Developer: Acclaim Studios Austin Publisher: XS Games Release: 04/23/07 Genre: Action
Acclaim’s death in 2004 was bittersweet. To a certain extent we did see it coming. For years they floundered after their huge success during the 16-bit era. But the N64 especially gave them a new lease on life and they came out of that generation strong. But flagging sales spelled their doom. Damn shame too as they were turning a corner. Extreme G became a respectable series in the sixth generation and they had some cool titles cooking. One that I was disappointed in its cancellation was the Red Star. After Neo Contra I wanted more and it looked like just the ticket. Luckily XS Games were able to buy the rights and release it, at a budget price no less. It took a few years but the game remains just as solid as it did in previews.
The Red Star takes place in a fictional version of the Soviet Union in which magic and technology co-exist. The United Republics of the Red Star (U.R.R.S) is the foremost superpower in the world thanks to its superior technology and world class sorcerers. Republic soldiers Makita, Kyuzo, and Maya discover the war between their people and the armies of Troika was engineered by both sides to harvest the souls of fallen warriors to feed Troika’s master Imbohl. Now they must battle their way through Troika’s forces to stop their plans and save the Soviet Union.
The Red Star is a hybrid of traditional overhead shooting mechanics and beat em up action. As any of the three protagonists (Maya is unlockable) you have a gun for long range attacks and a variety of melee combos. In addition there is also magic (or protocol) that varies between characters. They each specialize in different categories: Makita is fast but weak but makes up for it with long combo strings. Kyuzo is the bruiser that has little in the way of magic but kills enemies the quickest in melee range. Maya is the most unique. Her default weapon fires a laser rather than bullets. In addition her melee strikes produce balls of energy she can manipulate after the fact. There is a decent number of melee attacks and combos for this type of game considering it is not completely a brawler. You will need them too.
Its measured pacing is the Red Star’s greatest asset. The game has one of the largest rosters of enemies in its genre and each brings a new attack pattern. Every level introduces at least one or two new adversaries and the challenges they bring give the game variety. Let us be honest; beat em ups by their nature are repetitive. But by constantly introducing new enemies and varying up their combinations it keeps things interesting. In addition the boss battles are often just as varied. While they usually involve taking down some Russian warship they also devolve into bullet hell shooter shenanigans. In fact there is a shooter level in there too! If I have one criticism it is that it does lean heavily on the brawler mechanics. Your guns are increasingly ineffective against most enemies and it grows tiresome after a while. But that is a small complaint.
For an action title the Red Star is long at nineteen chapters. But after you finish there is still more. The last playable character Maya unlocks and has a wildly different play style than Makita and Kyuzo. In addition you gain access to Arena Mode. This mode essentially turns the game in to a Smash T.V. style shooter. Completing this mode and earning different ranks unlocks a number of fun cheats such as unlimited shield energy, automatic health recharging, and removing the heat meter for guns. This mode is a fun diversion that adds life to the game and makes subsequent runs through the campaign more exhilarating or challenging if you like.
The difficulty is somewhat dependent on your build. In general the Red Star is tough for a number of reasons. The levels are long and have no checkpoints with at least two or three boss battles each. Health packs are few and to maximize the number of upgrades points you earn at level’s end you must avoid them. That is a tough and does not sit right with me. Penalizing players heavily for using resources sucks. That being said there is skill that restores life on successful combo attacks to make up for it. It takes skill to be effective but it works. Outside of these factors the game requires pattern memorization like the best titles in the genre and has a high skill ceiling. It does not quite reach the peaks of say Gunstar Heroes but for a licensed game is outstanding, from its production values to its gameplay.
In Closing
The Red Star is a hidden gem for fans of classic arcade action. Its unique blend of genres, challenging gameplay, and cooperative multiplayer make it a worthwhile experience, especially for those seeking a nostalgic throwback. We received less and less of these games during the fifth generation so the quality ones stand out. It had a rough time making it to store shelves but the wait was worth it, the Red Star is great.
