In Soviet Russia, Video Games Play YOU
About 2/3 of the game plays as a 3D side-scrolling beat 'em up. The first level gives you the rundown of your controls and abilities. Also welcome is that every level also gives you a heads up throughout as to the best way to defeat a new enemy, via the in-game menu. After that, it's up to you to devise the best plan for dispatching entire squads of them. The controls are simple enough and take no more than an hour getting used to, though a button configuration option would've been nice. The other third is classic shooter style action, the likes of which you've seen in Asteroids, Gradius and others. Each stage flows seamlessly between these two styles of gameplay, keeping the energy high, and the challenges increasingly difficult. There's no doubt you're gonna be banging your head against a wall when that last smidgen of your health is taken out, right when you thought you had that boss. That's not to say it's hard for the sake of it. The game promotes major hand-eye coordination skill, and all it takes is persistence... and perhaps a little bit of luck when up against later bosses. However, it seems the lock-on mechanism would be the only drawback: it's not always 100% accurate with whatever target you're trying to aim for when there are plenty of baddies on the screen shooting and charging at you, so you're gonna have to make an extra effort maneuvering around. A small detraction, but still noticeable. Perhaps on purpose? After each level, you are given a rank (A-C) and points accordingly. Then you are treated to a menu of upgrades to use the points on.
There isn't much in the way of extra content, but just enough to up the replay value. After beating the game, you unlock the last playable character and an arena mode, wherein you fight to achieve cheats for the regular game. It's up to the individual player if they wish to continue that far. Just finishing the initial game is enough to make you throw your controller up in triumph and then move on, unless you want to tackle it again with a friend in co-op.
Obviously the graphics are not the high point of the game. They were probably going to be for its 2004 release. Regardless, they get the job done. There are no FMVs or any CG artwork. Though the comic book is known for its extremely high quality artwork, we only get a taste of it through the video game, which is a shame. This may be the last time we get to see this great original source material produced in a satisfactory manner. The potential for the sheer awesomeness of the comic series to shine in this entertainment venue is undoubtably high. But like I said, we just get a small nibble here, but that seems to be enough to make it hard for anyone to find fault. The action looks good, no frame rate slowdowns, and the level designs are clever, though there's nothing outstanding to appreciate as far as in-game art. Except, of course, for the explosions, which there are more than enough of.
There isn't so much a story told through pre-level segments with voiceless text, as they are mission briefings. The only indication we get of the playable characters' personalities is through their distinct, ruthless fighting styles. This is also a shame, because the comic is also acclaimed for its epic character-driven story as well. But with the trouble that went on near the end of the game's development, one wonders if that was the cause of the totally underwhelming story-telling. We may never know.
Thankfully, the music isn't as underplayed as the plot. Quite the opposite. I'm getting my hands on the soundtrack the first chance I get. It retains the feel you would get if you were reading the action scenes of the comic: industrial techno with epic strings, horns, some military drums, and a soviet choir in the background that would get you pumped up for the battle of your life. They switch it up with middle eastern flutes and motifs for the desert levels. In the final stages, they throw in a bit of heavy electric guitar for good measure. Definite cinematic quality. The sound effects are treated with the same care. Futuristic whurrs, gun/canon charges, and explosions all sound great, especially if you have surround sound. Even the enemy grunts each have their own distinct battle and death cries. All of this together equates to a fun soundtrack worthy of recognition.
A perfect pick-up for casual gamers and hardcore veterans alike... The Red Star solidifies that there's no school like the Old School.