PS2 Gems: The Red Star Posted by Matt Lees, 182 days ago
Split neatly into two aspects, the game jumps between fighting off waves of enemies with a deliciously simple but adequately varied combo system, and frantic bullet-dodging boss fights with traditional attack patterns and weak spots. The manner in which the two have been executed and blended however is flawless, the camera angle shifting seamlessly throughout each stage to give every section a unique feel; be it Streets of Rage, Gauntlet, Asteroids, Ikaruga, or Smash TV to name but a few. Personally I’ve never been a fan of bullet dodging shoot-em-ups, but the use of one control system for these two remarkably different styles of play keeps the game feeling fresh, and when later stages of the game require fighting finesse juxtaposed seamlessly with bullet ballet, you feel like you’re on FIRE. The fighting sections in particular, whilst easier to master, are also more essential; the game’s a little tight when it comes to giving you health, and that means in the later stages of the game combo perfection becomes a prerequisite, ensuring you lose as little health as possible to improve the odds of beating that seemingly impossible bullet spewing boss. Health is something you’ll have to guard almost religiously too as you’ve got no extra lives to rely on, only the increasingly frugal med-pack handouts.
Now, the one player mode is a pretty passable distraction by all means, but this is a game that comes into its own when playing co-op with a friend. Co-op gaming has somewhat lost its way over the past few years, now usually feeling like an afterthought; the option of having a friend onscreen too for a bit. A great co-op experience in my opinion is all about sitting down with a friend for a few hours, and struggling. Failing over and over, but being constantly enticed to try that level ‘one more time’. First let’s put the kettle on, then it’s time to raise our game, perfect our technique. This game isn’t a breeze by any means, some of the bosses in particular requiring us to stop and actually plan tactics in advance to ensure victory, but the struggle leading up to these victories makes them feel ever so sweet. Hardship ladies and gents; it’s essential for teambuilding exercises. For those familiar with the title (which is currently available on the Wii’s Virtual Console service, and is well worth a handful of your English coins) The Red Star is as much fun with two players as the legendary Gunstar Heroes, a game that for more than ten years has been undoubtedly my favourite co-op game by miles.
