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
- A true hidden gem with great arcade-style action and fun gameplay.
- Excellent graphics and satisfying explosions, reminiscent of classic games like Jackal and Desert Strike.
- Fun co-op gameplay with unique characters and abilities, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer sessions.
- Frequent crashes and technical issues, especially on modern hardware, can disrupt gameplay.
- Controls can be awkward, particularly with keyboard and mouse, making a gamepad almost necessary.
- Short campaign length and limited replayability may leave players wanting more content.
- story157 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is intentionally cheesy and reminiscent of 80s action films, featuring over-the-top villains and a straightforward plot that serves primarily as a backdrop for explosive gameplay. Players engage in a series of nine missions, with additional DLC content, where the narrative unfolds through comic-style cutscenes and humorous dialogue, though many reviewers note that the story is shallow and not the main draw of the game. Overall, while the plot may lack depth, it effectively complements the chaotic and fun gameplay experience.
“The story is engaging and interesting.”
“The best part of it is the unique comic-style representation of the story and in-mission dialogues.”
“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.”
“The story is paper thin, but let's be honest, if you're considering this game, it won't be for the plot.”
“The story bits are terrible and intentionally cheesy.”
“The purposefully overblown manner in which the story is conveyed merely serves as confirmation that this game’s designers knew they had a boring, clichéd story which says nothing useful or interesting.”
- graphics87 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their vibrant, colorful, and stylized design reminiscent of comic books. Players noted that the visuals have aged well, maintaining a high quality that enhances the overall gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding game mechanics and compatibility issues. Overall, the stunning graphics, smooth performance, and impressive special effects contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“The graphics are stunning.”
“Wow, a thrilling game with beautiful graphics and special effects; gameplay is awesome, challenging, and has a nice story.”
“This is a fantastic top-down vehicular combat game with gorgeous visuals and an over-the-top comic book style story.”
“While the game holds up very well in the graphics department, it fails miserably at compatibility.”
“Beautiful game with smooth graphics obliterated by terrible mechanics.”
“Graphics are decent, but do not be fooled!”
- gameplay79 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Renegade Ops" is characterized by fast-paced, explosive action typical of twin-stick shooters, offering a satisfying experience with smooth controls and a variety of mechanics and upgrades. While some players find the vehicle handling unintuitive and the gameplay repetitive, many appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic arcade games, making it enjoyable, especially in cooperative play. Overall, the game delivers a fun, accessible experience despite some criticisms regarding difficulty spikes and control issues.
“Excellent smooth twin stick shooter gameplay.”
“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 kind of feels to it.”
“Renegade Ops is one of those games you want to play when you’ve had enough of complex mechanics and stories and simply want to have fun – this basically is a blow-shit-up simulator.”
“As a twin-stick shooter, your vehicle's movement is not very intuitive at first. Backwards turns you around instead of going backwards or braking, and even after mastering the movement, there are still chances you'd bump into terrain and lunge forward into a pit of lava, so be careful when using your sprint.”
“The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, with little depth or variation.”
“Avoid at all costs; its garbage controls, repetitive maps, buggy gameplay, and unnecessarily difficult enemies will induce rage.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it high due to character upgrades, scoring systems, and different difficulty levels, while others criticize it for a lack of variety and repetitive elements. Although there are multiple characters and a leveling system, many reviews suggest that the overall replay value is limited, with some players only finding enjoyment in high score challenges or co-op play. Overall, while there are aspects that can enhance replayability, many feel it falls short of offering substantial long-term engagement.
“Awesome homage to 80s military action movies with a high replay value as a twin-stick shooter.”
“Highly replayable using different characters and harder difficulty.”
“Max level is 45 and with 5 characters to choose from, there's plenty of replay value.”
“It has very little replayability.”
“Despite there being four characters and an XP system, there is little real replayability value from bagging achievements and XP grinding.”
“A bit more variety in primary vehicles and secondary story choices wouldn't help replayability.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its over-the-top, campy style, featuring cheesy dialogue, hilarious cutscenes, and exaggerated voice acting that many players find entertaining. The combination of graphic explosions, absurd storylines, and self-aware comedy creates a fun and engaging experience, although some note that the humor can become repetitive. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted and comedic elements that enhance the gameplay.
“A deliciously gratifying, perfectly executed symphony of destruction, drifting and comic humor with reveling sound effects, unreal visuals and incredible voice acting.”
“The story and cutscenes are hilarious and enjoyable.”
“The story of the game is pretty dumb, but in a very over-the-top self-aware way that makes it pretty damn funny.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as adequate but forgettable, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than standing out on its own. While some reviews note that the soundtrack complements the action effectively, others find it nondescript and suggest that players might enjoy listening to their own music instead. Overall, the music is considered decent but not particularly memorable.
“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.”
“Graphics are impressive and very cool music and sound effects.”
“Music was adequate as well but fairly forgettable when it was not being purposefully melodramatic.”
“The soundtrack and voice actors are good, but nothing special.”
“The music is nondescript; it serves mostly as a backdrop for the constant sound of your guns going dakka-dakka-dakka.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of Renegade Ops is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that severely hinder gameplay, particularly in co-op mode. Despite its appealing visuals for a 2011 title, the game suffers from poor controls, repetitive maps, and frustratingly difficult enemies, leading to a generally negative experience. Overall, users recommend avoiding the game due to its unstable performance.
“For a game from 2011, it still looks pretty and runs great on my hardware, which is an ASUS ROG Strix i5 3.55GHz with 32GB DDR4 2400 Corsair Vengeance RAM and a 2GB NVIDIA GTX 1050.”
“The game's stability is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or significant bugs during my playthrough.”
“Even after all these years, the game maintains a smooth performance, showcasing excellent stability across various systems.”
“Renegade Ops is a mess, a very glitchy and buggy mess.”
“So buggy we could never really play it in co-op.”
“Avoid at all costs; its garbage controls, repetitive maps, buggy gameplay, and unnecessarily difficult enemies will induce rage.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its commanding and intense feel, reminiscent of classic titles like Command and Conquer and Dawn of War, infused with a nostalgic 1980s G.I. Joe vibe featuring over-the-top villains and explosive action. The energetic soundtrack further enhances the immersive combat experience, keeping players engaged throughout.
“The mechanics and the atmosphere are the best things about it.”
“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.”
“With energetic tracks that intensify the atmosphere of combat, the music keeps the player immersed in the experience.”
“The story and atmosphere are reminiscent of a big slice of 1980s G.I. Joe, featuring over-the-top villains, technobabble weaponry, and lots of explosions.”
“It gives an atmosphere of Command and Conquer with details reminiscent of Dawn of War.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, recalling childhood memories of playfulness, particularly with micro machines. However, some reviewers note that the cold strike campaign is disappointingly short and easy, suggesting it may be better to purchase the game on sale.
“No other game made me feel like I was 8 years old playing with micro machines on the rug.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect lacking in replayability, as the experience points system and achievements do not provide enough incentive to engage with the game repeatedly.
“Despite there being four characters and an XP system, there is little real replayability value from bagging achievements and XP grinding.”
“The grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I found myself spending hours grinding for levels, but it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy introduces unwelcome repetition, detracting from the game's otherwise high replayability, despite some humorous elements.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which ruins the fun.”
“The in-game purchases are way too expensive for what they offer, making it hard to justify spending.”
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%