Combine car combat with first-person shooter, and you got a great game.
Gameplay – Here's what makes Redline different from other PC shooter games. It's car combat, combined with a first-person shooter element. Meaning, you can exit your car at anytime. This will switch into a first-person shooter mode, in which you will have a variety of weapons to choose from, including a machine gun, shotgun, sniper, gauss cannon, and others. But the vehicles do have weapons too. In fact, each vehicle in the game has at least two unique weapons. If your vehicle were to get blown up, you'd take some damage, and are automatically ejected from the blown-up vehicle. This is when fear will take over. When you got about two or three vehicles coming right at you, taking cover is definitive. But since most car combat battles are in an open area, it's hard to run away.
As for the levels, there are 12. Each one provides an interesting briefing at the beginning, explaining the mission. One mission requires quick thinking, due to the player's car being sealed tight with a bomb attached to it. Another mission requires constant firing from a raiding group of enemies. Each one varies, and in addition, each mission has loads and loads of secrets. Secret rooms, secret cars, secret easter eggs filled up each level.
The game doesn't have set difficulty levels, so expect some parts of the game to be hard, and then some to be real easy. But it all depends on how much health the player has/how much ammo the player has. This makes the game harder at times.
Video – The graphics seemed rushed. The explosions of the cars, separation of an enemies' body, and other minor things are very nice and well done. Yet, the player models look blocky and slow. In addition, the surrounding land seemed unbalanced and rough. Also expect to see small glitches, such as a floating barrel at times.
The levels, in general, are well created. The first level takes place in a city called Stadium City. A surrounding large arena surrounds the city, as broken down cars, buildings, and the like are scattered around. Another level takes the player throughout a rival gang's headquarters, which is just weird. Bodies posted on crosses, weird symbols on the walls, and a giant spider statue, among other things, simply crept me out.
Audio – The music is pure kickass. Can't think of any other word. It's energetic, building, whatever word(s) you'd use. And the music cues at the perfect times to, such as the beginning of the level, or the climax of the mission. The voice actors' did a well job. The main player doesn't get any lines, as he's the silent type. His boss throughout the game, Liddy, has that deep and serious tone. The main antagonist, Rant, is just rough and hard as hell to understand. But then again, Rant is a huge red monster, so I guess it's realistic.
Controls – Now controlling the vehicles is one thing. It's pretty basic, you use the keyboard to make turns/accelerate/break, and use the mouse for aiming the weapon. Power sliding is easy, and you're able to remap any of the controls. On foot is a little harder. It's basic keyboard, with a few nice touches. You can jump, strafe, roll. But in multiplayer (and one level of single player) you can use the saw blade as a portable helicopter. This is quite useful in multiplayer. In addition, it's easy to use.
Storyline – As I explained above, the story is pretty much about the world turning into a real big pothole. The missions rarely touches how the world turned into crap, yet instead focuses on inner-gang issues, such as rising to the top, and taking out other rivals.
Multiplayer – The multiplayer was groundbreaking in Redline. Online car combat plus first person shooter gave people loads of fun. Team deathmatch, deathmatch, and capture the flag are some of the game modes created. The players can choose four of the game's main gangs as their selective models. After that, all players enter a level, which can be an airport, a broken down headquarters, a weird energy dome, and many others. Finally, in the game, each player can enter various vehicles throughout the area, or fight on foot.
Price – It's hard to find this game, due to both companies Accolade and Beyond Games no longer existing. Various stores online may have it, and if they do, go for it.
Replay – After you've beaten the single player, there isn't much to do. Can find some friends and play multiplayer, or go look for many of the secrets tossed throughout each level.
Overall – One of the best games I've ever played. Combining car combat with first-person shooter is one of the greatest video game combos ever made. In addition to the weird storyline, unique weapons and fun levels, this turns out to be an amazing game.