer mode – will offer plenty of stylistic carnage. Standard and special editions of the game have also been detailed. Check it all out in the new gameplay trailer below.

XIII launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on November 10. Given the timing of its release, it’s worth wondering whether it will also come to next-gen consoles, but that isn’t something that’s been talked about yet. Stay tuned for more updates.

PlayMagic’s remake of XIII, a cel-shaded shooter from 2013, was delayed from 2019 to this year. While the developer hasn’t offered any updates on a new release date, Amazon Spain seems to have leaked it. According to listings for the Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions, XIII will be out on November 10th. It will also come to PC on the same day.

Along with the standard edition, there’s a Limited Edition that includes art cards, a skin pack for Golden XIII Weapons, a metal case and the game. Pricing is still unrevealed but more details could be offered in the coming weeks. In fact, the gameplay trailer for XIII will debut later today as part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming expo so expect an official release date announcement there.

XIII follows an amnesiac assassin who has no memory of his past and is left with a “XIII” tattoo and a bank deposit key. Over time, the assassin will learn of his role in the assassination of President Sheridan and the conspiracy surrounding it. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

OKAMI

Okami is one of the best games Capcom has ever put out – and looking at their impressive catalog of games over the years, that’s no small praise. With its beautiful aesthetic, its engaging gameplay, and fantastic design, it stands out as one of the best games on every system it is playable on. That said, the sales of the game were nowhere near as good as that sort of praise warrants, with only a little over half a million units sold in three years. Hopefully, Capcom decides to give this property another shot, and hopefully, that hypothetical sequel sells better than its predecessor.

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