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Red Steel 2

One of the Nintendo Wii’s most anticipated launch titles was the original Red Steel. It was also one of the most disappointing. The blend of gun slinging and swordplay was a great concept that fell flat because of the limitations on what the Wii Remote could do. After the reveal of the Wii Motion Plus accessory, Ubisoft decided to try to redeem themselves with Red Steel 2.

Besides the basic premise of combining sword and gun fights, Red Steel 2 changes nearly everything from its predecessor. No longer is the game set in the Yakuza underworld, but the Wild West. The original’s more realistic look has been dropped for gorgeous cell shaded graphics. And unlike the first, Red Steel 2′s controls actually work well.

In the game, players take control of a nameless protagonist who is proficient in using a katana and a variety of guns. Red Steel 2 is kind of like the Metroid Prime series in the sense that it’s a first person game and players shoot things, but it’s not quite a first person shooter. There is much more emphasis on the swordplay rather than the shooter aspects. The game is pretty linear, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Players select a mission, it begins, and they follow the green arrows to reach the mission objective, taking out any enemies along the way. There are also secondary missions, which are essentially side quests with no bearing on the story.

While the controls are miles above the ones in the first game, they are very difficult at first. There are many mandatory training modes to help players learn the basic controls all the way to the advanced moves. While most Wii games only require minimal movement of the wrist, Red Steel 2 requires players to actually swing the Wii Remote to slash the sword. While light movements do work at first, enemies that force faster, more powerful, and multiple rapid movements appear fairly early on in the game. The controls are good, but not perfect. There are a few instances of the wrong attacks registering during frantic gameplay.

While the game is really fun, it’s nearly impossible to just chill out, relax on the couch, and start playing. The speed and force that must be put into swings to be effective almost requires players to stand during gameplay, and at the very least, be in an alert sitting position. Though it has a few flaws, Red Steel 2 is a very good game. I would rate it a solid 8/10.

Red Steel 2 – Nintendo Wii SynopsisYou’re a loner, a man of mystery who keeps to himself. Your sword and gun are your only friends, and it’s a good thing because you’ve just landed in an edgy city in the middle of the desert and the locals are none too friendly. As you make your way through the mixed metropolis, you’ll need all of your skills to get out alive. Red Steel 2 delivers an intense, action-packed adventure where you’ll put your sword-fighting and gun-slinging abilities to the test. Travel through strange environments in which Eastern and Western culture have been smashed together. Master exciting combos with your sword and gun, deflecting bullets with your sword, to defeat challenging bosses. Use the intuitive Wii MotionPlus (not included) to replicate your movements on-screen and take down the villains in your path.

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