RED DEAD REVOLVER
(3 stars)
Platform: PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action
Rated: Mature
The western seems a natural fit for video games. All of the staples in a classic oater — gunfights at high noon, train robberies, churlish bad men in black hats — should make an easy translation to the digital stage. And at first glance, Rockstar’s new “Red Dead Revolver” really looks like the video game equivalent of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” complete with a Clint Eastwood-esque hero who prefers to speak with his shootin’ irons.
Because “Red Dead” bears the Rockstar brand, gamers will undoubtedly boot it up with sky-high expectations. However, the history of the game speaks volumes about the final production. “Red Dead” was originally a Capcom game, mercilessly canceled and left for dead a year ago. Months later, Rockstar dusted it off and finished the project. Problem is, after playing “Red Dead” for several hours, you begin to understand why Capcom walked away.
Game play is somewhat disjointed, moving between basic action scenes like clearing a town of unsavory fellers, to train chases, to pistol-slinging duels.
On top of this, the story line shifts between bounty hunter Red and several supporting characters. With game play pulled in so many directions, none of the sequences really feels fleshed-out.
Perhaps the biggest problem with “Red Dead” is split between the game and the controller: aiming. Red receives bonus bounty for not immediately drilling enemies in the head, but shooting their arms and legs before going for the kill shot. Bonus money is multiplied by how many of these shots you can link up, targeting enemy after enemy.
This is a clever system that could really increase the intensity of gunfights, but it is extremely difficult to line up these trick shots with an Xbox or PS2 controller.
Moving your crosshairs with the analog stick is far from an exact science, resulting in many unintended immediate kills or wasted ammo. Precision shooting on moving targets really does require a mouse, because a thumb on a little stick turns out to be a very inaccurate instrument. And in this Wild West, money makes the world go ’round. You need cash to buy new weapons, such as rifles and shotguns, repair pistols worn out during gun play, and buy extra items that unlock journal pages and bonus characters. Without better gear, you’ll have no chance against some of the game’s tougher hombres.
Sprinkled throughout the game are duels — showdowns where one man leaves in a pine box. These sequences, the most thrilling in most westerns, are among the best parts of the game. Right after you draw, time slows down for a couple of seconds, allowing gamers to desperately line up a few shots before the gunfight begins. If enough solid shots are lined up during those frantic seconds — such as the neck or chest — the enemy falls when time catches up with itself.
Because “Red Dead” bears the Rockstar brand, gamers undoubtedly will fire it up expecting the outrageous production values the studio is known for. Most impressive is the game’s wonderful soundtrack, which is pure spaghetti western. It immediately sets the tone of the game, and really makes the player feel like he/she is in the middle of a movie. The script is also rock-solid.
“Red Dead,” though, certainly looks the part of an aged game. Two years ago, when “Red Dead” was unveiled, the game looked great, but time can be an unkind mistress to video games. The visuals look a little rough and stiff, but the gritty filters Rockstar throws over the game for a definite cinematic feel provide good cover.
Gamers starved for an actioner in a Wild West setting will undoubtedly swallow back complaints over “Red Dead’s” shortcomings.
The game captures the essence of the genre — especially the soundtrack — and while that may be good enough for Clint Eastwood fans, it may not be worth $50 to the average gamer.
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KEY FOR GAMING PLATFORMS
PS2 — PlayStation 2
GC — GameCube
XB — XBox
GBA — Game Boy Advance
