Red Johnson Chronicles: One Against All picks up where the first Red Johnson left off. One Against All gives you a full five minute recap of events from the previous game, so gamers who didn’t play the first game will be brought up to speed.
The story in Red Johnson Chronicles: One Against All is as strong as the original. It still contains a cast of colorful characters who are always willing to use witty retort against the game’s protagonist.
The CSI-like crime puzzles from the first game have also made their return. And yes, this includes those pesky QTE (Quicktime Events). The action sequences are more intense and much longer than the previous Red Johnson.
While some gamers may dislike QTE, I actually enjoy them. I grew up playing games like Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace and even Sega’s Time Traveler (a rare coin-op that played similar to Dragon’s Lair, but used mirrors to create an upright holographic image), so the more QTE the better.
Since the game constantly mixes puzzles and QTE together, it’s difficult to know what to expect next. You’re constantly investigating your surroundings and uncovering new evidence that will lead you to the next clue. There are times when it feels like you’re stuck in a vicious cycle repeating the same patterns, but that is the beauty of Red Johnson Chronicles. The game keeps you guessing the entire time.
Everything hinges on your ability to uncover clues to progress forward in the story. Failing to do this will cause the story to come to a grinding halt, especially if a puzzle has you stumped. Luckily, the game has measures in place to help you through the difficult moments.
Red can call on his long-time friend Saul for hints on puzzles, but there is a catch to using him. Saul will cost you money and puzzle ranking. You are graded every time you complete a puzzle. This system grades you on the time it took to complete the puzzle.
Like the original Red Johnson, the graphics maintain their dark, gritty atmosphere. Even the music is memorable even though it was recycled from the first game. One Against All is every bit as good as the first game and it makes you feel like the first episode never ended.
Red Johnson Chronicles: One Against All has taken the point-and-click genre to a new level with its compelling storyline and puzzle/QTE-based gameplay. As a rule, games like Red Johnson Chronicles are reserved for PC gamers, but it’s refreshing to see it on console systems.
Red Johnson Chronicles: One Against All is a fantastic game; the PlayStation 3 needs more games like it.
James Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3 (Available on PSN)
Developer: Lexis Numérique
Publisher: Lexis Numérique
ESRB: M (Mature)
Price: $9.99 (800 MS points on Xbox Live)
Lexis Numérique’s Official Website
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| The environments contain an incredible amount of detail. | |
| Sound | |
| There’s plenty of amazing music and narration. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Complex puzzles and challenging QTE (Quicktime Events). | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Red Johnson Chronicles: One Against All is better than its predecessor. | |
