The Red Star - Shmup/Beatemup Hybrid To Be Rare Classic?

[racketboy]

If you're really after this title, it's only $20 on amazon...

cool -- it didn't used to be

[carslayer]

I saw it for $15 buck used at a local pawnshop. I think i'll pick it up on payday. If not to play, then just for the climbing resale value,

[philipofmacedon]

I got my copy from Target through Amazon 3rd party sellers. It was 20 bucks + a few bucks shipping. Looks like Amazon has some copies in though. Grab something else with it and get the free shipping.

I've really enjoyed this game so far, although I find it tough. I've been using Makita as I find her speed helpful.

Has anyone figured exactly how rank is calculated? It seems to be based on how little damage you take during the course of a level.

I never bothered to upgrade any of the guns besides my initial one. Has anyone found them useful? Also does anyone find the life drain ability worth it?

[Yackom]

I got my copy from Target through Amazon 3rd party sellers. It was 20 bucks + a few bucks shipping. Looks like Amazon has some copies in though. Grab something else with it and get the free shipping.

I've really enjoyed this game so far, although I find it tough. I've been using Makita as I find her speed helpful.

Has anyone figured exactly how rank is calculated? It seems to be based on how little damage you take during the course of a level.

I never bothered to upgrade any of the guns besides my initial one. Has anyone found them useful? Also does anyone find the life drain ability worth it?

The other weapons arn't that great because it detracts from upgrading to level 3 intial guns. Life drain is really only worth it for the big guy.

[GSZX1337]

I remember when I played te demo of this in '05. I looked it up on GameSpot and it said it was cancelled. I was pretty pissed since I really like the game. Eventually, I saw it on GS' front page and thought: "Holy shit!"
As you can guess, I'm getting this ASAP.

[RadarScope1]

Well, here is what I wrote in another thread, just to have it with these other comments about the game. Again, mods, feel free to trash that other thread.


I'm about halfway through it right now. It's WAY old school gameplay with (mostly) new school polish. The descriptions of it being a mash-up of a brawler and a shump are spot-on. Basically you melee and combo your way through oncoming baddies, then a couple of times each level -- and usually each boss -- the camera kicks up for a more top-down view and it turns into bullet-dodging blast fest. To fight the second boss you actually fly a ship and it's a true shump for a bit. Not necessarily a ground-breaking one, mind you, but still.

There's are a few things about it that are particular throw-backs (for better or worse), such as:

- Between levels you use the credits you earn from rankings to fill up attributes. Think Super Off-Road.

- Many of the later enemies are the exact same as previous enemies but a different color. Think pretty much any old side-scrolling brawler. You could call it lazy, but there's a certain charm to it.

- You die, you start at the beginning of the level. No checkpoints. Think Ghosts n Goblins (IIRCC...).

- The story is basically non-existent. (Sorry, fans of the comic, I'm not following it.) You have to read the manual to know any exposition, and then between levels some dude with a still photo tells you a bunch of jibberish you really don't need to know. Think Bionic Commando.

- During 2P co-op, there's a lot of "you get those guys, I'll shoot these guys" type of teamwork. Think anything from Gauntlet to Battletoads.

Anyway, despite the lack of checkpoints and somewhat repetitive gameplay, I'm really digging this game. I know that not many retailers are carrying it, but it's worth hunting down IMO. Recommended.

[Yackom]

I'm on the last level of the game, playing in two player co-op mode.

It's damn hard, have yet to beat it. I think we should try to finish it this weekend.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm like the last person to play this, but this is my new favorite game. I just love it. I'm surprised at some of the comments on this thread though. The game is not repetitive at all. The game is always introducing new enemies and then throws them at you in different combinations. Plus, you've got tons of bosses all with different patterns. There's puzzle like parts in some levels and constant shifts in camera perspectives. Then there's that wonderful horizontal shooter level. Wish they could have thrown in a few more of those. The three characters play COMPLETELY differently too. I love that.

Oh, and I don't agree that you should use only the default gun. I use two with the sorceress. Her rocket gun is great for damage and also stunning enemies. It's slow though, so if I need to hit a fast moving target I switch to her laser gun, but all my upgrade points have gone into the rocket gun. I find that each character has two guns that can be useful, and since many of the other upgrades are useless once you know how to play well, I think it's good to upgrade two guns.

Also, checkpoints would have ruined this game. Levels aren't too long so you don't need them. Plus, checkpoints would have removed some of the challenge. If you know there is a boss coming, you need to fight well to save up your health for that battle, but if you had checkpoints you could just sloppily get to the boss with a little health left and then just kill yourself for a free health refill. The game is generous by giving you a decent health bar, AND a shield, AND health pickups after bosses. That's enough to get you through a level on one life, checkpoints would have been going overboard and made the game too easy.

The lack of story is a problem though. However, this is an intense action game, and I never found myself actually wanting to see any cut scenes or drawn out bits of dialog. Detracts from the action. For me the lack of story is a good thing, but I'm sure fans of the source material must have been dissapointed.

Awesome game, I finished it with Mikita with high ranks up until the last few stages. Now I'm playing through as the sorceress. I tried a level or two with the big guy to see what he's like and he's just as different and as fun as the other two characters. In fact, I think he has the best protocol ability. Far more useful than the ones the other two have. Plus, he's the only guy with grab attacks. Great for tossing people off ledges. And being able to bash through shields with one attack. Pure pwnage.

Aside from the lack of story(which I don't think a game like this needs), this game is perfect. If I were a reviewer it'd get a 9 out of 10.

[Gamerforlife]

And a new game plus feature? I never heard anyone mention that, but I started the game with Mikita on the same file I beat the game with and she still has all her upgrades! Sweet! I'm going to max out all her guns, and actually see what kind of strategic benefits I can get from switching between all three in each level. I just destroyed both tanks on level 3 with her three way shot at level 2 and S ranked the level. I love how it quickly takes out multiple turrets.

I love this game. Maybe I should finally pick up a copy of Cannon Spike. It definitely has one of the coolest character rosters I've ever seen in a game with B.B. Hood, Kurosawa, Arthur, Megaman and the dude from Three Wonders