Colony Wars: Red Sun

Colony Wars: Red Sun (called Colony Wars III: Red Sun in North America) is a space combat simulator video game for the PlayStation developed by Psygnosis and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Midway Games in 2000.[1] It is a sequel to Colony Wars in 1997 and Colony Wars: Vengeance in 1998. Instead of being a starfighter pilot for the League of Free Worlds or the Colonial Navy, the player now assumes the role of a civilian miner-turned-mercenary.

Colony Wars: Red Sun
European cover art of Colony Wars: Red Sun
Developer(s)Psygnosis Leeds
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Dave Semmens
Designer(s)Simon Stratford
Jody Cobb
Scott Naylor
Programmer(s)Mike Chilton (lead)
Graeme Baird
Simon Booth
Julian Gold
Artist(s)Ben Devereau
Chris Hogg
Composer(s)Gary McKill
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • EU: 25 April 2000
  • NA: June 1, 2000[1]
Genre(s)Space combat simulator
Mode(s)Single-player

The game was originally set for release in North America by Psygnosis in April 2000,[2] before it was delayed twice, once to late April or early May,[3] and then to June 1 after being picked up by Midway Games.[1]

Gameplay

Players can choose to engage in a variety of space and atmospheric combat missions using one of nine spacecraft. Each starfighter carries a certain combination of weapons. The player earns money for killing enemy targets or completing missions, which vary from simple intercepts to escort duties. The money earned can be used to buy more advanced spacecraft and weapons. Although the spacecraft have a certain combination of weapons, the game introduces an upgrade system where players can insert new weapons and parts into a number of predetermined slots on the vehicle. However, there are limitations: the player cannot install more than three of the same kind of laser. These parts can include scatter guns, subspace dampeners, and drones of various purposes. The velocity sight used in Vengeance also returns.

When fighting any large space vessels, the player is now given a chance to target individual parts of the ship, such as gun turrets.

Compared to the more linear structure of the first two games, Red Sun incorporates a more 'open world' structure with increased role playing elements. Since the player is a mercenary, a number of missions are arrayed in the Status Menu for the player to choose from, but only those marked with the letter P must be finished to advance the plot of the game. Engaging in non-story critical missions allows the player to earn money and purchase ships and weapon upgrades to help progression through the main campaign.

Premise

The game is set around the time frame of Vengeance. A miner in the Dendray system named Alexander Lyron Valdemar experiences strange dreams about an alien race called the Sha'Har and a mysterious ship called the Red Sun. A man known as the General forces him to get on the case of investigating the Red Sun and how it is tied to the survival of the galaxy.

Reception

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Noah Massey of NextGen said of the game's European version (while the U.S. version was still in development), "If you've ever dreamed about fighting in an epic space battle, then this is without a doubt the game for you."[13] Many other reviewers gave it favorable reviews while the game was still in development.[6][7][8][9][10][15]

Notes
  1. In GameFan's early viewpoint of the game, three critics gave it each a score of 70, 91, and 90.
  2. GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, sound, and overall fun factor, and 3.5/5 for control in an early review.

References
  1. "Midway Announces 'Colony Wars: Red Sun'". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. June 1, 2000. Archived from the original on September 25, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
  2. IGN staff (April 10, 2000). "The Games of April". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  3. IGN staff (April 12, 2000). "Psygnosis Delays Colony Wars and Rollcage [Stage] II". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  4. "Colony Wars: Red Sun for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. Ham, Tom (June 21, 2000). "Colony Wars 3 [sic]". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  6. EGM staff (April 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 129. Ziff Davis.
  7. Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (April 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". Game Informer. No. 84. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 6, 2000. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  8. Ngo, George "Eggo" (May 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 5. Shinno Media. pp. 32–33. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  9. Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (May 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 5. Shinno Media. p. 12. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  10. The Freshman (April 13, 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import] Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 13, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  11. Provo, Frank (June 12, 2000). "Colony Wars [III]: Red Sun Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  12. Perry, Douglass C. (June 13, 2000). "Colony Wars [III:] Red Sun". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  13. Massey, Noah (April 2000). "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". NextGen. No. 64. Imagine Media. p. 90. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  14. "Colony Wars: Red Sun". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 57. Future Publishing. April 2000.
  15. "Colony Wars: Red Sun [Import]". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 7. Ziff Davis. April 2000.
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