| Redline | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Beyond Games |
| Publisher(s) | Accolade |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | March, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Vehicular combat, First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Media/distribution | CD-ROM |
Redline is a 1999 post-apocalyptic combination first-person shooter/racing video game for Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Beyond Games and published by Accolade. In Europe, the game was known as Redline - Gang Warfare: 2066. This was the last game Accolade published before being acquired by French publisher Infogrames.
The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth has been laid waste by an unnaturally close orbit of the Moon, which has also turned the skies a crimson red. A privileged few live lives of luxury in cities under protective domes. Others are forced to eke out an existence on the outside, where fearful gangs battle for dominance.
The player's character is recruited by one of the gangs known as The Company, a gang reminiscent of the pre-apocalypse Mafia/FBI, with their leader Liddy. Under its guidance, the player is sent out on various missions across the battered and charred landscape.
The background story, on the other hand, goes further than that. Basically, it all comes down to the world being separated as The Insiders (the richer part of the society, who live in domed, large and luxurious cities - mentioned by Liddy as "..ever since the world turned to shit and The Insiders built their domes") and The Outsiders (the gangs that struggle for dominance); due to the discovery of a new energy named "orgone" (based on Project Tesla; that not only radio waves, but energy is also transmitted through the Schumann Cavity) which is supposed to be "based on life itself, or like life itself". However, although simple to use, to do it correctly required extreme skill - which is how The Insiders grew to be the higher part of society - through the control of most orgone. The world-famous disease "Red Six" (which gave the name to a gang in the game, The Red Sixers - The Company's main enemy) derived from the generation of "negative orgone" - destructive albeit productive. The negative orgone energy became a serious problem, which is why The Insiders closed themselves off, and how the gangs made themselves in the outside.
Gameplay takes place on foot or within vehicles known as "Battle Rigs". The game requires the player to use both modes of play. When within their vehicle, the player may exit at any time to continue on foot (except during the stage in which the player is locked into his vehicle, and must escape before it explodes). When on foot, the game is a first-person shooter (FPS) with gameplay typical of the genre, battling other enemies on foot or in vehicles with sci-fi weapons of unusual power. When in a Battle Rig, the game is more reminiscent of racing or driving games, with the exception that the player can run over their enemies.
Redline included support to be played online using the MPlayer.com and Heat.net online gaming services. It was available for play for their demo version even before the game was released. After release both the demo and full version were supported. It's now supported by Gamespy Arcade.