Unit 13 PS Vita Review
Developer Zipper Interactive
Publisher Sony
Platform Vita
Release Date 9.03.2012
Zipper have a long history of providing Sony’s consoles with tactical shooters and the Vita is no different. Suffering a slight delay which meant it wasn’t quite ready for launch Unit 13 hits the stores this Friday.
Unit 13 is a third person shooter that sees a number of operatives each with their own styles and load outs are dropped into a number of different missions that are standalone tasks (rather than part of an overall storyline) that vary from destroying weapons caches and high value target assassinations.
Each of the missions have different goals too, some are speed tests where you must get into a location eliminate everyone and get out before the timer hits zero. Others are stealth missions where the agent must remain unseen (or at least to avoid having the alarm raised)
The gameplay is excellent, it is a lot more action orientated than perhaps what players expect with previous experience of the SOCOM series. Shooting is very enjoyable and the on screen controls are well placed and easy to use in the heat of combat.
The game is semi stealth orientated so the longer you stay hidden the better but it is not a deal breaker you can always just shoot your way out of trouble too. The game doesn’t punish you for choosing either way and both have their benefits.
Touch controls include tapping your gun icon to reload, tapping the leap arrow to hop over cover, tapping the disarm icon to conveniently disarm mines. They are all placed within reach of your fingers and while it does take a small few minutes to get used to it is pretty natural.
Each agent has a different set of weapons, some carry flash bangs others claymores or grenades. These are thrown or placed using on screen buttons. Zooming is alos interesting holding L1 as you expect aims down the barrel but tapping the scope icon looks down the scope for the most acurate shot possible.
Weapons and load outs are changeable and players unlock better add ons as they progress through the game and level up each of the agents.
The cover system can cause some issues, more than once I found myself being able to see my target but unable to shoot them as I wasn’t close enough to the edge of the piece of cover. Often getting to the edge to get your shot off gets you spotted instead. Getting off the cover and trying to aim and shoot can be a bit buggy.
Outside of the Solo missions you have other modes such as High Level Targets and even the most entertaining co-op mode that lets you and a buddy attempt the single player missions together online. The enemy AI can be a bit simple but i do wonder how far you can push the Vita with those small sticks, as in times of panic it is frustratingly difficult to redjust to targets up close.
Visually the game is a Zipper game so it is just under what you would class good looking, everything looks nice and smooth but there are a few occasions when everything gets a bit jagged.
Overall : While it is a little light on story it’s jam packed with action, the controls are pretty solid and the missions are designed for the quick fire handheld market. A few niggles do exists but this is one of the better titles on the Vita right now.
A great third person tactical shooter for the Vita that will keep you playing for many hours.
SCORE 8/10
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