The Red Star was introduced three years ago as part of Acclaim Games' attempt to improve its image. Sadly, bankruptcy followed soon thereafter, forcing the nearly completed game to ceased development. Now, three years later, XS Games has revived it, along with the help of some of its former producing team at Edge of Reality.

Based upon the Christian Gossett underground comic book, The Red Star thrusts gamers right into a heated storyline. A tyrannical dark lord named Imbohl now dominates a fictional version of Russian territory, along with the help of a soul-harvesting menace named Troika. Rather than face the possibility of another Cold War (or, worse yet, enslavement), members of the U.R.R.S. (United Republics of the Red Star) set out to stop Imbohl and his mechanical army.

Three characters can be selected, each with unique attributes. Kyuzo, a feisty female soldier, relies on her speed and quick attacks using a semi-automatic twin cannon and a mini-sickle. Makita, a no-holds-barred Resistance fighter moves much slower, but carries a large bladed weapon and a more powerful streaming gun. His ability to throw around enemies comes in handy, particularly against large groups. Finally, Maya, unlocked after beating the game, uses an array of projectile-based attacks features a healing power to recover from damage.

Each of these characters generates a temporary electronic shield, activated by hitting the X button. It recharges over the course of each level, coming in handy when considering the endless count of enemies. Guns can only be fired for so long before they overheat, forcing the player to let them cool and using short-range attacks in the meantime. A "super attack" charges up with a certain amount of enemies beaten, giving the selected U.R.R.S. representative the chance to clear out sections of the screen in one swift stroke.

Throughout each level, players will constantly face new threats. These include various types of soldiers (each with schematics, which can be read by hitting the SELECT button) and numerous boss enemies, comprised of cannon formations and bulky assault vehicles. This combination of short-range attacks and firearms provides a nice dynamic, giving the player a wealth of options to take down the onslaught of enemies. Firing off a gun works well enough against unshielded enemies, but launching them into the air for multiple hits or throwing them into each other works more effectively. The game does become repetitive over time, but players can solve this by trying a new character for each mission or, better yet, inviting a second friend into the fray.