Old School action isn't always fun
One of the most annoying aspects of The Red Star is also one my pet hates in video games; a severe lack of save points. Any game that makes me plough through dozens of baddies in such a repetitive manner and then, once I die fighting one of the bosses, throws me right back to the beginning of the stage, won't encourage me to complete it or spend any more time playing it then totally necessary; a small addition of a save option would have saved me from pulling my hair out.
It's not all bad news though, one thing that The Red Star does do well, in an attempt to spice up the action, is the switching of camera angles. The majority of the game is played from the side-scrolling view, but at times the camera will switch to the top down view. You still need to apply the same fighting techniques and slaughter dozens of enemies, but it does offer a new gameplay experience.
At the end of each stage of The Red Star you receive a ranking, but it doesn't give any indication of how it is calculated. I killed all the baddies, so surely I should receive an 'A' ranking, but I consistently received a 'B' ranking. Perhaps it's something to do with the speed in which you finish the level or how full up your metres are, but by the time I'd reached this point I'd given up caring. Still, it's pretty crucial to know how these rankings are calculated, because based on your ranking you receive points which can be spent on extra weapons, incendiary devices, armour, gun recharge packs and melee boosts, all of which aid you in defeating the increasingly powerful enemies.
The Red Star is a lack-lustre title which will only appeal to those who want to take a step back to a time when this type of shooter used to be enjoyable. The game mechanics are fine, but the levels are dull, the graphics are shoddy and the ideas are dated. If you're looking for an old-school style action title you'll still enjoy playing The Red Star, but there's far better titles to play in this genre and at a much cheaper price. Christian Gossett's graphic novel may be exciting and full of new ideas, but The Red Star videogame certainly isn't.
Pros
Challenging
One for old school fanatics
Cons
Brand new title, old ideas
Repetitive
Over priced
Old school isn't always fun.
