A Mutant Mayhem Masterpiece or a Strategic Struggle?
Unsurprisingly, the game that I am going to be casting my beady eye over today is a sequel, as the number “2” in the title tends to signify.
Yes, we’re here for Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition, the follow up to Red Solstice, coming from Ironward and 505 Games. On the surface, this is a bit of me really, with it being described as a real time strategy game, with a dynamic battlefield that allows the fighting of a mutant horde. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, many enemies mostly. And the need to stay alive.
The story of Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition is pretty simple, to be honest, and goes a little bit like this: We are an Executor (as in someone who looks after a will, not a hangman) and we have one job – to keep all the mutants at bay, killing anything that moves that isn’t human. That does mean we need to head off on some arduous missions, and nothing stands between us and certain death except some trusty weapons. The thing is, in Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition the story isn’t massively important. Which is fine, because it fast takes a bit of a back seat to the action.
A Top-Down View of Destruction
Presentation wise, this is a nice looking thing, with the action depicted from a top-down perspective, almost Diablo-esque in the viewpoint. We are the Executor, and we have a large almost mech-like suit of armour to stomp about in, armed to the teeth. Completing missions is the way forward, taking in a variety of places, on a variety of planets, navigating large maps, each stuffed full with things to find and missions to discover. Of course, the missions are the largest part of the game, but there is a lot more to go at as well, with research tasks to be prioritised and a large variety of menu driven shenanigans to get up to. Think X-Com and you won’t be far off the mark…
Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition works as a story of two halves, as I alluded to above. When we go on missions, we are left to collect certain things that allow the opportunity to research the enemy in order to understand them better. Of course, that then makes them easier to kill, as new weapons can be developed, helping aid further missions – and that goal of staying alive. It’s here where a gameplay loop is formed.
There is also a variety of classes for our Executor, and as each class has a corresponding skill tree to unlock new abilities, finding a character that suits your play style is pretty straightforward.
Ultimate Edition Extras
I feel like now is a good time to fit in a word about the Ultimate Edition part of this title: the base game was initially released on Steam back in 2021, and there have been various bits of DLC released for the game in the intervening years. And this being the Ultimate Edition, all those DLC packages are included with release on Xbox, so there are a ton more missions and cosmetic items to get to grips with.
Once a class has been picked and a mission is loaded in, the main thing is to decide first of all whether we are going to go it alone, or join others in a multiplayer session. Sadly, during my time with Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition, the online world hasn’t exactly been heaving, but you may happen upon the odd server or two. Running about with a couple of like minded friends helps matters, as even though the AI does a fair job of helping out in solo play, even reviving you when you die (and you will, believe me), it is always better having a group of players actually in the game with you. The netcode seems to be well up to the task as well.
Non-Stop Action and Challenging Missions
Whether you play solo or with a friend, the action in Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition is pretty much non-stop, whether that be taking in a simple mission, rescuing a VIP, salvaging stuff from a crashed cargo flyer or more; there is never a dull moment in this game. The enemies are pretty constant too and that means running out of ammo is a real issue, as I found out on my third mission, when I was left with only harsh language to fight off the hordes.
Dying doesn’t go unpunished either, as failing to finish a mission is punished by the infestation getting stronger in that zone, so you really need to make sure you are ready.
A Challenging and Content-Rich Strategy Game for Hardcore Fans
Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition comes with a steep difficulty; near vertical at times, even on easy. Ensure you know that the challenge is real, but that does mean that when you do complete a mission, you can feel pretty proud of yourself!
If you are in the market for a super hard game, with a lot of content to go at then Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition could be the one for you.
Your Links
Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition Storms onto Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/red-solstice-2-survivors-ultimate-edition-storms-onto-xbox/
Buy Red Solstice 2: Survivors Ultimate Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/red-solstice-2-survivors-ultimate-edition/9NTLSMKMLP0Z
