The game based on the “XIII” comic has been a real insider tip since 2003 due to its unusual graphic design. The 2020 remake, which had to take massive criticism for both graphics and gameplay decisions, was no insider tip. At the beginning of September, a makeover from new developers is supposed to direct the state.
A Metacritic score of 29 points speaks volumes: The remake actually causes trouble from A to Z. With 4Players alone, hit feedback, weapon feel, animations, AI, bugs, graphic errors and controls are listed as weaknesses. Buyers also found that the overhauled graphics watered down the original's succinct style and the ability to carry around two weapons at a time also detracted from the fun of the game. The universal consensus was therefore: The remake was worse in every respect than the classic that was still available in stores, and the unanimous recommendation was to buy it in combination with a widescreen mod.
New developers, new patch
However, instead of abandoning the project in the face of this devastating verdict and silently abandoning it to oblivion, Publisher Microids has reacted differently. In a short statement, it is announced that Tower Five has been working on a major update of the game for over a year. Tower Five has already delivered a decent game with Lornsword: Winter Chronicle. The original developers at PlayMagic are, as is evident from this, no longer entrusted with the work. The reason is obvious. The quality was not satisfactory.
Significant changes are promised. They concern the AI, the HUD and the graphic style, but also the sounds. Improvements are also promised for the console versions. The development studio has “revised the entire game from the art style to the AI and added numerous technical improvements,” the announcement promises. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough to attract new buyers. However, owners will get the changes free of charge in the form of an update that is scheduled to be released on September 13th.
