Software:Singularity (video game)

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Short description: 2010 video game
Singularity
Singularity cover.jpg
Developer(s)Raven Software
Publisher(s)Activision
Director(s)Dan Vondrak
Writer(s)
  • Marc Guggenheim
  • Lindsey Allen
  • Emily Silver
Composer(s)
  • Charlie Clouser
  • Michael Wandmacher
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • EU: June 25, 2010
  • NA: June 29, 2010[1]
  • AU: June 29, 2010 (PC)
  • AU: June 30, 2010
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Singularity is a 2010 first-person shooter video game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision and released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is built on Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3.

Gameplay

Singularity is a first-person shooter with horror elements. A main gameplay device is an artifact known as the Time Manipulation Device (TMD). The TMD is powered by an E-99 core, and can manipulate time. The TMD can move an object backwards or forwards in time, attract something and hold it indefinitely, or send a pulse of energy that can stun or kill enemies. The TMD can only affect living beings or objects that have been in contact with E-99. Some living beings, like the Spetsnaz troops who are covered in heavy armor designed to repel E-99, are immune as well.

The TMD can be used in conjunction with special power stations scattered across the island that greatly amplify its power, allowing it to affect objects much larger than it can normally control such as collapsed bridges or shipwrecks.

Multiplayer

There are two multiplayer modes available. Both modes have the players fighting as either the soldiers or creatures, with each side having their own classes and abilities. One mode, simply called "Creatures vs. Soldiers", is a simple team deathmatch style game,[2] while the other mode, called "Extermination", has the soldiers trying to take control of various beacons on the map, with the creatures tasked with defending said beacons to prevent eradication. Once the time runs out, or the soldiers capture all the beacons, the players switch roles.

Plot

The game begins when an electromagnetic surge from an uninhabited island called Katorga-12, once held by the Soviet Union, damages an American spy satellite. A group of U.S. Recon Marines, which includes the protagonist, Captain Nathaniel Renko, goes to investigate. Another surge disables the unit's helicopter, and it crashlands on Katorga-12. Following the crash, Renko begins to phase between the present and 1955, the date of a catastrophic accident on the island. He arrives in 1955 just in time to save a scientist named Nikolai Demichev from dying in a fire.

Back in the present, Renko discovers that Demichev has taken over the world. He is captured by Demichev's soldiers, but is rescued by Kathryn, a member of a resistance group called Mir-12. Based on a journal the group found on Katorga-12, Mir-12 believes that Renko can put an end to Demichev's reign using the Time Manipulation Device (TMD) developed by Victor Barisov. Barisov was killed by Demichev in the past, so Renko uses the TMD to save Barisov.

They decide to change history by returning to 1955 and blowing up Katorga-12 with an E-99 bomb, the material responsible for the catastrophe in 1955. While attempting to retrieve the bomb, Renko and Kathryn both go missing. A bomb is used to destroy the island, and as a result, Demichev's research facility.  

Back in the present, Renko finds Demichev holding Barisov at gunpoint. Demichev reveals that he rebuilt the facility after it was destroyed, so that history remained unchanged. Barisov realizes that it was Demichev's rescue that changed history, so he asks Renko to go back and stop his past self from saving Demichev. Demichev, in turn offers Renko a place in his empire in exchange for the TMD. He points out that Barisov's plan has failed before – the mysterious man who told Renko not to save Demichev in 1955 was Renko himself.

At this point, the player has a choice. If Renko shoots Demichev, he goes back in time to stop himself from saving Demichev in the first place. In order to do so, he decides to kill his past self. In the epilogue, the game starts again from the very beginning, and Renko is sitting inside the helicopter that is searching the area. However, the mission is soon aborted and declared to be a false alert. They fly past a giant statue of Barisov. It is implied that he recovered the TMD and used it to conquer the world himself. If Renko instead shoots Barisov, he and Demichev rule the world together. After some time, Demichev begins to fear Renko's growing power, and a new cold war develops between the lands ruled by Renko and those ruled by Demichev. If Renko shoots both Demichev and Barisov, Renko allows the world to fall into chaos. Later, he rises up as a new world leader, using the TMD to assert his power.

A post-credits scene shows a wounded Kathryn, pulled into 1955 by a time distortion, writing the Mir-12 journal which will later be used to track down Renko.

Development

Singularity's concept was based on Brian and Steve Raffel's memories of the Cold War era and exploration of old abandoned buildings including a World War II military base in the vicinity of Madison, Wisconsin.[3] Some aspects of the game, especially the 1950s sections were inspired by pulp sci-fi movies.[4]

According to Keith Fuller from Raven Software the game had a troubled development and was almost cancelled by publisher Activision.[5] The number of development teams at Raven was reduced to one after more layoffs in October 2010, after delays with Singularity; as many as 40 staff were released. Following the layoffs, Raven has been focused on assisting with the Call of Duty series ever since.[6][7][8]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS3Xbox 360
DestructoidN/AN/A9/10[9]
EurogamerN/AN/A8/10[10]
Game Informer8.5/10[11]8.5/10[11]8.5/10[11]
GameProN/AN/A4/5 stars[12]
GameRevolutionB[13]B[13]B[13]
GameSpot8/10[14]8/10[15]8/10[15]
GameTrailersN/A6.9/10[16]N/A
GameZone7/10[17]7/10[17]7/10[17]
Giant BombN/A4/5 stars[18]4/5 stars[18]
IGN7/10[19](US) 7/10[20]
(AU) 6.8/10[21]		(US) 7/10[20]
(AU) 6.8/10[21]
JoystiqN/AN/A3.5/5 stars[22]
OXM (US)N/AN/A7.5/10[23]
PC Gamer (UK)68%[24]N/AN/A
PSMN/A3/5 stars[25]N/A
The Daily TelegraphN/AN/A7/10[26]
The EscapistN/AN/A4/5 stars[27]
Aggregate score
Metacritic76/100[28]77/100[29]76/100[30]

Singularity received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[28][29][30] Activision was disappointed with Singularity's sales, which came out under 400,000.[31]

Destructoid praised the Xbox 360 version, stating that: "Singularity is a game that manages to feel like its own thing despite being pieced together from previous FPS games, and if you want a great Summer shooter full of violent toys and silly super powers, then you won't get much better than this. Quite possibly the best new FPS of the year so far."[9] IGN was not so enthusiastic, and said that while "the gunplay is solid and there are a few memorable set pieces", the game is "ultimately limited by a lack of imagination where a neat time-manipulation idea is handcuffed to a by-the-numbers first-person shooter".[20] Some reviewers criticized the game for similarities to other games, such as BioShock.[32] In Japan, where the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were ported and published by Square Enix on September 22, 2010,[citation needed] Famitsu gave both console versions each a score of 29 out of 40,[33][34] while Famitsu Xbox 360 gave its Xbox 360 version a score of one eight, one seven, and two eights for a total of 31 out of 40.[34]

The A.V. Club gave the Xbox 360 version a B+ and said that "for a game released to little fanfare, one that's innovative only in an additive sense, Singularity is worth playing for its canny incorporation of the best ideas from the last decade of first-person shooters, and for providing a suitably chilling atmosphere in which to enjoy them."[35] The Escapist similarly gave it four stars out of five and called it "a solid and entertaining effort that you'll probably enjoy more than you think you will."[27] The Daily Telegraph gave it seven out of ten and said of the game, "With its varied combat, ridiculous story and outlandish weapons it's a fun and engaging title and it's a real pity that that Activision haven't given it the attention it deserves. If you're willing to overlook its shortcomings and enjoy old school running-and-gunning, Singularity is an immensely satisfying romp."[26] Metro UK similarly gave it seven out of ten and said it was "A little undercooked, but this is still an enjoyable attempt to create a more cerebral shooter in the vein of BioShock and Half-Life 2."[36] Edge gave the game a score of six out of ten and said, "For all Raven's efforts with temporal gimmicks, this is a game which is stuck in the FPS past – but, perversely, in its gun-metal and gore, in its most archaic respects, Raven proves it can just about stand the test of time."[37] On April 24, 2015 Popular website Screwattack listed Singularity as their number 1 on their list of top ten hidden gems of the last console generation.

References

  1. ↑ Magrino, Tom (April 19, 2010). "Singularity warps to June 29". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/singularity-warps-to-june-29/1100-6258970/. 
  2. ↑ "Singularity video game review". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/7885370/Singularity-video-game-review.html. 
  3. ↑ Bakedgoods (June 15, 2010). "E3 2010 Interview: Raven Software's project lead chats about Singularity". http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/06/15/interview-raven-softwares-project-lead-chats-about-singularity/. Retrieved July 13, 2014. 
  4. ↑ Carless, Simon (July 8, 2010). "Interview: Raven's Vondrak Talks Challenges, Opportunities In Singularity". UBM plc. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/interview-raven-s-vondrak-talks-challenges-opportunities-in-i-singularity-i-. Retrieved February 25, 2018. 
  5. ↑ Fuller, Keith (March 3, 2014). "The Confessional: It took two years to cancel Singularity, and ten months to fix it". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/3/5462994/singularity-two-years-to-make-a-mess-ten-months-to-clean-it-up. Retrieved February 25, 2018. 
  6. ↑ "Report: Layoffs Hit Raven Software, Focusing on DLC". 11 October 2010. http://www.shacknews.com/article/65958/report-layoffs-hit-raven-software. 
  7. ↑ "Raven Software Loses More Staff". http://www.1up.com/news/raven-software-loses-staff. 
  8. ↑ "Singularity Game Developer Hit with Layoffs". 11 October 2010. https://kotaku.com/5661071/singularity-game-developer-hit-with-layoffs. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sterling, Jim (July 11, 2010). "Review: Singularity (X360)". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/review-singularity-178727.phtml. Retrieved July 13, 2014. 
  10. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (June 25, 2010). "Singularity (Xbox 360)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/singularity-review. Retrieved May 20, 2018. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Reiner, Andrew (August 2010). "Singularity: Falling down a rabbit hole with recognizable lining". Game Informer (GameStop) (208): 108. http://www.gameinformer.com/games/singularity/b/pc/archive/2010/06/29/a-trip-down-a-rabbit-hole-with-recognizable-lining.aspx. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  12. ↑ Cabral, Matt (July 6, 2010). "Singularity (X360)". GamePro (GamePro Media). http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/215741/singularity/. Retrieved May 20, 2018. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Kuulei N. (July 19, 2010). "Singularity Review". CraveOnline. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/47188-singularity-review. 
  14. ↑ VanOrd, Kevin (June 30, 2010). "Singularity Review (PC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/singularity-review/1900-6267814/. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 VanOrd, Kevin (June 28, 2010). "Singularity Review (PS3, X360)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/singularity-review/1900-6267090/. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  16. ↑ "Singularity Review (PS3)". Viacom. July 6, 2010. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/njef16/singularity-review. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Bakehorn, Cliff (July 1, 2010). "Singularity review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/singularity_review/. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Gerstmann, Jeff (July 8, 2010). "Singularity Review (PS3, X360)". CBS Interactive. https://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/singularity-review/1900-298/. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
  19. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (June 29, 2010). "Singularity Review (PC)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/30/singularity-review. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Brudvig, Erik (June 28, 2010). "Singularity Review (PS3, X360)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/28/singularity-review-2. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Kolan, Patrick (June 29, 2010). "Singularity AU Review (PS3, X360)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/30/singularity-au-review. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  22. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (June 28, 2010). "Review: Singularity (X360)". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/review-singularity/. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  23. ↑ "Singularity". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 84. September 2010. 
  24. ↑ Francis, Tom (September 2010). "Singularity review". PC Gamer UK (Future plc): 79. https://www.pcgamer.com/singularity-review/. Retrieved May 20, 2018. 
  25. ↑ "Review: Singularity". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (37): 81. October 2010. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Horton, Philip (July 12, 2010). "Singularity video game review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/7885370/Singularity-video-game-review.html. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Funk, John (July 15, 2010). "Review: Singularity (X360)". Defy Media. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/7844-Review-Singularity. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Singularity for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/singularity/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Singularity for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/singularity/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Singularity for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/singularity/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. Retrieved July 31, 2010. 
  31. ↑ Parfitt, Ben (August 6, 2010). "Singularity and Blur 'fell short'". NewBay Media. https://www.mcvuk.com/business/singularity-and-blur-fell-short. 
  32. ↑ Strick, Robert (February 4, 2011). "Review: Singularity". https://popgeeks.net/review-singularity/. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  33. ↑ "シンギュラリティ (PS3)" (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=13710. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "シンギュラリティ (X360)" (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=13711. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 
  35. ↑ Williams, Christian (July 19, 2010). "Singularity (X360)". The Onion. https://games.avclub.com/singularity-1798220905. 
  36. ↑ Hargreaves, Roger (June 28, 2010). "Games review: Singularity tries to be the thinking man's shooter (X360)". Metro UK (DMG Media). https://metro.co.uk/2010/06/28/games-review-singularity-tries-to-be-the-thinking-mans-shooter-423300/. Retrieved June 1, 2018. 
  37. ↑ Edge staff (July 5, 2010). "Review: Singularity". Edge (Future plc). http://www.next-gen.biz/features/review-singularity. Retrieved May 19, 2018. 

External links



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