5:35 PM
Ryan (Entr0p1k)
Every classic First Person Shooter seems to have it’s own unique feeling that it uses to climb its way to the top of the gaming ladder. In a world saturated with hit titles, each featuring their signature experience, it can be hard for a new game to break the mold and present something new to the gaming community. Raven Software’s Singularity has a unique way of doing this.
Does Singularity bring a whole new arsenal of features? No. Does it somehow feel original despite this? Yes. Singularity brings together mechanics and artistic motifs that have been used in more mainstream games in a way that makes it feel like a completely independent game.
Singularity takes place on an abandoned USSR island called Katorga-12. During the peak of the Cold War the Russian’s discovered a new element, E-99. This element was experimented with and discovered to have amazing qualities, even having the ability to alter time itself. In the year 2010, US spy satellites have picked up radiation flashes resonating from the now desolate island of Katorga-12. The player, controlling Captain Renko, is sent to investigate the surges and discovers an island ravaged by soldiers, mutants, and time itself.
Gameplay
Most of the mechanics in Singularity are centered around the TMD (Time Manipulation Device), a device developed with E-99 technology to bend time to its user’s will. The TMD gives the player the ability to manipulate time in various ways, such as aging soldiers to dust, and restoring objects to a previous state. It runs on E-99 energy that can be found in vials around the island which function in a way almost identical to EVE vials in Bioshock. One inconvenience with the system is that there is no button to reload your TMD, and only reload when you try to perform an action that you do not have enough energy for. This can cause problems when in the middle of a large firefight.
The TMD also includes an Anti-Gravity ability which is basically a rip-off of Half-life 2’s Gravity Gun. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Singularity employs this, even if it doesn’t have as large of a role as it did in HL2. This is probably a good thing, as it isn’t as polished and can be glitchy and hard to use at times.
In addition to the TMD, the player also carries many badass weapons in his arsenal. Some unique weapons showcased include a sniper rifle that slows time, a guided grenade launcher and a “Seeker” gun that fires guided, explosive bullets. The game has a decent variety of weapons, almost all of which seem to take a little too long to kill enemies. Also, some guns are definitely better than others (*cough*pistol sucks*cough cough*).
Both the weapons and the TMD can be upgraded throughout the game. The TMD is upgraded by finding various blueprints for equipment and upgrades that can then be purchased with E-99 tech found scattered around the island. Weapon upgrades are purchased with weapon tech boxes hidden in sneaky places throughout the game.
During your exploration of Katorga-12 you will run into several enemies that want nothing more than to kill you. Such things range from space-warping mutants to simple soldiers. One interesting element in this game is traveling through time. In the present you tend to fight mainly mutants and a few advanced soldiers, while in the past you typically fight 1955 USSR soldiers.
Video / Audio
At first glance Singularity’s graphics seem a little dated and unimpressive, but this game is more than just textures. One of the main visual themes surrounding the game is the way time effects the world around you. The regeneration and disintegration of stairs, bridges, and even equipment is mesmerizing. A simple pile of debris can be reformed into a working piece of machinery with a simple application of the TMD.
These effects become more and more pronounced as the player moves through the game, especially in late game where the entire complex is shifting back and forth through time as you venture deeper into it.
The designs and visuals of the creatures are nothing to laugh at either. Watching a group of blue, slimy mutants shift through space and reality while chasing you is both an awesome and horrifying experience.
The sounds of the creatures, guns and TMD are all very well done. One great example is listening to the mutants’ screeches and moans deepen as the sniper rifle’s Temporal Distortion ability is activated. The music is not quite as well done, however. Most of the music feels unoriginal and uninspired, and does very little for the overall feel of the game.
Story
In addition to the main storyline, the world is littered with audio logs and text notes, similar to those in Bioshock, that help to supplement the story. Unfortunately, these logs are not collected or logged and instead the player must stay in the general vicinity if they wish to listen to them. They also don’t seem to provide nearly the amount of depth as the logs in Bioshock did and are not nearly as interesting.
The actual storyline is rather hard to follow and took me two playthroughs to fully understand. Despite this, Singularity offers a unique storyline focused around small changes in the past having huge consequences and effects on the future. Every time the player returns to the present, the island is visibly changed.
The twists and turns of the story and the seamless integration of events makes this game a wonder to experience, that is, if you are willing to put in the effort to follow it.
Content
This isn’t a game that I would expect most people spending a great deal of time with. The single player campaign can be completed in just a few sittings. There is also no real incentive to replay the game except for storyline clarity.
Singularity does have an online multiplayer, but it offers only two game modes and, although fun, is unbalanced and noncompetitive. It is, however, very addictive, and I found myself spending several hours killing player controlled mutants. So who knows, you might get really into it.
Huevos Factor
Singularity takes many aspects and mechanics from popular FPS titles. And yet, I loved this game for how original it felt despite this. I don’t know how they did it, but Raven Software used colors seen in other games to create their own work of art. It isn’t a masterpiece, but still deserves some recognition.
I don’t recommend you go out and buy this one, but at very least rent it, just to see what it’s all about.
Does Singularity bring a whole new arsenal of features? No. Does it somehow feel original despite this? Yes. Singularity brings together mechanics and artistic motifs that have been used in more mainstream games in a way that makes it feel like a completely independent game.
Singularity takes place on an abandoned USSR island called Katorga-12. During the peak of the Cold War the Russian’s discovered a new element, E-99. This element was experimented with and discovered to have amazing qualities, even having the ability to alter time itself. In the year 2010, US spy satellites have picked up radiation flashes resonating from the now desolate island of Katorga-12. The player, controlling Captain Renko, is sent to investigate the surges and discovers an island ravaged by soldiers, mutants, and time itself.
Gameplay
8.0 |
Most of the mechanics in Singularity are centered around the TMD (Time Manipulation Device), a device developed with E-99 technology to bend time to its user’s will. The TMD gives the player the ability to manipulate time in various ways, such as aging soldiers to dust, and restoring objects to a previous state. It runs on E-99 energy that can be found in vials around the island which function in a way almost identical to EVE vials in Bioshock. One inconvenience with the system is that there is no button to reload your TMD, and only reload when you try to perform an action that you do not have enough energy for. This can cause problems when in the middle of a large firefight.
The TMD also includes an Anti-Gravity ability which is basically a rip-off of Half-life 2’s Gravity Gun. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Singularity employs this, even if it doesn’t have as large of a role as it did in HL2. This is probably a good thing, as it isn’t as polished and can be glitchy and hard to use at times.
In addition to the TMD, the player also carries many badass weapons in his arsenal. Some unique weapons showcased include a sniper rifle that slows time, a guided grenade launcher and a “Seeker” gun that fires guided, explosive bullets. The game has a decent variety of weapons, almost all of which seem to take a little too long to kill enemies. Also, some guns are definitely better than others (*cough*pistol sucks*cough cough*).
Both the weapons and the TMD can be upgraded throughout the game. The TMD is upgraded by finding various blueprints for equipment and upgrades that can then be purchased with E-99 tech found scattered around the island. Weapon upgrades are purchased with weapon tech boxes hidden in sneaky places throughout the game.
During your exploration of Katorga-12 you will run into several enemies that want nothing more than to kill you. Such things range from space-warping mutants to simple soldiers. One interesting element in this game is traveling through time. In the present you tend to fight mainly mutants and a few advanced soldiers, while in the past you typically fight 1955 USSR soldiers.
Video / Audio
| 8.0 |
At first glance Singularity’s graphics seem a little dated and unimpressive, but this game is more than just textures. One of the main visual themes surrounding the game is the way time effects the world around you. The regeneration and disintegration of stairs, bridges, and even equipment is mesmerizing. A simple pile of debris can be reformed into a working piece of machinery with a simple application of the TMD.
These effects become more and more pronounced as the player moves through the game, especially in late game where the entire complex is shifting back and forth through time as you venture deeper into it.
The designs and visuals of the creatures are nothing to laugh at either. Watching a group of blue, slimy mutants shift through space and reality while chasing you is both an awesome and horrifying experience.
The sounds of the creatures, guns and TMD are all very well done. One great example is listening to the mutants’ screeches and moans deepen as the sniper rifle’s Temporal Distortion ability is activated. The music is not quite as well done, however. Most of the music feels unoriginal and uninspired, and does very little for the overall feel of the game.
Story
| 7.5 |
In addition to the main storyline, the world is littered with audio logs and text notes, similar to those in Bioshock, that help to supplement the story. Unfortunately, these logs are not collected or logged and instead the player must stay in the general vicinity if they wish to listen to them. They also don’t seem to provide nearly the amount of depth as the logs in Bioshock did and are not nearly as interesting.
The actual storyline is rather hard to follow and took me two playthroughs to fully understand. Despite this, Singularity offers a unique storyline focused around small changes in the past having huge consequences and effects on the future. Every time the player returns to the present, the island is visibly changed.
The twists and turns of the story and the seamless integration of events makes this game a wonder to experience, that is, if you are willing to put in the effort to follow it.
Content
| 6.0 |
This isn’t a game that I would expect most people spending a great deal of time with. The single player campaign can be completed in just a few sittings. There is also no real incentive to replay the game except for storyline clarity.
Singularity does have an online multiplayer, but it offers only two game modes and, although fun, is unbalanced and noncompetitive. It is, however, very addictive, and I found myself spending several hours killing player controlled mutants. So who knows, you might get really into it.
Huevos Factor
| 7.0 |
Singularity takes many aspects and mechanics from popular FPS titles. And yet, I loved this game for how original it felt despite this. I don’t know how they did it, but Raven Software used colors seen in other games to create their own work of art. It isn’t a masterpiece, but still deserves some recognition.
I don’t recommend you go out and buy this one, but at very least rent it, just to see what it’s all about.
Breakdown:
| Gameplay | 8.0 |
| Video / Audio | 8.0 |
| Story | 7.5 |
| Content | 6.0 |
| Huevos Factor | 7.0 |
Overall | 7.5 |
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