Redout Space Assault Review (Xbox Series S)

Redout Space Assault Review

Redout: Space Assault is an arcade space battle, coupling the trademark Redout adrenaline with the thrill of combat. Outsmart, outmaneuver, overpower, outclass your opponents in lightning-fast, adrenaline-inducing single-player space combat.

Pros:

  • Decent graphics.
  • 11GB Download size.
  • 1000 Gamerscore.
  • Controller settings-Invert axis, sensitivity sliders, auto-fire and rebind controls.
  • Nine chapters in campaign mode.
  • Customize ship- color palette and ship skin.
  • Fast loading times.
  • Action space shooter gameplay.
  • Heavily inspired by Starfox.
  • Plays like a twin-stick shooter.
  • Controls-left stick to move and the right stick to dodge or if you prefer all actions on the right stick is mapped to buttons.
  • Plays like an on-rails game as you can only move around the screen and not dictate direction.
  • Coins-found in level and given as rewards. Use this to buy upgrades for your ship.
  • Can skip cutscenes.
  • The objectives-each level has 3 bonus optional objectives for rewards.
  • Arcade presentation.
  • Can replay levels.
  • Ship upgrades- Hull, shield, weapon, and missile.
  • Bonus cards-at the end of a level you get two random bonus cards to equip. You pick just one to equip and cash in the others.
  • Bite-sized levels.
  • A colorful cast of characters.
  • Levels are timed.
  • Lock-on is used for firing.
  • Level variations like escape sequences where it is about dodging and following.
  • Third-person or third ship perspective.
  • Cards have different rarities.
  • Lives don’t seem to a problem.
  • Big boss battles.

Redout Space Assault Review

Cons:

  • No actual tutorial and even when they do say the controls, it’s after a couple of levels of figuring it out yourself.
  • Hit detection is a bit off.
  • They put in sections that require precision flying and it’s just not a good fit.
  • Levels can feel too short.
  • A lot of downtimes early on in the levels.
  • Only the one ship model.
  • No leaderboards.
  • Only one view.
  • Timer means nothing in the levels.
  • No field of view sliders.
  • The whole thing is how it’s kind of on rails which is fine but the parts that allow more freedom get messy as navigation tools are nonexistent and hitting the out of bounds is real.
  • The camera can make it difficult especially in fast-paced sequences.
  • Combat can get real ugly with little guidance on how and where to attack bosses and then the camera issues pop up.

Redout Space Assault Review

  • 7/10
    Graphics - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 6/10
    Accessibility - 6/10
  • 6/10
    Length - 6/10
  • 6/10
    Fun Factor - 6/10
6.4/10

Summary

Redout Space Assault is a casual shooter with a slight on-rails experience. By that I mean you have no direct control of direction but can move freely around the screen. At times it will let you control direction but it’s a nightmare when it does as the camera goes crazy, you easily get lost and the play area is small so you die from out of bounds. Anyway, the game clearly takes a lot of inspiration and guidance from Starfox. From the ships to the way characters interact and the whole flying thing. The thing is Redout Space Assault is an alright game but it just has flaws that stick with you, I mean why have great flight controls but then jack in tight winding corridors that the ship clearly hates going through and the player hates trying to control? The ship is just one ship but you can change the decals and color whenever you want and to be honest, the color palette is really good. Coins are collected in the level and doled out as a reward and you use these coins to upgrade the stats of your ship, cards are an extra bit of customisation, you can have one card equipped at a time and you get two new random cards after every level is finished. Your job is to pick a card each time and use it whilst the other two get sold for coinage. Cards have rarity levels which change the start amount and additional bonuses or effects. Overall the package is an alright one. I hated it a lot but lived a lot, it the type of game where you could get through it no problem but you would want them to do a sequel and flesh it out and tighten it up a bit more. Play it casual and you will be fine, it’s a good game for a Starfox fix but it doesn’t have the heart of Starfox.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!