The Book of Revenant

Red Steel for the Wii isn’t very good.

A terrible story, boring characters, and enough untranslated Japanese to choke a dog (Why do this? Is it “hip” now to have untranslated Japanese in US games? WTF? I understand it, but am I really their market audience? There’s a scary thought.) are just a side dish to what makes up this two parter game.

Two parts, because the sword and gunning game-play are segmented. “BUH?” is my response, as not having followed this game at all until this rental copy was in my hands, I figured you’d be able to swap between slicing up bitches close range and gunning long range. Best swordplay you get while gunning is awkwardly stabbing a nearby enemy with your tanto. Other than that, it’s your standard “generic shooter”. On occasions, you’ll run into a surly, constipated member of the Yakuza. In these situations, no matter how big the gun you’re pointing at him is, you’ll holster it to dual via katakana.

Now, I have no issues with lack of realism in games, for fuck sakes look at what I enjoy! But, after you stop, via bullets, a car racing towards you and the capturer of your girlfriend steps out of said car, I just have a little trouble believing that you’d bother putting away your gun to sword fight the mother fucker. At least tease me with “Oh shit, the explosion of the car blasted your gun out of your hand and now you must dance with swords, bitch!” or something.

Anyway, on to the game. The aiming of the guns feels off, and if this were my first Wii game I’d blame that, but no. Aiming in Trauma Center and Zelda is just smooth and dandy, so I don’t know what’s up there. Other than that, the sword fighting is neat, but they didn’t add much beyond slicing, blocking and dodging in a circle to keep me satisfied.

So the result? Not that much fun. But all the flaws seem to be linked to decisions Ubisoft chose, and made the game in a rush, it seems. This game does, though, give me good hope for other shooters and sword based gameplay on the Wii. To that I raise my glass.

Anyway, I finished two “missions” or whateverthefuck they called them and I’m calling it quits. God, me abandoning a hot Japanese girl in need? I think that speaks the most about the game.