Red Steel

So I recently got back into Red Steel (Wii). It's one of those games that feels part baked, like if they had put more effort into it, it could have been a classic. Now I'm not naive enough to believe that they could achieve 1 to 1 sword play, on a launch title, that would have been an amazingly awesome feat, but I was expecting something a little more...involving. Swordfighting feels like a chore, like it could have been removed and the quality of the game would have been improved. The games "On Rails" approach to using the sword is an annoyance, I know several circumstances where it would have been preferable to using the hand cannons available, but alas.

Speaking of firearms, I couldn't help but feel they were limited somehow. In terms of practicality, only two have a major use, the trusty Shotgun (included in every FPS since Doom itself. Anyone can find an exception to this, I'd be grateful), which mows through close up enemies with startling efficiency, and the Sniper Rifle, (another FPS fave), which is great for anyone who isn't immediately dispatched by the Shotgun. All the others are fun, but just simply put, not as good.

Anyone can tell that Red Steel is aiming for the Japanophile market, and in it's way it succeeds. Halfway through the second level(I think), cheery JPop accompanies the sounds of shotgun blast after shotgun blast. At that moment, a symbiosis between the rediculous andf the sublime occurs, and you can forget the games shortcomings.

Apparently, the game suffers from glitches, but these must be some minor ones, as unless they are really "In your face" (the camera in the Lost World level of Sonic Adventure), I appear to avoid them. I've had the occasional Exorcist moment, such as when I motioned for a dude to surrender and he did. Floating 4 feet above the ground.

My final jibe is against the consistency, the lack of it is frustrating as hell. Not being able to shoot NPC's is one, I unloaded an entire clip into the unmentionables of Sato Snr, and was suprised to see him stand there with the inane grin that follows him everywhere. The same applied to the guy in the bar, why didn't he do anything?

The same applies to the background, some glass shatters with a satisfying crash. Other bits are made out of kevlar.

All in all, I've found it best to take this game as a Japanese Die Hard. Enjoy the smashy glass, the swordfights and the banter between the main characters and it's an awesome experience. But like Die Hard, don't expect it to be amazingly gripping.