Headhunter: Redemption

Terrorist action is undermining the system. Your job is to pile in and blow them away. It’s a simple task, rendered wonderfully tense by the brooding background music and the amazingly detailed scenery. It’s almost like controlling your own Hollywood blockbuster.

Everything that worked in the first game has been improved, and everything that didn't has been fixed or discarded. Is there anything new here? No. It's the exact same game that Headhunter was, only better.

The gunplay just has that “right” feeling to it that makes shooting enemy after enemy extremely satisfying. It’s too bad that the controls, story, and voice acting weren’t fully realized, because this game could have been great.

It might not satisfy quite like the third-person shooter action games of late but the game offers lengthy missions that just get better the further you go. It’s a shame that many of the original game’s flaws return in full force in this sequel.

Once you look past the fairly average and repetitive gameplay between puzzles, some decent gameplay can be found and the storyline is something which really helps the game remain interesting once the repetition begins to hit.

The game's kick-ass atmosphere and excellent visuals seem to have taken development time away from the play mechanics. [Nov 2004, p.88]

Story aside, everything that’s in the game is very competent and enjoyable but it doesn’t quite go out of its way enough to push the envelope as far as the overall experience goes, when compared to where the genre is today. [Oct 2004, p.116]

Frustration creeps in at points when the camera goes AWOL and you can't target anything for toffee, but once you get on top of the not-too-intuitive control system, life in the gloomy future becomes easier and you can get down to enjoying Redemption for what it is - a solid title that belongs firmly in the brighter, more affluent world of Above.

If you want a game that has a good deal of action, has a rather in-depth story line, and one of the more feisty main characters in a while, then Headhunter: Redemption could be what you are looking for.

A strangely appealing, almost broken mess of a game. It has a very specific kind of action that's different and charming.

Enemy AI is as dumb as a crumbling brick wall and there are no shadow or cover effects. [Oct 2004, p.136]

Dodgy controls, annoying cameras and repetitive gameplay (think obsessive scanning!) makes the game get tiresome very quickly.

Frankly, Redemption just isn't a very interesting game, from any angle.

Ignoring the lackluster controls and bad animation, there's a decent action/adventure experience in Headhunter: Redemption, with a lengthy quest punctuated with plenty of gunplay and occasionally interesting puzzles.

The good portions of Headhunter: Redemption (clean visuals, smart opponents, a lengthy and tough challenge, etc.) outweigh the bad one’s (needlessly troublesome controls, idiotic dialogue, inconsistent game design, etc.) by a very narrow margin.

The whole shooting match feels kinda Xeroxed, but for fans of the genre, it's worth the rental after a long day at the rock pile.

The inconsistencies and haphazardly-borrowed elements keep Headhunter from ever realizing its potential and drag it down to mere "mediocre" status. It has a certain underdog charm... if only it were content to be good instead of clumsily striving for cool.

Should actually be called "Headhunter: Generally Good Like the Last One But Still Pretty Flawed." [Nov 2004, p.120]

It’s always a shame when a game arrives perfectly playable and pleasant enough to glide through without too much in the way of frustration, while at the same time being devoid of actual thrills or jaw-dropping moments.

Just all over the board in terms of gameplay, graphics and sound. One minute you will enjoy it and the next you will be wondering what you miss because you are stuck and cant get to the next level.

It's a blast at first, but as the game progresses, you really feel like you're just going through the motions. [Sept 2004, p.65]

And why must I hit left on the right analog stick when my intention is to look right? Talk about counterintuitive. [Nov 2004, p.140]

It is worth noting that Headhunter: Redemption is tough - whether that is down to problems with the game’s mechanics and controls or a deliberate design choice is up to you, but this game took endless hours to get through with many restarts and countless yells of fury.

It's cool that Sega has continued the series, but sadly, the finished product is about three years too late.

If Gamestyle can offer any reason for playing Headhunter: Redemption then it can only be for the story and satisfaction of overcoming the above design and difficulty issues.

If Headhunter’s controls were as coherent as its looks, it could’ve made for one of the greatest action-adventure games of recent times. Instead, we’re left with a clunky shooting gallery that is, in parts, a likeable gunfighting game. [Oct 2004, p.109]

The game’s haphazard strokes fail to paint a complete picture, and you’ll suffer frequent pauses as you shoot and solve your way to the end.