Red Dead Revolver Preview
Find out how the West was won in our hands-on preview of Capcom's Red Dead Revolver.
Traditionally, Western-themed games don't sell that well. After all, LucasArts most assuredly isn't funding its wide range of Star Wars games with profits from the ill-fated PC shooter Outlaws. Nor is Activision reaping any great reward from the remains of its now-defunct Gunslinger project, which was slated to be one of the first PlayStation 2 games. But apparently this news never made it to Japan--Capcom's been cashing in on 10-gallon hats and tomahawks since 1985's Gunsmoke. Ever the risk taker and boundary-pushing pioneer, Capcom will soon be responsible for both the reason-defying Steel Battalion and the unique Red Dead Revolver.
As essentially a tongue-in-cheek tribute to spaghetti Westerns, the game is a sometimes sentimental but usually satirical glimpse at the life of cowboys and Indians. It's also a far cry from a product that began life as a SWAT simulation--or the game you may have seen at this year's E3, for that matter, having been delayed until March 2003 for some serious overhauling. A joint project between Capcom's internal teams and their American compatriots at Angel Studios, Red Dead Revolver has a distinctly Asian and occasionally tasteless sense of humor, despite its US roots. Even so, it should be one of the most interesting games of the coming year for PlayStation 2 owners, who'll hopefully benefit from its transition into a full-fledged action adventure with an especially gory presentation.
The game is set in 1881 and stars Red, an orphaned lad who was raised by a mysterious figure known only as the Indian Master. In a flashback sequence set 10 years before the game picks up and reminiscent of a Young Indiana Jones intro, this wise old shaman will lead you through a tutorial that breaks down the basics of Red Dead Revolver's gunplay. Why? Because this game is primarily a straightforward two-fisted third-person action shooter (although stealth missions, escort runs, and ample conversation with NPCs are promised). During this opening sequence, practicing against pop-up dummies will improve the hero's aim, which is a good thing, because at one point the poor outlaw will have a dream that prompts him to spend his life seeking revenge on the newly revealed killer of his parents and sister. It's a novel approach to setting the stage for a rather typical tale, but thankfully Red Dead Revolver's story will not be the only compelling feature it will have to offer.
The game's single-player campaign consists of a number of wildly varying scenarios set in distinctly defined levels. Some of the game's early missions will take place in a town (at day and night) and in a trading camp, and later missions will see you galloping alongside a train on a horse, fending off unforeseen ambushes, trying to prevent an assassination attempt on the president, and sneaking out of an Army compound after being captured by unsympathetic soldiers. Additional objectives range from collecting bounties (your chosen trade) on various lowlifes' heads to rescuing damsels in distress as chivalry demands. Perform well enough and eventually you'll even begin to assemble and watch over your very own town. While city-building elements like the ones featured in Dark Cloud aren't incorporated into Red Dead Revolver's design framework, you will wind up policing the new outpost and catering to its citizens' specific needs, which provides you with an assortment of additional mission goals and side quests.
Red Dead Revolver Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- Rockstar Games
- Rockstar San Diego
- Historic Shooter
- Release: May 3, 2004 »
- ESRB: Mature
Games you may like…
-
Gun
(PS2) -
Red Dead Redemption
(PS3) -
Gladiator
(PS2) -
Contra: Shattered Soldier
(PS2) -
The Good, Bad and Ugly
(PS2)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
1 Comments