Most gamers immediately think of the great number of Star Wars games when they hear the name of Lucasarts. But next to all of the lightsaber madness, Lucasarts has other products like RTX Red Rock. This third person action title is heading for the stores by the end of May, exclusively on Playstation 2. And since I had my eye on this game for a while myself, I figured it’s time we take a closer look at RTX Red Rock ...

The game starts off anno 2103, precisely a hundred years into the future and 56 years after the construction of Red Rock, the first human colony on Mars. Technology has advanced a lot and so has the exploration of the galaxy. This way man has encountered the L.E.D. (Light Emitting Demons), an evil alien race. After a heavy assault on Earth, where man triumphed, all contact with Red Rock was suddenly lost.

General Preston Chark is supposed to find out what the hell happened on Mars and he sends Eugene Zeno Wheeler towards a space station orbiting the red planet. This RTX (Radical Tactics Expert) is chosen to await reinforcements and help them out with military tactics. However things don’t go as smoodly as planned and E.Z. Wheeler ends up on Mars himself. And so he tries to liberate Red Rock on his own ...

But he’s not alone there. He suspects soldiers and scientists to be hiding inside the colony and suggests to rescue them. Amongst others, you will encounter a mad old scientist who helped out with the construction of the base and he could provide you with vital information concerning the structure. However, in exchange for contacting these people you will have to solve various puzzles and take on heavy armoured L.E.D. troops. But E.Z. isn’t all by himself since he carries IRIS along with him. This portable computer has her own personality, is in love with Eugene and supports him with help and information on certain situations.

IRIS can also be loaded into several robots in order to control them. At some points Wheeler himself can drive certain vehicles. You’ll be able to race across the deserts of Mars with a land rover, explore unsolid terrain with a mechanical spider and even join a dogfight by means of an enemy spaceship. The multiplayer mode will offer two player races in some of these vehicles and good old fine deathmatch where one player takes control of Wheeler while the other one plays as an L.E.D. Not extensive, but comfortable multiplayer.

Being a one-man-army however isn’t the safest job around. E.Z. Wheeler has experienced a lot of fighting and already lost his right arm and left eye. Strangely this is good because both have been replaced by synthetic parts which offer a lot of advantages. Wheeler can look at the world in 4 different ways. He can activate the modes Thermoscan (which allows him to notice hidden enemies), Electroscan (in order to see computer systems he can acces), Bioscan (to see organic materials) and Naviscan (for consulting known data and maps). His synthetic arm is equipped with a pistol, but will throughout the game be expanded with a laser weapon, sniper rifle, grenade launcher, harpoon, plasma cutter, etc. Damn I wish I had an arm like that ...

The entire game offers 10 different levels throughout various locations. You start off in the space station, put on a space suit (with built-in jetpack) and you cross the surface of Mars, investigate diamond mines and of course explore the Red Rock colony itself. All of the levels are very colorful and the screenshots show us nice and detailed environments. Especially the laser effects look cool as hell and the outdoor locations are very big. Our PS2 is really gonna have to work his ass off once more.

Lucasarts has chosen an electronic soundtrack for the game, which is supposed to fit well with the technological world from RTX Red Rock. The music will also adapt itself to the environments and will sound louder and more threatening on thrilling moments. All of this in order to create a special atmosphere which I think I’m gonna love for sure. :)

In conclusion one could say RTX Red Rock promises to be a fresh action game with an original setting, good graphics and an exciting story. And of course there are the moments where you can walk on the surface of Mars, something every wanna-be soldier will certainly enjoy. The only sad thing seems to be the poor multiplayer option, although simply fragging and racing against eachother has its charms as well. Definitely one to keep an eye on !