Review by: Jonathan Hynes
Published: November 25, 2003

Based upon the fantastic world of White Wolf’s pen and paper RPG World of Darkness, last year’s Hunter: The Reckoning was a standout title on the Xbox, even earning a five star rating here at Avault. Now, just as is the case with any sequel worth its namesake, bigger and better is the theme with Redeemer. Developer High Voltage Software gives us everything from the obligatory improved visuals to additional weapons and improved combat mechanics. Execution is the key, however, and they must be careful not to tamper with the basic gameplay elements that made the first title so much fun to play.

Five years after the evil that tormented the city of Ashcroft was banished, it would appear that the town is well on the road to recovery. A large conglomerate called Genefex has chosen the area as its new manufacturing center, giving the citizens employment, revitalizing the shattered economy and even promoting growth in the city. However, appearances can be deceiving, and we soon discover that the demons of Ashcroft are never far from sight. Even more troubling is the timing of the attacks; there’s little doubt that Genefex is somehow involved in this macabre plot to once again wreak havoc on the already distressed population.

The supernatural forces that inhabit Ashcroft are beyond any normal security force, which is why a specially trained group of “Hunters” must see that the evil within the city is contained. Our party consists of five heroes, each of which has their own background story that ultimately determines his or her Creed. The four characters that first made an appearance in the original game all return for the sequel, and they’re joined by the youthful but clever, Kaylie Winter. Appropriately enough, she adopts the doctrine of a Redeemer while the others all reprise their roles as avenger, defender, martyr and judge.

A number of attributes determine each person’s effectiveness in certain areas, and unsurprisingly, this is also based upon Creed. The offensive minded avenger, for example, has an extremely high strength rating, but is hampered by a lack of mobility. Conversely, what the martyr lacks in raw power, she more than makes up for in agility and speed.

Redeemer can be played alone, or cooperatively with up to three other friends; each person must chose from the available characters before the game begins. The journey is broken down into a succession of levels, each with their own unique set of primary and secondary objectives. Special blue-glowing glyphs provide the player with additional information regarding the goal, and sometimes even hints as to how they might proceed. Other glyphs scattered throughout the environments include those that restore health, offer a boost of speed and even temporarily afford the gamer unlimited ammunition. Many of these symbols can also be activated more than once, meaning that each player in a cooperative campaign can reap the benefits.