Rob Lake reviews Redout: Space Assault...
Redout: Space Assault is a prequel to futuristic racing game Redout. Whilst the two games are vastly different in every way they do share the same universe. The folk over at 34BigThings have done a grand job in creating Redout: Space Assult and it perfectly hits that on the rails shooter itch.
Whilst Redout: Space Assault doesn't revolutionise its chosen genre, there's quite a bit of enjoyment to be had. If you're a fan of classics such as After Burner or Space Harrier and even StarFox, then strap yourself in and come with me as I hyper-jump into this review...
The story of Redout: Space Assault is pretty simple. You play as Leon who is an ace fighter pilot who's wrapped up in a bit of a predicament that surrounds the colonisation of Mars. Leon finds himself at the mercy of the Poseideon Security Forces, and as such he and his Bravo Squad colleagues are tasked with regularly protecting the forces assets. Suprisingly 34BigThings have put quite a bit of work into the story and there's a lot of characterisation and world building considering the genre.
Whilst the story isn't going to win any rewards, it is a far-sight better than other space games currently on the market. As the game rumbles on, you do feel for Leon and the world he is gunning his way through. Actions feel like they have a weight to then and that your participating in something big.
The gameplay of Redout: Space Assault is pretty simple. First of all we have combat missions, which play out in the form of an old-school on the rails shooter. If you think of Afterburner mixed with Panza Dragoon - both by SEGA then your on the right tracks. Speaking of SEGA, following on from the SEGA template, holding down the missile button also let's us lock on to various targets for that added carnage. Your ship can also be upgraded throughout the campaign, with added secondary weapons. You also have access to a secondary weapon too, which is in the form of a standard cannon. Controls for this are as simple as highlighting an enemy as the A.I. auto fires for you.
The second gameplay mechanic is an all-terrain mode for lack of a better word. These areas loose the rails and allow for a more free roaming experience. It’s quite fun exploring the 3D areas whilst dodging asteroids and giant capitol ships. Regretfully these 3D areas negate the traditional dog-fighting structure for a more explorative experience. It's a shame as the potential for some fancy flying is there for the taking.
Visual wise, Redout: Space Assault looks fairly good. I reviewed the game using an Xbox Series X and it ran at a constant FPS and didn't suffer any screen tear or loss of graphic fidelity. The visuals all sell the story pretty well and you get a great feel that the available technology such as the sleek ships and various drones, fits the stories era. Of course Redout: Space Assault is set within the same universe as Redout so its natural for 34BigThings to include some nods to what would become by the time Redout rolled into existence. Fans of the sci-fi racer will certainly lap these easter eggs up and it is great to see that 34BigThings have built this universe up and connected the two games together.
A lot of Redout: Space Assault works incredibly well, however it isn't without its problems. For starters the missions feel too short and makes the game feel a little like a console port of a mobile game. Secondly we lack the ability to fully stop our ship - which can lead to some unavoidable trips to the space grave. There is also an occasional spike in the difficulty which isn't particularly "game breaking", but it can be frustrating to revisit previous stages to grind out equipment cards. Which leads me to my biggest bug bare.
Equipment is upgraded via an unnecessary card-based system. At the end of each mission we are rewarded various equipment cards that can be used to upgrade you ship and weapons. Unfortunately by picking a card, you loose the other choices and the card you currently have equipped in that cards slot. We also have a currency value which allows you to upgrade your ships damage potential and shield strength. To begin with these upgrades add a boost to your power, but as the game progresses the grind for credits takes over. It's a shame as Redout: Space Assault has the potential to reinvigorate the genre but just falls short of the mark.
All-in-all Redout: Space Assault is a fairly good game. Fans of on-the-rails shooters will feel right at home with the gameplay on offer. While the mission structure feels fairly short, there are quite a few on offer and with the ability to gear grind, adds to some potentially unnecessary backtracking.
Good:
+ Enjoyable Combat
+ Great Visuals
+Unexpected Tie-In To Redout
Bad:
- Short Mission Structure
- Random Difficulty Spike
- Free-Form Flying Could Be So Much Better
Rating: 6/10
Redout: Space Assault was reviewed on an Xbox Series X. Redout: Space Assault is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4 and IOS
A review copy was kindly provided for this review.
Rob Lake - For more comic and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev
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