Headhunter Redemption is the sequel to the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

 game Headhunter

Headhunter (video game)

Headhunter is a video game developed by Amuze for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. The Dreamcast version of the game was only distributed in Europe, by BigBen Interactive....

. Headhunter Redemption was launched in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 for the Xbox

Xbox

The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...

 and PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

 on October 31, 2003. The game was released in North America on September 21, 2004.

Plot summary

Set 20 years after the Bloody Mary Virus (released in the Original Headhunter), Jack and His New Partner Leeza X find out something is amiss when they try to stop Weapon Smugglers. The pair must face opposition from the Glass Skyscrapers filled and media controlled 'Above' and The Dregs & Criminal Infested colonies of 'Below.' Jack and Leeza must also face their fears as they try to redeem a world from chaos, especially Jack, whose son was taken away by forces from 'Below,' but might still be alive.

Reception

Headhunter Redemption received mixed to positive reviewshttp://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/914651.asp?q=headhunterhttp://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/917594.asp?q=headhunter, ranking slightly lower than the original Headhunterhttp://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/437344.asp?q=headhunterhttp://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/534931.asp?q=headhunter.

Controversy

Notably, one review prompted a response from the developers: that from the UK edition of the Official Xbox Magazine

Official Xbox Magazine

Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...

. Amuze pointed certain factual errors in that review, implying that the reviewer did not play enough of the game to write a proper evaluation of it.

Open letter to Official Xbox Magazine

Posted on Official Xbox UK Magazine forum

Sep 10, 2004

Dear Official Xbox Magazine (UK),

As a fiercely independent games developer, we totally respect the right of reviewers to make harsh but heartfelt criticism of games released to the public. But like all rights, this comes with responsibilities.

Foremost of these must surely be factual accuracy. In your review of Headhunter Redemption (Issue 34, October 2004), you claim that cut scenes "can't be skipped... Grrr!" This is incorrect: all cut scenes in the game are skippable. Grrr, indeed.

More mysteriously, you conclude your review by stating that "the odd bike chase succeeds in breaking up the on-foot action." There are no biking sequences in Headhunter Redemption: a fact that would be apparent to anyone who had actually played the game.

Naturally we would prefer everyone to appreciate our game as much as many other reviewers have done, but we will always try to learn from well-informed criticism. It is far harder to accept ill-informed, unprofessional journalism.

Perhaps in future you could show us, other developers and your readers this simple courtesy: if you can't be bothered to play a game, don't bother to review it.

John Kroknes

Philip Lawrence

Amuze.