Yesterday I had the chance to take part in a preview event for 505 Games and Ironward’s latest venture, Red Solstice 2: Survivors which releases on June 17th. We were able to watch a great presentation highlighting the game’s mechanics and level design. Red Solstice 2: Survivors is a real-time strategy game that takes place across the planet Mars as you and your team fight off hordes of mutants and find the cure to save the last remnants of the human race.

Here are some of Red Solstice 2: Survivors’ key features:

• Survival Strategy: Red Solstice 2: Survivors combine tactical missions with ongoing survival against the STROL virus. Explore the entire planet in a campaign that expands over time with a single goal - the survival of humanity.

• Strategic Base: Customize and grow your character. Research and upgrade new technologies and combat suits, ready for action. Prepare assets for deployment on combat missions - artillery, tactical nukes, reinforcements, dropship, and much more.

• Real-Time Tactical Battlefield: Fight in an open battlefield in real-time, while adapting and making plans on the move.

• Combat Missions: Deploy alone or with other players into combat missions to contain the spreading biomass infection. Manage your resources, explore an open map, and secure areas in order to save humanity.

• Three Mission Types: Over 15 main missions and more than 20 side missions, with each having a different mission type (exploration, exploration, and stealth)

• 8 Player Co-op: Join campaigns and combat missions from other players – or let them join yours. Bring your own research and resources into their campaign, play together and work towards the survival of the planet.

• Unique Classes: Choose between 6 classes, each with a unique gameplay experience – Assault, Demolition, Heavy Support, Marksman, Medic, and Recon.

• Powerful Weapons: Cause mass destruction, wipe out battlefields, and decimate entire colonies.

• Biomass Infestation: Fight the spreading threat which changes the environment and adapts to your actions.

Gameplay

The game does a lot right in the small alpha version that I was given to try out. The real-time combat exceeded my expectations and I really loved the gameplay as it was something I personally haven’t experienced before. It’s so easy to click around the screen and have my soldier auto-shoot using the Overwatch maneuver. It shoots any enemies within a close range allowing for me to look around the screen for pickups, objectives, or other incoming threats. You’re also given the chance to point and click on enemies to shoot or even free-aim. It’s really awesome to have so many different choices in the way you interact with combat.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to like RTS combat as I’m not too familiar with it, but this game is extremely fun once you get into it. While having Overwatch set can make me feel like I’m on autopilot at times, the mutants and other aspects of the game helped to keep my attention. A really interesting aspect that was divulged during the presentation was the fact that the game’s levels are procedurally generated, thus creating organically unique situations every time you play a mission. The levels are sprawling corridors of doom as just about everything you come across wants to kill you. Each mission is broken up into waves of mutants that will either get easier or harder depending on the algorithm the game chooses.

Teamwork plays a big part in RS2S, and it delivers greatly in the ability to play in a team of up to 8 players. I don’t know too many games that allow something like this and it’s something I wish would be implemented in games of other genres as well. Creating a strategy with other players is severely important as everyone has a specific class. Playing with a mic is a necessity as you won’t be as successful if the communication isn’t there. It also isn’t as much fun either as there really isn’t too much going on audio-wise besides mutants growling and guns blazing.

When it comes to customization and progression for your character, this game is extremely dense. There are weapons to upgrade, buffs to add to them, skills to upgrade for your character and so many others. Each class has its own set of skills and upgrading them is needed in order for them to be of real use to the team. One gripe I have though is that customization/upgrading options came across a little confusing and kind of messy.

Expectations

As far as the gameplay itself goes, I’m extremely excited to see what the rest of it has to offer. Combat and teamwork are my favorite things that this title has to offer. I’m interested in seeing how they push the team strategy to see just how connected the players really are. Increasingly difficult hordes can put some pressure on a team of 4 alone. I wonder how it would affect a team of 8?

One thing I hope to see refined is the instruction that the game gives you. Upgrading skills, customization, and just maneuvering around the screens can be quite the chore. I really only cared about getting into another mission because I had such a hard time figuring everything out. Besides a tutorial mission that solely focuses on the gameplay, there isn’t anything to give you an idea of what you need to do in order to progress the right way.

Verdict

Red Solstice 2: Survivors does a lot well with its gameplay but needs to include more instruction for players. As a new player to RTS and the Red Solstice franchise, it’s a little overwhelming to figure out what is needed of me in order to be a successful player due to the lack of tutorials for its other mechanics. Other than that, I’m extremely hopeful for the game’s release and I cannot wait to see more of it prior to that. It’s a promising game that’s really got me interested.