Examiner Red Steel 2 review
http://www.examiner.com/x-12218-Video-Game-Examiner
"If Red Steel 2 was what Red Steel was back in 2006, then this series would be the top Wii third-party franchise. You have to disregard the existence of Red Steel and go into this series with untainted eyes because Red Steel 2 is everything Ubisoft promised and plenty more. It's one of the best video game sequels ever made and not playing this groundbreaking Wii game would be an injustice. Ubisoft has finally shown us what kind of games can be made for Wii and has set a new benchmark for Wii FPS titles and any Wii game that may use a sword. Red Steel 2 is the top Wii game of 2010 right now."
Gamesradar review Red Steel 2
http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/red-steel-2/review/red-steel-2/a-20100322174021138019/g-20090430135117953091
"The first let so many down, while part two succeeds in just about everything it set out to do. Maybe it’s the bundled MotionPlus, maybe it’s just better programming, but we left Red Steel 2 thinking it could be the most improved sequel of all time. If you’ve given up on Wii shooters, here’s a reason to rethink your stance."
9/10
ONM Red Steel 2 review
http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=16114
"Red Steel 2 looks superb and after a wobbly first section settles into a very enjoyable first person action romp. It's a gameplay experience unlike any other, and that needs to be applauded."
86%
Ravenprose said:I HAS THE GAME, BITCHES!!!
. . .
I HAS RED STEEL 2!!!
. . .
OMG!!!
. . . .
SO EFFING AWESOME!!!
. . .
Later
Ravenprose said:I'm still going through the training modes, but it feels really good so far. It takes a LOT of force to do strong sword swings. This game definitely requires your full arm movement. It's not just wrist flicks anymore.
The graphics are absolutely amazing! This is how mature games should be done on Wii; nay, on EVERY console!
EDIT: Okay, after adjusting the sword swing sensitivity to relaxed, you can do strong attacks with just quick wrist flicks.
Ravenprose said:Manual targeting is definitely the better way to go.
Ravenprose said:Now that I've gotten used to Red Steel 2's controls, I can honestly say this game, like no other that I have played, really does make you feel powerful. You're not just pressing buttons, and seeing your character do the actions. No, you feel like you are the one dispatching these guys one-by-one. The camera is always in your face: if you knock a guy down, and then go in for a finish move, you are face-to-face with him as your sword plunges into his chest. If this game had realistic graphics and blood, it would probably be quite disturbing.The motion controls, which do take some getting used to, aren't true 1:1, but they are fast, responsive and very accurate, IMO.
Ravenprose said:The only (minor) complaint I have so far, is the requirement to smash stuff to gain money. It's not just shooting locks off of containers, which would make sense. No, wooden boxes, beer bottles, telephone booths, tables, bar stools, air conditioners and even garbage bags all contain money. And there's a LOT of them to smash. It gets boring after a while, but I don't want to miss any money in case I will need it later to buy upgrades. They should have reduced that to only locked containers, IMO. It makes no sense whatsoever for a garbage bag to contain money.
Dvader said:I need to control myself, can't be like Leo just yet.
Grab Steels buttock and be like Leo right now.
*cups Vader balls*
Visually this game is pretty wow when you see decent quality. Even the gametrailers bad quality review, when it looked good, it looked GOOD. The art and the frame rate combined looks awesome.
Some of the reviews have mentioned the things I was worried about. The game is like Zelda combat, but the environments are like arenas, very simple move from one area to the next to fight a collection of guys. Most reviews say the combat is good enough that you can overlook that though.
A couple of less flattering reviews.
Joystiq review
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/review-red-steel-2/
"If you go into Red Steel 2 expecting a revolutionary FPS experience, you're going to be disappointed. But if you take it for what it is -- a unique first-person, sword fighting action game -- it's really good fun. Apart from thin plot and some so-so voice-over, it's a highly polished title that puts a lot of Wii efforts -- especially the first-person variety -- to shame. "
1up review
http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3178451
"There can be a good amount of stupid fun to be had in just mowing down thugs, even when, like me, you find yourself maxed-out on health and strength well before the end of the game (it's easy to find money, you see). But other things that lack in substance -- the story, the nigh-unncessary melee combos -- negatively affect the touted sword control improvements. Altogether, you get a mostly unremarkable, occasionally exhilarating run through a dystopian Nevada. Just don't expect a long, drawn-out action adventure -- if it was, you might put your arm under serious stress from all the swinging."
C+
Wired review
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/red-steel-2-review/
"There are a lot of things I wish Red Steel 2 did better, but it gets the big stuff right. The mechanics make you glad that the MotionPlus exists. The extra polish on the graphics (and the perfect spaghetti western music) helps a lot. Just remember to get off the couch when you play it. It helps."
7/10
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The optimist proclaims we live in the best of all possible worlds while the pessimist fears this is true. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
aspro said:Oh wait... This requires M+ or is it optional?
It's required.
Ravenprose said:It's required.
And you get it bundled. Unless you search out the game only version.
Agnates said:I really don't get the story and repetition complaints. I mean, they're certainly legit it seems, but also unfair when they aren't applied on recent highly rated military shooters everyone praises... Or pretty much any game really considering most end with the same gameplay they begin, and most have shit stories. Why does it have to be revolutionary (er, when did they last play a first person sword fighting game beyond Maken X on the Dreamcast?) experience in pretty much every single way to be an 8 or 9 on Wii but as long as it has shiny HD graphics it's okay if it's a retread and it suddenly deserves top marks? Guess this goes with the general attitude of the mainstream gaming media toward the Wii and what it stands for. I'm sure that it would have received far more praise if it was on Sony's Move, even if it was still using gestures in the same way, much like the games Sony demonstrated in GDC.
Most shooters do have shit stories true. And yeah I guess most shooters are repetitive in gameplay but they try and change things up with set pieces I guess. Does Red Steel 2 even have set pieces? One of the reviews mentions Halo like mixing of enemies.
gamingeek said:Most shooters do have shit stories true. And yeah I guess most shooters are repetitive in gameplay but they try and change things up with set pieces I guess. Does Red Steel 2 even have set pieces? One of the reviews mentions Halo like mixing of enemies.
And that is the big problem. If all you do is go from area to area and fight thugs over and over it can get repetitive. From what I read there seems to be difficulty issues as well as you become too powerful for the final enemies in the game. Seems like there are issues but the uniqueness of the controls is holding it up, I think most enjoyment will come from how much the new sword gameplay means to you.
Nihonto Hana: 58855558
Barracuda : 3582880
Both worked with my copy. They unlock a different sword and gun design.
$60 eh? Well, I'll go back on my intention to buy. I'm passed buying an accessory for a single game. I'd rather get Monster Tri with the Dual Shock, at least I can use that with other games.
As for story? I wish reviewers would only mention story if it is good or needlessly bad (so much so that it effects the game).
aspro said:$60 eh? Well, I'll go back on my intention to buy. I'm passed buying an accessory for a single game. I'd rather get Monster Tri with the Dual Shock, at least I can use that with other games.
ZELDA.
Dvader said:ZELDA.
It's going to support it huh? Hmm. I'll have to buy Zelda, that's true.
Dvader said:gamingeek said:Most shooters do have shit stories true. And yeah I guess most shooters are repetitive in gameplay but they try and change things up with set pieces I guess. Does Red Steel 2 even have set pieces? One of the reviews mentions Halo like mixing of enemies.
And that is the big problem. If all you do is go from area to area and fight thugs over and over it can get repetitive. From what I read there seems to be difficulty issues as well as you become too powerful for the final enemies in the game. Seems like there are issues but the uniqueness of the controls is holding it up, I think most enjoyment will come from how much the new sword gameplay means to you.
Difficulty issues is just Craig Harris playing on normal. Bump it up to hard and I'm sure it wont be so easy at the end.
In the games defence it is described as a first person brawler and in brawlers you do get thrown into areas and fight a bunch of guys. That's what you do. Then take on the occasional boss.
Eurogamer review said:
"all of this is enhanced by an almost Halo-esque emphasis on throwing together various enemy types in challenging new configurations, tossing in a handful of straight-up grunts with a more powerful hammer-swinger, and some armoured Johnnygun idiots off to the side."
So it sounds like variety is added through the different enemy types and enemy mix, artificial intelligence routines and behaviours, weak spots, speed, range, etc.
Also its not just the controls holding things up, the controls are intrinsically linked to the gameplay, the combat in this instance which everyone is saying is hugely entertaining and satisfying.
They really seem to have done a good job here:
" It has now built not just one of the Wii's best games and not just one of the most radically improved sequels in many years but a motion-controlled game with previously unfelt depth of control and excitement of action."
" It's one of the best video game sequels ever made and not playing this groundbreaking Wii game would be an injustice."
"we left Red Steel 2 thinking it could be the most improved sequel of all time"
angrymonkey said:Best buy was selling yesterday for $40 so I grabbed a copy. Will check it out tonite. Too bad there's no online seeing that a few people here have picked it up. With the generally positive press and some media I will be suprised if this doesn't get to their projected half million.
What?! with the motion plus bundle?
Dvader said:What?! with the motion plus bundle?
Hobo Force ASSEMBLE!!!!
Eurogamer review:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/red-steel-2-wii-review
There's a pleasant up-grade muddle to lose yourself in, and combat can be brilliant fun once you learn to work within the system's limitations. The automatic lock-on is generally pretty intelligent when picking out enemies, while a full health recharge after each fight encourages you to treat every carefully orchestrated brawl as its own nimble little set-piece. And all of this is enhanced by an almost Halo-esque emphasis on throwing together various enemy types in challenging new configurations, tossing in a handful of straight-up grunts with a more powerful hammer-swinger, and some armoured Johnnygun idiots off to the side.
In the end, you'll likely forgive Ubisoft's game its shortcomings on the strength of its energy, obvious good will, and deep sense of craft. There are some thrilling set-pieces in here, along with moments that rank amongst the Wii's most beautiful, including a midnight rooftop race to catch a train which plays out under a huge cream-coloured moon. It's a lovely sequence.
As with any good Western - or any good samurai film - Red Steel 2 is ultimately about character: it's flawed, certainly, but entirely honourable with it.
7/10