Singularity

Originality is something that is sadly absent from many computer games.

Singularity at least has the decency to borrow from the best. It’s essentially a straightforward first-person shooter with a vague twist (you move between different time zones) and an interesting weapon to play with: the Time Manipulation Device.

The story sees your black-ops commando, Nate Renko, sent in to investigate an abandoned ex-Soviet research facility on a deserted Pacific island. After a helicopter crash leaves you stranded, the plot thickens as the island turns out to be less deserted than you had initially imagined and you suddenly find yourself flashing backwards and forwards between present day and the 1950s.

At first, Singularity focuses on basic shooting but, once you have obtained the Time Manipulation Device, the game becomes a lot more interesting. The device essentially lets you play with time, allowing you to prematurely age objects or revert ruined items to a time before they were broken and old. You can instantly turn enemies to dust, for example, plus there are a few puzzles to solve that entail either aging or rejuvenating your surroundings.

Unfortunately, the game is less clever than it sounds, but fun to play nevertheless. Stylistically, Singularity wears its influences very much on its sleeve. There is a distinct look and feel of Bioshock about it, for example, and some of the puzzle sections play out like simplified versions of similar moments in Half-Life 2.

It’s rounded off by some amusing multiplayer modes, but despite the entertaining aspects, Singularity is a mediocre game.

PEGI age rating: 18+