Redshirt
- November 12, 2013
- The Tiniest Shark
Redshirt is an unconventional — and biting — view of life on earth
"Redshirt" is a single-player comedy role-playing game set on a space station, where you must navigate the world of social networking and politics to gain promotions and achieve your dreams. With plenty of humor, the game pokes fun at science fiction clichés through status updates and messages, while the turn-based gameplay is surprisingly intense as you strive for likes and connections. Despite the lighthearted tone, the game requires a good amount of grinding to progress.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and humorous take on social media dynamics set in a sci-fi universe, providing clever references and satire.
- It can be a fun and light-hearted time-waster, especially for fans of social simulation games and those who enjoy quirky humor.
- The gameplay mechanics allow for multiple strategies to progress, making it somewhat engaging for players who enjoy managing relationships and resources.
- The game quickly becomes repetitive and tedious, with limited replay value and a lack of meaningful content beyond the initial novelty.
- Many players found the interface clunky and confusing, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- The game is considered overpriced for the amount of content and enjoyment it provides, with many recommending it only during sales.
- story39 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in *Redshirt* is described as weak and repetitive, primarily revolving around a social simulation set in a parody of a space station where players manage relationships and job rankings while facing the randomness of away missions that often result in character deaths. While some players appreciate the humor and graphics, many criticize the lack of meaningful narrative depth and character development, leading to a tedious experience that feels more like a grind than an engaging story. Overall, the game fails to deliver a compelling storyline, leaving players disappointed despite its interesting premise.
“The story plays out mainly via a fake Facebook/social network where you can interact with other people, join or organize events - all of which influence your skills and social connections required to advance in your job and ensure you a way off the space station before the situation deteriorates at the end.”
“When the away mission we were on went a bit wrong and I had to choose who to save... Astra paid the ultimate price, allowing me and Pucog to continue our bromance in peace.”
“I enjoyed the graphics, laughed at some of the storyline twists, and had a good couple of evenings wheeling and dealing to improve my rank.”
“There are a few story paths that are completely broken, and the developer has long since abandoned the game, so that will never be fixed.”
“Honestly, I loved the concept for the game, but with no story to really follow and no apparent pros or cons to the decisions I made, I found this one becoming repetitive and boring.”
“There is a very weak overall story, but the heart of this thing is a 'virtual social network' clicking through menu after menu, nothing outside of menus the whole time.”
- humor39 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of witty puns, absurd satire, and sci-fi references, which some players find hilarious and charming, particularly in its parody of social media and classic sci-fi shows. However, many reviewers note that the humor can become repetitive and is often overshadowed by tedious gameplay mechanics, leading to a mixed reception overall. While it has its funny moments, the writing is criticized for being poorly executed and not consistently engaging, leaving some players feeling that the humor falls short of expectations.
“This game is hilarious; it has a decent version of Facebook and so many puns to keep me happy!”
“The humor and whimsical nature of this Facebook simulator keeps it lively and fun.”
“Its satirical, tongue-in-cheek attitude towards social media and popular sci-fi shows is absolutely hilarious.”
“Not funny.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, often leading to boredom after a few sessions. While some appreciate the intuitive mechanics and humor, others criticize the clunky interface, lack of depth, and limited variety in gameplay, making it feel shallow and unengaging. Overall, the game struggles to balance its interesting concept with enjoyable execution, leaving many players disappointed.
“Fantastic game mechanics that become very quick to navigate as you play.”
“Gameplay is funny as non-player characters develop likes and dislikes for your character.”
“Plus, the mechanics are interesting, and will give strategy gamers good reasons for replays.”
“The game concept intrigues me a lot, but the actual gameplay is kind of disappointing and confusing.”
“Unfortunately, playing it five times requires such mental fortitude it's practically impossible and only for the hardcore, as the mechanics and rehashed dialogue get boring around play 2.”
“Good idea of sci-fi parody is ruined by gameplay which has little humor but lots of annoying mechanics.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game's grinding mechanics are a significant drawback, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and repetitive, especially as they progress towards the endgame. While there are humorous moments, the lack of meaningful objectives and the overwhelming grind lead to frustration and boredom, diminishing the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“Overall, I increasingly felt like the main gameplay loop was just tedious.”
“The game has its funny moments and chuckles, but there's also a lot of tedious repetition for the XP just to get to the next stage.”
“Unfortunately, the Facebook joke wore out quickly, and the dating sim turned out to be really stat-heavy and prone to some grinding in order to get the next job offer.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered mediocre and lackluster, with many reviewers noting a cheap and bland art style that fails to impress. While some appreciate how the visuals complement the storyline, the overall consensus is that the graphics do not meet modern standards and can detract from the gaming experience. Additionally, issues like repetitive animations and bugs further diminish the visual appeal.
“The graphics aren't the greatest, but they go wonderfully with the storyline.”
“After a while, the scripts did start to repeat themselves a little too much, but I enjoyed the graphics, laughed at some of the storyline twists, and had a good couple of evenings wheeling and dealing to improve my rank.”
“Graphics: somewhat modern 2D.”
“No animations, no spectacular graphics.”
“The graphics are mediocre, at best, and while by itself I'd overlook it, when you see the lack of change during the end sequence, you'll wonder why you spent all this time doing this.”
“The disappointment first arrived when I realized that, yes, the artwork in-game is worse than the preview screenshots.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it entertaining and worth a discounted price, while others feel it lacks long-term value and do not intend to replay it. Many reviewers suggest that while the initial experience can be enjoyable, the overall replay value is limited, making it more suitable for casual play rather than repeated sessions.
“I find it very replayable.”
“[b][u]replayable[/u]:[/b] absolutely!”
“I will see what kind of replay value it has, but for now, I can say it has been a fun casual play, enjoyable, and creative.”
“Despite having a certain degree of replay value, I do not intend on beating it again because of the handful of valid reasons other reviewers state.”
“There doesn't seem to be a lot of replay value.”
“At best it's a 'good' but the long-term replayability is non-existent.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting frequent bugs that detract from the overall experience. This instability has led to frustration, suggesting that the game is not as enjoyable as it could be.
“A little buggy.”
“Seems buggy.”
“Not nearly as much fun as it could have been - and really buggy too.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its quality, particularly highlighting its connection to the Star Trek franchise, which adds a unique and enjoyable layer to the experience. However, some users express concerns about the superficial use of music and lyrics, suggesting a lack of depth in their integration. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated but may not resonate with all players.
“Music: wonderful Star Trek music.”
“Do you watch the right shows, listen to the right music, misquote the right famous people?”
“Do you affect an air of false depth by shamelessly cutting and pasting mopey song lyrics without any semblance of context?”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of engagement and refinement, with users noting that the character designs are underwhelming compared to the pictograms. Additionally, the heavy and confusing interface, along with an overwhelming amount of content from the start, detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that a more structured approach to story and character progression could enhance enjoyment.
“In my opinion, two things could have made this game more fun: story and character development at the end of each turn (a la 'Long Live the Queen') and a much shorter game time between the creation of a new character and the ending screen.”
“The character design lacks refinement, and the interface is poor.”
“The pictograms look better than the actual character designs, the interface is heavy and confusing, and for a relationship sim, it's just not engaging enough.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its unique blend of genres, creating a distinct personality that resonates with players. This combination contributes to an engaging and memorable experience.
“This game is unique as it combines many of my favorite genres, creating a distinct atmosphere and personality that is truly captivating.”
“The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world and making every moment feel significant.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and engaging, filled with details that enhance the overall experience and keep you invested in the story.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
“Despite the unique concept, the overall ambiance fails to engage, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
“The game’s atmosphere is inconsistent, often breaking immersion with jarring transitions and poorly designed environments.”
Critic Reviews
Redshirt Review
Redshirt is deeper than its Star Trek parody presentation might appear, but it's not quite deep enough.
74%lower decks
Redshirt is an unconventional — and biting — view of life on earth
80%Cynical Science Fiction
In the end, Redshirt is a charming little game that will make every Sci-Fi fan smile in understanding.
50%