Headhunter: Redemption

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.

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.

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.

There's absolutely no question as to the somewhat obfuscated way in which the learning curve charts itself. Still, when you finally do get to grips with the controls, there's the subtle and atmospheric visuals, a Richard Jacques score and genuinely thrilling narrative to commend it.

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.

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

Hardcore fans of the Dreamcast release of Headhunter will probably enjoy Redemption since it is a continuation of the same formula, but be prepared to struggle through some gameplay problems that keep it from tipping the needle above that mainstream level on the radar.

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

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.

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.

With some of the puzzles being laborious rather than fun I suggest bringing your brain along with you as well. Overall Head hunter ends up being a very average game.

Blowing away targets requires use of annoying lock-on control, but rolling out of harm's way during lead showers and stealthy clinging to walls varies the pace-as do cut scenes dripping with cheezola dialogue.

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.

Stumbles because of sloppy, annoying controls. [Dec 2004, p.96]

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.

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]

Painfully average.

It's a totally generic game, almost the action equivalent of a kart racer.

It suffers from a game-destroyingly-bad aiming/camera system that I just could not get over.

The first game had "not too bad" gameplay with a "not too bad plot", and in the end, was a passable title. With the gameplay problems in this one, I can't even give it that.

This is the 21st century. No game should ever make a player fetch a valve handle again. [Nov 2004, p.94]

The biggest problem is pacing. Simply put, Headhunter: Redemption is monotonous and dull. [Nov 2004, p.124]