Redline is
the Mad Max of action games. Accolade and Action Games have
taken the first-person shooter to the next level of
interactivity by successfully combining vehicular combat with
on-foot warfare. Think of it as a combination of Interstate
‘76, Carmageddon, and Quake.
The year is 2066 and the former leaders of Earth (the Insiders)
have staged their glorious comeback by setting off nuclear
detonations at the opposite poles of the moon. As all of you
astronomers would know, this disrupted the moon’s orbit with
the chain reaction resulting in an environmental disaster on
Earth. Those who could not afford to seek entry in the
Insider’s domed cities were left out in the polluted cold, so
to speak and thus were deemed Outsiders. Roving gangs now
controls this ravaged landscape.
Since you’re the new kid on the toxic block, you get a chance
to join the gang (literally) at “The Company”. Yep, that’s
right - you’re a gang banger in what looks like Mad Max 4. As
part of your indoctrination, you have to prove your mettle
against a series of rival gangs. Don’t expect anything
different with respect to the gang warfare storyline since it
doesn’t go any further than just identifying enemies as rival
gang members that you’re supposed to whack. It would have been
interesting if you were able have a neutral starting point and  then through certain actions you could
strive to be a member of a particular gang, similar to the
Dark/Light Force Side choices offered in Jedi Knight. Instead
you get the standard offering of kill all those in your firing
range.
But this is no way detracts from the fun you’ll have, as you
go from vehicle to on-foot in your battle against the scourge of
the Earth. The ability to enter and exit different vehicles at
will, is where Redline really excels. As you progress through
the levels, different types of vehicles are at your disposal
ranging from hot rods to hovercrafts (very cool). The driving is
arcade style and the controls are relatively simple to learn -
the designers did an excellent job of including only the most
basic controls as it does take some time to get used to
alternating from driver to foot soldier and vice versa. The
trick is to customize your controls for both modes and don’t
forget them; otherwise you’ll soon be the latest flavor of
Smuckers jelly.
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more!
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