Unit 13

On the outside, Unit 13 looks like an ordinary actiongame, but looks can be deceiving. The game has a few cool ideas, can be quite diverse and has a lot of content. The short missions are also perfect for when you're on the road. So it'll be a while before we'll get bored with Unit 13.

Much about 13 feels familiar, but considering the quality of this portable package, that's not a bad thing. [May 2012, p.77]

Zipper Interactive has taken their experience with the PSP and cranked up their flair to produce an excellent hand held shooter. If you are a Vita owner and you love action games then Unit 13 is a must have. With great mechanics and a functioning online co-op there is a lot of fun and many hours to spend with this great title. I couldn't put the game down and I expect to keep revisiting it for a while.

A competent game that shows VITA is able to manage shooting games as if it was a console. If you are looking for multiplayer action you will find one that works perfectly, with solid graphics, good atmosphere and plenty of possibilities. Its only flaw is the absence of any original features, and a less-than-charming story.

This is the framework for a feature-packed, capable shooter, but it falls over with some questionable AI and occasionally clunky cover-based controls – twitchy aiming and sometimes disobedient snap-out-of-cover mechanics from 'AAA' games such as Gears of War or Metal Gear Solid.

A few questionable design choices, like your inability to disable auto-aim and a camera way to close on your avatar, keep Unit 13 from reaching the absolute top. This is, however, a very solid shooter that will keep you playing for a long time to come.

Unit 13 takes the tactical shooter genre and serves it up in a way that can be enjoyed either as a snack or as the main course, whether you're playing alone or with a friend.

The co-op mode is really fun and the daily missions are tough, but addictive challenges. A PS Vita must-have.

It may not be a full showcase of what your new handheld can do, but Zipper did a commendable job of creating a bite-sized modern warfare scenario for you to play with. Not must-own material for everyone, but definitely worth the time if you've been waiting for a Vita game with a strong focus on virtual military combat.

An enjoyable and intersting SOCOM spin-off that offers a good amount of content and replay value. Perfect for mobile playing.

Unit 13′s a pleasant surprise. It offers up a really smart level structure which caters for short burst gaming, but similarly presents hours of gameplay that'll take considerable time and effort to perfect and master.

Look once at Unit 13 and you'll probably write it off as a non-entity. Look twice, and you'll see a game where some really smart ideas are lurking just beneath the surface.

There's a real attention to quality and portability that Zipper has put into Unit 13. From gameplay that combines the Vita's new touchscreen tech with the tight controls and solid gameplay of the best games in the SOCOM series to missions time-designed around commuting gamers and airport dwellers alike.

Unit 13 is the first proper shooter on a handheld console and, if we have anything to say about it, it certainly won't be the last one. If they are all as good as Zipper Interactive's latest outing on the PlayStation Vita, of course. [March 2012, p.50]

Unit 13 has great controls, lots of variety and content that may outlast many other shooters on the market - no matter what platform you're playing on. Not bad for a game that is released during the Vita launch window.

The genius of Unit 13 is it doesn't try to take that glossy, cinematic action experience of a console shooter and give it to you on a handheld – instead, it takes all the best parts of mobile gaming and gives them to you in a shooter.

While some gamers may disapprove of the lack of a story-driven campaign, I believe that Unit 13 is exactly what Vita owners want while on the go. It delivers instant action, without the time consuming clutter of cut-scenes. Furthermore, the game features plenty of customisation and is challenging enough to be replayed over and over in an effort to best a highscore or simply try a different character.

The presentation is definitely not the strong point, but Unit 13 offers well designed infiltration missions and a very entertaining coop mode.

Unit 13 is perhaps the first competent cooperative shooter we've seen on a handheld device, but its repetitive environments and awkward cover mechanics keep it from reaching its full potential.

A decent 3rd person shooter, which has repetitive levels and fairly stupid AI. The different types missions are a good idea. [Apr 2012]

Unit 13 is a solid final game for the company and is a unique experience as compared to the rest of the existing PS Vita library. It should more than satisfy most long-time fans of the SOCOM series as well as those who are fans of tactical military shooters.

Unit 13 isn't the best and most revolutionary shooter available but prooves that there are many posibilities for shooters on the PlayStation Vita.

It might not have an epic story or complex characters, but it will serve your shooter needs. This game is a great showcase for what console-like games could be for the Vita. It has some great ideas, a few rough edges and shows a whole lot of promise for future games on the Vita.

Because it's been designed specifically to take advantage of the Vita's portability and social features, it's very much a success. Be it single-player or co-op, the gameplay is smooth, shooting is accurate with the Vita's twin sticks, and each mission's unique objectives keep the experience feeling fresh - and fun - each time you load Unit 13 into your Vita.

Unit 13 doesn't have flashy visuals or an in-depth campaign, but it does have good controls and plenty to do. I think the AI could use a tune-up and the visuals some polish, but if you're looking for a game to sink bullet after bullet into, Unit 13 will keep you entertained.