XIII (2003) for GameCube.

Funny how the stuff that becomes cult classics was once sitting in bargain bins. Case in point—I picked this one up for just $7.

What sets XIII apart isn’t just that it’s a first-person shooter, but that it’s drenched in cel-shaded, comic book styling. Panels pop on screen, “BANG!” sound effects appear as text, and the whole thing looks like a living graphic novel. The style still holds up, which is more than you can say for a lot of early 2000s shooters.

I also own the PC version, which I give the edge to—mouse aiming is just superior. Still, the GameCube release has its own distinct charm, and it’s one of those cases where the presentation makes up for the clunk.

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