Raw Vengeance Games has spent the last two years working on their third-person comic shooter and now, they have finally brought Renegade Line to Kickstarter. The game aims to be a mix between Team Fortress 2 and Saints Row, featuring absurdly clad characters with RPG-style leveling mechanics. The team has done a great job, but some of the plans they’ve laid out for the future give me pause.
Renegade Line is seeking $52,162 on Kickstarter. It’s a third-person shooter where 2 factions battle for supremacy and silly outfits. The game features 4 different classes, each with a host of unique talents and weapons at their disposal. Players have the ability to “completely customize” their character, before being set loose to hunt down their opponents. So far so good, but then we get to the competitive features.
I came here for the concept art.
All players engage in casual matches until level 30 when all their talent points have been unlocked. After this, they have the option to play in ranked matches, which give them a rating based on performance. This rating determines their overall rank and they have the option to form and join clans. Having a competitive element isn’t a problem per se, but it feels like a shift from the earlier focus on the comedic tone.
I Came Here To Wear A Top Hat And Murder People, And I’m All Out Of Top Hats
The campaign page mentions that Raw Vengeance would ultimately like to see Renegade Line be comparable with eSports, with a focus on tactics and player skill. So, how does this serious test of shooter skills line up with a man in underwear and bunny ears chasing you down with a gun? It just strikes me as the wrong fit for what they’d set out to create, which seemed to be something more lighthearted and fun. I’m not saying you can’t have both, but it’s something that has to be measured carefully. A delicate balance if you will, one that isn’t readily apparent just yet.
The team’s plans for upcoming features is promising. Everything from an MMORPG-like menu lobby, to living maps, and extensive game modes. There is no denying that Raw Vengeance are passionate about this project and excited to work with the backer community to take it further. Way further, apparently, as they also plan to release an App to track in-game markets and communication. Not to mention also producing an in-game radio channel updated with news about the game, clan happenings, forum topics, and gameplay music.
It Only Does Everything
Seriously, it sounds amazing, but how feasible is all of it, really? You could have a whole team just dedicated to the radio channel and App production. Is the Kickstarter goal going to be enough to create all of this content, finish the game, and host enough servers to get this off the ground? I’m asking honestly because potential backers will probably want to know how the team is prioritizing so many massive undertakings.
Maybe I’m worrying needlessly. It’s entirely possible that Raw Vengeance really does have this all planned out and that Renegade Line really will have the best of all worlds when it releases. Hell, I hope it does, but I don’t think it can.
Complete Character Customization, To An Extent
Renegade Line is still in development, but already the in-game art doesn’t live up to the stylish promotional graphics. Character customization is lauded as a huge part of the game, but most of the models end up looking relatively the same. Sure you can accessorize a bit, but everyone is a beefy lumberjack sort, and seriously, why no female characters?
Over-promising is an easy trap to fall into. Peter Molyneux seemingly can’t make a game without doing it. But, while Molyneux can get away with this relatively unscathed, developers of crowdfunded projects don’t have that luxury. Failing to fulfill what was promised to backers can ruin a developers reputation, often irrecoverably. The campaign is already getting lots of community support on Kickstarter. Hopefully, Renegade Line will live up to their expectations.
