After languishing in my backlog for years, I finally booted up Singularity more than a decade after its initial launch in 2010. I went in blindly, knowing little about the game and relying solely on a friend’s recommendation. To my surprise, I discovered that it is set in an alternate Cold War, primarily on the fictional Soviet research island of Katorga-12, where experiments involving a mysterious element called E99 lead to catastrophic consequences. One of the most intriguing elements of the story is the ability to time travel between two eras — 1950s and the modern day (2010) Russia — adding a fascinating layer to the narrative.
The narrative revolves around Captain Nathaniel Renko, sent on a covert mission to investigate the disappearance of a secret Soviet research team working with E99. As he explores the island, Renko uncovers dark secrets tied to the experiments and their devastating results. The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, audio logs, and encounters with a few key characters that gradually reveal the depth of the island's horrific past. The game takes numerous cues from Half-Life and Bioshock in several areas, such as its narrative structure and some plot twists that will feel familiar to fans of those titles. The overarching themes of ethical dilemmas in science, particularly the consequences of time manipulation, resonate throughout the storyline. As players gradually uncover the dark history of Katorga-12, they encounter various characters whose fates are intertwined with the mysterious E99. Although I did not feel particularly attached to the characters, they were sufficiently fleshed out to keep the story engaging. The campaign length is typically around 6 to 7 hours, but I could easily see it being completed in just 4 hours if you blitz through it like B.J. Blazkowicz from Wolfenstein. Whilst some may view the relatively short campaign as a drawback, I believe it fits well, especially given that the world-building does not reach the same heights as in Bioshock or Half-Life, even with its solid setpieces and twists near the end. The game has four endings, therefore it has replayabilty to an extent, but then again, you can easily watch them online once you finish the game in your first playthrough. Additionally, whilst fun, I ultimately found myself wishing that the time-travel between the two eras was utilised more frequently within the story, as it felt underused at times and could have enhanced the narrative experience even further.
The gameplay blends traditional first-person shooter mechanics with the innovative Time Manipulation Device (TMD), which Renko aquires early in the story, allowing players to manipulate time in various ways, such as aging enemies into dust, turning Soviet soldiers into creatures to attack their peers, simply slowing down/stopping time or restoring objects, to name a few. The sensation of using the TMD to manipulate the environment or disintegrate foes into dust is quite exhilarating, and players can even encounter small puzzles reminiscent of those found in Half-Life 2 — tasks like stacking boxes or creating pathways encourage some exploration albeit limited, and creative problem-solving. Retrospectively, I wished the game could have pushed the time manipulation powers even further, as there was potential for even greater gameplay depth. Furthermore, the combat remains engaging, featuring a variety of firearms ranging from rifles to shotguns and miniguns, complemented by diverse enemy types as previously stated — from monstrous aberrations to Soviet soldiers. This ensures that combat remains dynamic and compelling. However, a notable downside is that in the second half of the game, once players have upgraded their weapons and powers, the game can become too easy if you feel overpowered, revealing a balancing issue. Otherwise, the game is a fairly standard gun 'n' run shooter from the late '00s.
Visually, Singularity shows its age now, especially considering it was built on Unreal Engine 3, which for its time was solid. However, in 2024, I still found the visuals quite acceptable — I have certainly encountered much worse in other titles. Sure, the game immerses players in dark, industrial environments that create a bleak atmosphere, but they can occasionally feel repetitive due to their muted colour palette of greys and browns. This uniformity can make it challenging to differentiate between areas after extended play; however, the levels themselves offer enough variety in layout and design to maintain interest.
Also, it's worth noting that Singularity features a multiplayer component that, unfortunately, has been long dead. Given the game's age, no one plays multiplayer nowadays, so I could not experience that part of the game. Moreover, the game lacks subtitles, which is quite surprising given the importance of accessibility in modern gaming, and this omission can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the current Steam version of the game does not support Steam Cloud, meaning that if you uninstall the game or switch to another machine, you may lose your progress, which can be frustrating for players who want to pick up where they left off without the fear of losing their progression.
Despite some of its shortcomings, Singularity remains a delightful experience, albeit very linear, and I am relieved to have finally embarked on this journey after letting it sit in my backlog for so long. The TMD powers are genuinely enjoyable, especially as you advance in the game and master the time manipulation mechanics that add an interesting twist to the combat, and the narrative stands on its own. Yes, whilst the game is quite derivative of both Half-Life and especially Bioshock in some aspects, I genuinely enjoyed the experience. Interestingly, upon reflection, Singularity may even be seen as a spiritual precursor to 2023's Atomic Heart, considering their thematic and gameplay similarities, and some of its time manipulation mechanics remind me of TimeShift from 2007 to an extent. Heck, it reminds me a bit of F.E.A.R. at some point.
Lastly, it is unfortunate that the game never received a sequel, as it holds significant potential that could have been fully realised with further development. As Raven Software has shifted focus to the Call of Duty franchise for a long time now, it feels likely that Singularity stands as their swan song, marking the end of their original IPs (as of writing this). If you are a fan of story-driven FPS games and seek something with a unique twist, Singularity is certainly worth exploring. I went in without any expectations, and it turned out to be a satisfying experience, reminding me of Bioshock and Half-Life in many ways, albeit without reaching the same heights. This title possesses a charm and creativity that make it a hidden gem worth your time, even if it is not at its full potential. I would highly recommend it to anyone willing to look past its flaws, and if only there were a sequel to further explore some of its potential endings. If you can get the game on sale, it's a steal!
