From the very start, the game is reminiscent of classic Xbox Live Indie title I Made a Game with Zombies in it! and it’s hard to shake the feeling when you see the types of enemies and some of the environments. Although the PS4 version of Crimsonland has been heralded by some as a ‘remaster’ it doesn’t greatly improve on the PC version which has already found some success after its release in 2013. While there isn’t a great deal of varying animations from enemies, the game runs very smoothly on the PS4 and the colour of the enemies are striking, alarming colours which add to the idea that you’re fighting against aliens, zombies, lizards and huge spiders.
As colourful as the enemies are, one of the major problems I found was that there is so much blood on the battlefield that it becomes very difficult to see enemies who have any red on their bodies. As well as this proving difficult, there is a certain part in the campaign when a certain number of enemies are invisible at first glance. Only when you take your eye off of the character you’re controlling (which is the main task of the game) you notice a swirling movement which provides the enemies location. With the game constantly progressing at a very high pace, these problems often have you stopping and starting because of the enemy design.
The enemies themselves are quite varied in evolving and are constantly changing how you move around the area. Aliens, zombies, lizards and spiders are the common enemies you will come across and to begin with, they are straight forward. As you progress past the first few areas, you will notice a small change in their behaviour such as larger spiders becoming two spiders and then four spiders and so on. The aliens are simple enough, but the lizards and zombies can become a thorn in your side. These enemies, like the spiders, can reproduce at a rapid rate and you will be swarmed with all types of enemies before you know it. While these special types of enemies are varied, the shooting feels soft and often disconnected.
I normally expect twin-stick shooters to make the experience as simple as possible. These types of games normally have one stick to move and the other fires the gun in whichever direction you push it. Crimsonland sees you using the right stick to aim while using R2 to shoot. From twin-stick shooters I have played in the past I have enjoyed using the two button approach. It’s simple and a lot of fun, especially when you are constantly firing a machine gun in every direction.
While I understand the use of R2 to fire is because of accuracy ratings, it doesn’t feel right for the type of game it is. Additionally, you can press X to reload and this causes all sorts of problems when you’re being swarmed. You often find yourself starting a level with a pistol which is relatively slow and hard to use, but the reloading requires you to pick your moments of when to reload. A great aspect of twin-stick shooters is that you don’t have to worry about reloading weapons and just focus on the task at hand. I can see what 10tons have attempted to do with Crimsonland, but the reloading function seems to get in the way of the otherwise manic fun, which the game often provides.
On the topic of weapons, there are around 30 weapons to obtain throughout the campaign. Every second level sees you unlocking a new weapon or perk, both of which are supposed to help you as the game increases the difficulty. Some of the weapons include a standard shotgun, handgun, sub-machine gun and assault rifle. There are unique weapons such as a pulse rifle, blade gun and flamethrower which provide small moments of excitement before the panic kicks in again.
Prior to writing this review, I have only played Crimsonland in singleplayer. The game is suitable to be played by up to 4 players who work together and keep their eyes on all four corners of the map. You get a feeling that this is the way in which the game should be played, as couch co-op games are something of a rarity these days. The fun and carefree attitude of Crimsonland would be enhanced with the addition of some friends who will no doubt enjoy the panic-inducing gameplay. On the topic of game modes, there are two different game modes: Campaign and Survival.
Campaign mode sees you gradually making your way through stages where you unlock new weapons and come across new enemies. There are 6 stages to complete, each with 10 levels within those stages. These levels can usually be completed in 2 or 3 minutes on average, although regenerating enemies and poor weapon choices can drag out the experience. Survival mode has a host of game types, each of which can be played in multiplayer and these are score based meaning that you can compare your score on a certain game mode with other players around the world.
While there is nothing new or unique about Crimsonland, it’s a solid twin-stick shooting experience and something which a lot of PS4 owners should at least try. While I’ve only played singleplayer, the game seems tailored for multiplayer and I can imagine time flying by as friends and I play through the various challenges and setting new high scores. There are a few gameplay features which get in the way of a free-flowing experience which can often become frustrating. If you have played I Made a Game with Zombies in it! and you want more of the same action with the addition of multiplayer, then Crimsonland could be the game for you.
Crimsonland is available now on PS4 via the PS Store for £7.99.