Red Alarm: Difference between revisions
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''Red Alarm'' debuted in North America at the 1995 Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]],<ref name="egm3">{{cite magazine|date=March 1995|title=Several Virtual Boy Games Confirmed for U.S. Release|url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_68/page/n93/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=68|pages=94, 95}}</ref> and it was confirmed as a [[launch game]] for the Virtual Boy at that year's [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]].<ref name="total">{{cite journal|date=July 1995|title=Virtual News; Virtual August|url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n15/mode/2up|journal=[[Total!]]|issue=43|pages=16, 17}}</ref> Later that year, ''Red Alarm'' and several other titles were released alongside the console,<ref name=supermario>{{cite book | last=Ryan | first=Jeff | title=Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America | date=September 2012 | publisher=[[Penguin Books]] | isbn=978-1-59184-563-8 }}</ref> which debuted on July 21 in Japan and August 14 in the United States.<ref name="retrogamer">{{cite journal|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=May 2009|title=Retroinspection: Virtual Boy|url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_064/page/56/mode/2up|journal=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=64|pages=57–61}}</ref><ref name=wired>{{cite magazine | last=Kohler | first=Chris| title=Virtual Boy, Nintendo's Big 3-D Flop, Turns 15 | url=https://www.wired.com/2010/08/virtual-boy/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701235301/http://www.wired.com/2010/08/virtual-boy | archive-date=July 1, 2014 | magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=August 13, 2010 }}</ref> | ''Red Alarm'' debuted in North America at the 1995 Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]],<ref name="egm3">{{cite magazine|date=March 1995|title=Several Virtual Boy Games Confirmed for U.S. Release|url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_68/page/n93/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=68|pages=94, 95}}</ref> and it was confirmed as a [[launch game]] for the Virtual Boy at that year's [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]].<ref name="total">{{cite journal|date=July 1995|title=Virtual News; Virtual August|url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n15/mode/2up|journal=[[Total!]]|issue=43|pages=16, 17}}</ref> Later that year, ''Red Alarm'' and several other titles were released alongside the console,<ref name=supermario>{{cite book | last=Ryan | first=Jeff | title=Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America | date=September 2012 | publisher=[[Penguin Books]] | isbn=978-1-59184-563-8 }}</ref> which debuted on July 21 in Japan and August 14 in the United States.<ref name="retrogamer">{{cite journal|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=May 2009|title=Retroinspection: Virtual Boy|url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_064/page/56/mode/2up|journal=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=64|pages=57–61}}</ref><ref name=wired>{{cite magazine | last=Kohler | first=Chris| title=Virtual Boy, Nintendo's Big 3-D Flop, Turns 15 | url=https://www.wired.com/2010/08/virtual-boy/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701235301/http://www.wired.com/2010/08/virtual-boy | archive-date=July 1, 2014 | magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=August 13, 2010 }}</ref> | ||
{{ | |||
In 2026, ''Red Alarm'' will be added to the [[Nintendo Classics]] service. The game requires the use of an additional accessory for play, which is used to recreate the stereoscopic 3D effect of the original system. The accessory will be available in two formats: a plastic mount based on the original system, and a cardboard sleeve.<ref name="Fam">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/article/202509/52283|title=バーチャルボーイ ニンテンドークラシックスのタイトルが2026年2月17日に配信決定。Nintendo Switch Online+追加パック加入者限定。別売の専用ハードが必要で、全15タイトルが順次配信【Nintendo Direct】|work=[[Famitsu]]|publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage|date=September 12, 2025|access-date=2025-09-12|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912222711/https://www.famitsu.com/article/202509/522835|archive-date=2025-09-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gematsu">{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/virtual-boy-nintendo-classics-announced-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack|title=Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics announced for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack|work=Gematsu|date=September 12, 2025|access-date=2025-09-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912222226/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/09/virtual-boy-nintendo-classics-announced-for-nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack|archive-date=2025-09-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kotaku">{{cite web|last=Walker|first=John|url=https://kotaku.com/gate-of-thunder-had-a-weird-duran-duran-connection-1844980190|title=Virtual Boy Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Online! There’s A Whole Peripheral!|work=[[Kotaku]]|publisher=Keleops|date=September 12, 2025|access-date=2025-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250913044035/https://kotaku.com/virtual-boy-nintendo-switch-classics-2000625301|archive-date=2025-09-13|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
{{Video game reviews | {{Video game reviews | ||
| Allgame = | | Allgame = 2.5/5<ref name="allgame-review" /> | ||
| EGM = 7.5/6/7.5/6<ref name=egm2 /> | | EGM = 7.5/10, 6/10, 7.5/10, 6/10<ref name=egm2 /> | ||
| Fam = 8/5/7/6<ref name=famitsu>{{cite | | Fam = 8/10, 5/10, 7/10, 6/10<ref name=famitsu>{{cite magazine | author1=Noda, Sawada| author2=Pin, Mizu | author3=Nagano, Isabella | author4=Masuda, Ninja | title=New Games Cross Review: レッドアラーム | magazine=[[Weekly Famicom Tsūshin]] | issue=347 | page= 30 | date=August 1995}}</ref> | ||
| GameFan = 90/100, 95/100<ref name=gamefan2>{{cite | | GameFan = 90/100, 95/100<ref name=gamefan2>{{cite magazine | last1=Halverson|first1=Dave | last2=Barres|first2=Nicholas | title=Virtual Boy Viewpoints | magazine=[[GameFan]] | issue=11 | volume=3 | date=November 1995 | page=99}}</ref> | ||
| GamePro = 4/5<ref name=gamepro /> | | GamePro = 4/5<ref name=gamepro /> | ||
| NGen = | | NGen = 1/5<ref name=nextgen2 /> | ||
| rev2 = ''[[Total!]]'' | | rev2 = ''[[Total!]]'' | ||
| rev2Score = 67%<ref name=totalrev>{{cite | | rev2Score = 67%<ref name=totalrev>{{cite magazine | first=Danny | last=Wallace | title=Virtually Here! | journal=[[Total!]] | issue=46 | date=October 1995 | pp=36-37 }}</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
Writing for ''[[Weekly Famicom Tsūshin]]'', Isabella Nagano called ''Red Alarm''{{'}}s stereoscopic visuals "amazing", and Sawada Noda recommended the game to all owners of the Virtual Boy. In a more negative review, the publication's Mizu Pin characterized the wire-frame graphics as confusing and frustrating,<ref name=famitsu /> a criticism echoed by the four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''.<ref name=egm2 /> A ''[[GamePro]]'' writer under the [[pseudonym]] "Slo Mo" found the visuals confusing as well, but felt that players could adjust to them.<ref name="gamepro">{{cite magazine|author=Slo Mo|date=November 1995|title=ProReview: Red Alarm|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_076_November_1995/page/n131/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=86|page=130}}</ref> Slo Mo and ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''{{'}}s Danyon Carpenter and Al Manuel praised the title's control scheme, and the latter magazine's Andrew Baran summarized ''Red Alarm'' as "a nifty show-off game".<ref name="egm2">{{cite magazine|author1=Carpenter, Danyon|author2=Manuel, Al|author3=Baran, Andrew|author4=Sushi-X|date=October 1995|title=''Red Alarm''|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/83/EGM_US_075.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=75|page=38}}</ref> | Writing for ''[[Weekly Famicom Tsūshin]]'', Isabella Nagano called ''Red Alarm''{{'}}s stereoscopic visuals "amazing", and Sawada Noda recommended the game to all owners of the Virtual Boy. In a more negative review, the publication's Mizu Pin characterized the wire-frame graphics as confusing and frustrating,<ref name=famitsu /> a criticism echoed by the four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''.<ref name=egm2 /> A ''[[GamePro]]'' writer under the [[pseudonym]] "Slo Mo" found the visuals confusing as well, but felt that players could adjust to them.<ref name="gamepro">{{cite magazine|author=Slo Mo|date=November 1995|title=ProReview: Red Alarm|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_076_November_1995/page/n131/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=86|page=130}}</ref> Slo Mo and ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''{{'}}s Danyon Carpenter and Al Manuel praised the title's control scheme, and the latter magazine's Andrew Baran summarized ''Red Alarm'' as "a nifty show-off game".<ref name="egm2">{{cite magazine|author1=Carpenter, Danyon|author2=Manuel, Al|author3=Baran, Andrew|author4=Sushi-X|date=October 1995|title=''Red Alarm''|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/83/EGM_US_075.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=75|page=38}}</ref> | ||
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The reviewer for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' saw significant promise in ''Red Alarm'', and believed that its elements should add up to "a fantastic game"; but the writer panned the final product as a wasted opportunity.<ref name="nextgen2">{{cite journal|date=September 1995|title=''Red Alarm''|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-009/page/n93/mode/2up|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=9|page=93}}</ref> Similarly, Danny Wallace of ''[[Total!]]'' wrote, "On the one hand, it's a pretty impressive 3D spacey shoot-em-up, with a real grip on the Virtual world and all those fancy techniques, and on the other it's an often visually confusing, headache-inducing attempt at being something it's quite obviously not."<ref name=totalrev /> However, [[Dave Halverson]] of ''[[GameFan|DieHard GameFan]]'' called ''Red Alarm'' "a great shooter" with excellent graphics. Co-reviewer Nicholas Barres hailed it as a "masterpiece", and he considered it to be "the one and only reason to buy a Virtual Boy".<ref name=gamefan2 /> | The reviewer for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' saw significant promise in ''Red Alarm'', and believed that its elements should add up to "a fantastic game"; but the writer panned the final product as a wasted opportunity.<ref name="nextgen2">{{cite journal|date=September 1995|title=''Red Alarm''|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-009/page/n93/mode/2up|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=9|page=93}}</ref> Similarly, Danny Wallace of ''[[Total!]]'' wrote, "On the one hand, it's a pretty impressive 3D spacey shoot-em-up, with a real grip on the Virtual world and all those fancy techniques, and on the other it's an often visually confusing, headache-inducing attempt at being something it's quite obviously not."<ref name=totalrev /> However, [[Dave Halverson]] of ''[[GameFan|DieHard GameFan]]'' called ''Red Alarm'' "a great shooter" with excellent graphics. Co-reviewer Nicholas Barres hailed it as a "masterpiece", and he considered it to be "the one and only reason to buy a Virtual Boy".<ref name=gamefan2 /> | ||
A retrospective feature by Australian video game talk show [[Good Game (TV program)|Good Game]] highlighted ''Red Alarm'' as one of the Virtual Boy's most visually impressive games due to its polygonal graphics. The outlet praised it as one of the most entertaining titles on the console.<ref name="ABC GG"/> | A retrospective feature by Australian video game talk show [[Good Game (TV program)|Good Game]] highlighted ''Red Alarm'' as one of the Virtual Boy's most visually impressive games due to its polygonal graphics. The outlet praised it as one of the most entertaining titles on the console.<ref name="ABC GG"/> Video game database [[AllGame]] said that the graphics made it difficult to play, making it too difficult to navigate your ship between the empty polygonal lines while avoiding enemies.<ref name="allgame-review" /> The review concluded that the developers "have created a very detailed setting for which to fight in. Walls have faces stretching out of them like a scene from ''[[The Abyss]]'', there are several interesting bosses to combat, and you'll even hear some speech. Deep down there is a fine shooter that is simply hard to enjoy due to the limitations of the hardware ... and that is truly a shame."<ref name="allgame-review">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2713&tab=review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210163843/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2713&tab=review|archive-date=December 10, 2014|access-date=October 8, 2015|title=Red Alarm - Review|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan|publisher=[[AllGame]]}}</ref> In 2008, Kolan called it "a really competent shooter" with strong visuals and gameplay.<ref name=ign2 /> The following year, Damien McFerran of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' summarized ''Red Alarm'' as "pretty good fun to play", although inferior to ''Star Fox''.<ref name=retrogamer /> ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]''{{'}}s Chris Kohler later opined that the game "kind of sucked".<ref name=wired /> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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{{Virtual Boy}} | {{Virtual Boy}} | ||
{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s}} | {{Portal bar|Video games|1990s}} | ||
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[[Category:1995 video games]] | [[Category:1995 video games]] | ||
[[Category:Nintendo games]] | [[Category:Nintendo games]] | ||
[[Category:Nintendo Classics games]] | |||
[[Category:Rail shooters]] | [[Category:Rail shooters]] | ||
[[Category:Single-player video games]] | [[Category:Single-player video games]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:35, 22 September 2025
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Template:Nihongo foot is a 1995 shoot 'em up video game developed by T&E Soft and published by Nintendo. Released as a Virtual Boy launch game, it requires the player to pilot a space fighter and defeat the army of a malevolent artificial intelligence called KAOS. The game takes inspiration from the 1993 title Star Fox, and it is one of the few third-party titles for the Virtual Boy. Unlike most of the console's games, Red Alarm features three-dimensional (3D) polygonal graphics. However, hardware constraints limited the visuals to bare wire-frame models, similar to those of the 1980 arcade game Battlezone. Reviewers characterized Red AlarmTemplate:'s graphics as confusing, but certain publications praised it as one of the most enjoyable Virtual Boy titles.
Gameplay and plot
Red Alarm is a shoot 'em up that takes place in a three-dimensional (3D) graphical environment.[1] As a Virtual Boy game, it features a red-and-black color palette and stereoscopic 3D visuals,[1][2] the depth of which may be adjusted by the player.[3] The game is set during the 21st century, in the aftermath of a 70-year world war that led to the establishment of a utopian society without weapons. An artificial intelligence defense system called KAOS, which had been used to end the war, becomes sentient and builds an army to wipe out humanity.[4]
Assuming control of a "Tech-Wing" space fighter, the player seeks to destroy KAOS's forces and finally its mainframe.[4] The game is broken up into six levels,[5] each of which culminates in a boss fight.[4][6] The player uses the Tech-Wing's laser cannons to attack, and its guided missiles to destroy armored enemies. Shields on the craft offer limited protection from enemy fire; evasion is critical.[4] The Tech-Wing may be maneuvered in any direction,[1] and certain levels contain branching corridors and dead ends that force players to retrace their paths. Four camera angles—three third-person viewpoints and the first-person "cockpit view"—are available.[6] When a level is completed, the player may watch a replay of their performance from multiple perspectives.[4]
Development and release
Script error: No such module "Multiple image". Red Alarm was published by Nintendo and developed by T&E Soft,[7] one of the few third-party companies approached to develop for the Virtual Boy. According to the console's creator, Gunpei Yokoi, Nintendo tried to "maintain as much control as possible" over Virtual Boy game development so that low-quality releases by outside companies could be avoided.[8] Although T&E Soft was known for golf video games,[5] the design of Red Alarm was inspired by that of Star Fox,[7] a rail shooter for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. This decision was considered by Patrick Kolan of IGN to be "a departure for the team".[5] Unlike many Virtual Boy games, Red Alarm features an engine that displays 3D graphics:[2][9] the game world is rendered in wire-frame polygonal visuals similar to those of the 1980 arcade game Battlezone.[5] Because of the console's limited technology, solid 3D graphics were not viable.[9]
Red Alarm debuted in North America at the 1995 Winter Consumer Electronics Show,[10] and it was confirmed as a launch game for the Virtual Boy at that year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.[11] Later that year, Red Alarm and several other titles were released alongside the console,[12] which debuted on July 21 in Japan and August 14 in the United States.[9][13]
In 2026, Red Alarm will be added to the Nintendo Classics service. The game requires the use of an additional accessory for play, which is used to recreate the stereoscopic 3D effect of the original system. The accessory will be available in two formats: a plastic mount based on the original system, and a cardboard sleeve.[14][15][16]
Reception
Script error: No such module "Video game reviews". Writing for Weekly Famicom Tsūshin, Isabella Nagano called Red AlarmTemplate:'s stereoscopic visuals "amazing", and Sawada Noda recommended the game to all owners of the Virtual Boy. In a more negative review, the publication's Mizu Pin characterized the wire-frame graphics as confusing and frustrating,[17] a criticism echoed by the four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly.[18] A GamePro writer under the pseudonym "Slo Mo" found the visuals confusing as well, but felt that players could adjust to them.[19] Slo Mo and Electronic Gaming MonthlyTemplate:'s Danyon Carpenter and Al Manuel praised the title's control scheme, and the latter magazine's Andrew Baran summarized Red Alarm as "a nifty show-off game".[18]
The reviewer for Next Generation saw significant promise in Red Alarm, and believed that its elements should add up to "a fantastic game"; but the writer panned the final product as a wasted opportunity.[20] Similarly, Danny Wallace of Total! wrote, "On the one hand, it's a pretty impressive 3D spacey shoot-em-up, with a real grip on the Virtual world and all those fancy techniques, and on the other it's an often visually confusing, headache-inducing attempt at being something it's quite obviously not."[21] However, Dave Halverson of DieHard GameFan called Red Alarm "a great shooter" with excellent graphics. Co-reviewer Nicholas Barres hailed it as a "masterpiece", and he considered it to be "the one and only reason to buy a Virtual Boy".[22]
A retrospective feature by Australian video game talk show Good Game highlighted Red Alarm as one of the Virtual Boy's most visually impressive games due to its polygonal graphics. The outlet praised it as one of the most entertaining titles on the console.[2] Video game database AllGame said that the graphics made it difficult to play, making it too difficult to navigate your ship between the empty polygonal lines while avoiding enemies.[23] The review concluded that the developers "have created a very detailed setting for which to fight in. Walls have faces stretching out of them like a scene from The Abyss, there are several interesting bosses to combat, and you'll even hear some speech. Deep down there is a fine shooter that is simply hard to enjoy due to the limitations of the hardware ... and that is truly a shame."[23] In 2008, Kolan called it "a really competent shooter" with strong visuals and gameplay.[5] The following year, Damien McFerran of Retro Gamer summarized Red Alarm as "pretty good fun to play", although inferior to Star Fox.[9] WiredTemplate:'s Chris Kohler later opined that the game "kind of sucked".[13]
See also
Notes
References
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External links
- Template:Trim Red Alarm at MobyGames
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles using Infobox video game using locally defined parameters
- Articles using Wikidata infoboxes with locally defined images
- Pages with broken file links
- 1995 video games
- Nintendo games
- Nintendo Classics games
- Rail shooters
- Single-player video games
- T&E Soft games
- Video games developed in Japan
- Video games with vector graphics
- Virtual Boy games