Renegade Ops
- October 26, 2011
- Avalanche Studios
- 6h median play time
Renegade Ops is a wonderful arcade game with excellent level design and its one of the best examples of a twin-stick shooter done right. Provides over 5 hours of entertainment with a little bit of replay value as well. Greatly recommended.
"Renegade Ops is a destructive action-packed game where you fight to stop the madman Inferno from achieving global domination. Play solo or in 4-player online co-op, with a variety of vehicles and special weapons at your disposal. Level up your character, compete for achievements, and aim for the top of online leaderboards."
Reviews
- Split screen gameplay is awesome and supports up to 4 players online.
- The graphics are impressive and hold up well, providing a visually appealing experience.
- The game offers a fun and chaotic arcade-style experience with lots of explosions and action.
- The game frequently crashes, especially during missions, leading to frustration.
- Controls are awkward and difficult to manage, especially with keyboard and mouse.
- There are no checkpoints during missions, forcing players to restart from the beginning if they die.
- story513 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Renegade Ops" is characterized as a cheesy, over-the-top homage to 80s and 90s action films, featuring a straightforward plot where players must thwart a madman named Inferno intent on global destruction. While the narrative is often described as cliché and lacking depth, it is presented in a comic book style that adds a humorous touch, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its campy tone. Overall, the story serves primarily as a backdrop for the explosive gameplay rather than a focal point, with many players finding it entertaining despite its simplicity.
“The story bits (presented in comic-style panels and scenes) complement the over-the-top vehicular pew-pew action and explosions of the core gameplay.”
“The over-the-top comic book story and deliberately hammed up voice acting is a lot of fun too.”
“The story is engaging and interesting.”
“The story is cliché and garbage, but the shoot-em-up parts are pretty good.”
“The story is as stupid as any other game released at the time, but man does the game still look and run good on modern hardware.”
“The story is paper thin, but let's be honest, if you're considering this game, it won't be for the plot.”
- graphics238 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and detailed presentation, which has aged well since its initial release in 2011. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, impressive particle effects, and the overall aesthetic that combines comic book style with dynamic action, making the game visually engaging even in 2024. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the graphics remain a standout feature, contributing to an enjoyable and immersive experience.
“As a result, visuals remain no less attractive and impressive than they were back in 2011, largely because of frantic action happening on screen at almost any given time, near-constant player movement, and a tight coating of generous particle effects and various explosions coming from all directions.”
“The graphics are stunning.”
“This is a fantastic top-down vehicular shooter with gorgeous visuals and an over-the-top comic book style story.”
“The graphics definitely have a console port look to them.”
“The helicopter graphics I feel could have been a lot better.”
“Beautiful game with smooth graphics obliterated by terrible mechanics.”
- gameplay215 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Renegade Ops" is characterized by fast-paced, explosive action with a focus on vehicular combat and twin-stick shooting mechanics. Players can upgrade their vehicles and weapons while navigating detailed maps filled with destructible environments, though some find the controls unintuitive and the gameplay repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a fun, arcade-style experience, especially in cooperative play, despite some criticisms regarding mission length and difficulty spikes.
“The gameplay is very explosive and action packed; you get to upgrade your main attack twice during missions and you also have a chance of finding a secondary weapon that varies from a flamethrower to a rocket launcher or a rail gun.”
“The gameplay is fantastic though, so if you can get past the bad art and UI in the menus, you'll find a super fun game that plays like old NES games like Jackal, Ikari Warriors, and even has some Desert Strike and UN Squadron vibes.”
“The gameplay is addictive, and the destruction is pleasing and satisfying.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay gets repetitive and dull very quickly, and the missions drag on way too long.”
“Controls suck, gameplay sucks, you drive around firing the same things all the time, doing the same quests, again and again and again.”
“The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, with little depth or variation.”
- replayability46 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while there are opportunities to level up multiple characters and engage in high-score challenges, the overall content feels limited due to a small number of missions and repetitive elements. Some players appreciate the variety of characters and upgrades, which enhance replay value, especially in multiplayer modes, while others feel that the lack of significant differences in gameplay experiences diminishes long-term engagement. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, particularly for those who enjoy character leveling and co-op play, but it may not satisfy players seeking extensive content or variety.
“Great game with lots of replayability to level up each character and it's good to cause carnage.”
“Replay value is quite high if you're into trying to get high scores.”
“Each mission takes around 20 minutes to complete and there's a lot of replay value in high scores and achievements for timed secondary objectives that have you find loot scattered around the map.”
“It has very little replayability.”
“No real replayability though.”
“Despite there being four characters and an XP system, there is little real replayability value from bagging achievements and XP grinding.”
- humor38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its cheesy, over-the-top style, reminiscent of classic arcade games and 80s action movies, which many players find both hilarious and enjoyable. While the dialogue and cutscenes can be repetitive and occasionally grind on players, the explosive gameplay and absurd scenarios often lead to spontaneous laughter, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the combination of campy storytelling, exaggerated voice acting, and chaotic action creates a fun and entertaining experience that resonates well with players.
“Hilariously stereotypical comic-book storyline.”
“Fast and furious action, some hilarious cutscenes, and some pretty nice graphics made it a real pleasure to play co-op.”
“The story of the game is pretty dumb, but in a very over-the-top self-aware way that makes it pretty damn funny.”
- music31 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as adequate but forgettable, often overshadowed by the intense sound effects of gameplay. While some players appreciate the energetic soundtrack that complements the action, others suggest turning it off in favor of personal music for a better experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a fitting backdrop rather than a standout feature, with influences from 80s-90s arcade games.
“The soundtrack for 'Renegade Ops' perfectly complements the game's frenetic action.”
“With energetic tracks that intensify the atmosphere of combat, the music keeps the player immersed in the experience.”
“Graphically this game looks pretty decent as well as having a pretty dope soundtrack.”
“For an even better experience, turn off the in-game music and play your favorite classic rock albums!”
“The soundtrack is okay, but that's going to get drowned in 7 hours of non-stop machine gun sound effects.”
“The music is nondescript; it serves mostly as a backdrop for the constant sound of your guns going dakka-dakka-dakka.”
- stability29 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the lack of checkpoints and the frequent need to restart missions due to these issues. While some users note that the game runs well on certain hardware configurations, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it difficult to enjoy.
“Runs great at 1440p.”
“Runs great, feels great.”
“This is for the local multiplayer; you can also play online with up to 4 players, which is really fun because it's bug-free and has neat features such as comparing your score and splitting each group to go do a mission, so it's great.”
“If your game crashes, glitches, or you simply lose, enjoy rewatching everything all over again as you start from the very beginning.”
“Too many bugs, very unstable... I spent an hour trying to pass the first stage and I can't because it always freezes and goes back to the OS... it's a shame since it looked fun, but I guess I'll never know.”
“However, it freezes for me and many others after mission select, and it amazes me how after all this time it hasn't been patched to work correctly.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly and features good visuals, players report significant issues with controls, particularly for keyboard and mouse setups, which are described as unoptimized and frustrating. Performance can stutter during intense action, and while some users find it playable with a gamepad, the overall gameplay experience is deemed formulaic and lacking fun.
“Great optimization.”
“Runs smoothly, and there are many upgrades and a variety of characters to choose from.”
“+ Good performance.”
“The performance stutters a little when the action heats up.”
“Controls are not optimized for keyboard and mouse.”
“Zero optimization for PC.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress, especially in solo play. While co-op can alleviate some of the monotony, the lack of meaningful replayability and the lengthy final level contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding mechanics may deter some players due to their repetitive nature and slow progression.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Best played in co-op; otherwise, it gets a bit tedious and boring.”
“Despite there being four characters and an XP system, there is little real replayability value from bagging achievements and XP grinding.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its commanding and immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Command and Conquer and Dawn of War. It features a vibrant 1980s G.I. Joe aesthetic, complete with over-the-top villains and explosive action, further enhanced by energetic music that intensifies the combat experience. Overall, the combination of detailed visuals and dynamic soundtracks creates a captivating environment for players.
“The mechanics and the atmosphere are the best thing about it.”
“The story and atmosphere is like a big slice of 1980s G.I. Joe with over-the-top villains, technobabble weaponry, and lots of explosions.”
“With energetic tracks that intensify the atmosphere of combat, the music keeps the player immersed in the experience.”
“The story and atmosphere are like a big slice of 1980s G.I. Joe, with over-the-top villains, technobabble weaponry, and lots of explosions.”
“It gives an atmosphere reminiscent of Command and Conquer and details from Dawn of War.”
“While the music adds a little more to the atmosphere, it doesn't fully compensate for the lack of immersion.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for lacking microtransactions but is perceived as a cash grab due to limited content and a lack of future updates. Players feel that the game may not be worth its full price and could benefit from additional content to enhance replayability.
“There are no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to enhance the experience.”
“The absence of microtransactions allows for a more immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
“Great game, but very little content unless it's 75% off. Leave it alone; it could use a ton of new content. Looks like another forgotten title. Games should come with a warning: 'We don't intend on doing anything with this game after our initial cash grab.'”
“It can be funny, but it adds unwelcome repetition to an otherwise very replayable game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of childhood play, but is undermined by a short and easy campaign that lacks depth in storytelling. While the gameplay is enjoyable, it fails to deliver a compelling narrative that resonates emotionally.
“The gameplay is enjoyable, but the story fails to evoke any real emotions.”
“I found the emotional depth lacking; it felt more like a checklist than a heartfelt experience.”
“While the mechanics are solid, the narrative left me feeling disconnected and uninspired.”
Critic Reviews
Renegade Ops Review
Renegade Ops is a wonderful arcade game with excellent level design and its one of the best examples of a twin-stick shooter done right. Provides over 5 hours of entertainment with a little bit of replay value as well. Greatly recommended.
95%Renegade Ops review
The co-op is a nice topping on a delicious slice of retro action but you might still feel hungry afterwards.
83%Renegade Ops Review
With stylish motion comics and ridiculous levels, Renegade Ops is a fantastic co-op game that you will find yourself playing with friends again and again.
90%