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Random, but i just wanna gush about Red Earth for a bit. As a Capcom FG nerd, i find more and more to appreciate all the time. Warning, this'll be a doozie, so keep scrollin if this'd just bore ya!
First up, layers! This game, has, layers! In so many ares, some ya wouldn't even expect. Little known fact, the TITLE LOGO is multiple parts. Like Cyberbots the year before, bosses are constructed of multiple layers too. Also has destructible stage bits like it too!
Red Earth is chock full of small touches. IMO, they give it such character. I've been playing for years and am still finding fun stuff! Tessas Chakra wave Cannon being her transforming a frog, this cute lil tree in Hydrons stage,
Red Earth was also one of Capcoms many dips in to Rotoscoping. Mostly for the bosses, but also done for Mai Ling, as well as Tessas cape. It honestly does it so well, there are times i sincerely can't tell!
3 words. Attention to Detail! Red Earth has it in spades! Whether it be things like the fact Tessas cat based normals change depending on side she's facing, Kenjis Heart Crushing fatality crushing Blades emerald instead, the fact there is a full on WORLD MAP, etc, etc
What helps is Red Earth has some surprisngly fun tidbits of lore (warning: long). For one, Leo was initially turned in to a full on lion, but the 3 wise men performed "The 100 Day Ritual" to restore a semblance of his humanity at the cost of their lives
The structures in Sangypt are recent, being constructed by the slave labour of those taken by Blade through Scions invasion. On top of that, Clara Tantra willingly allied with him, whereas most were opposed or corrupted. The sarcophogas in the stage belonged to Pharoh Arumana IV
Last thing today. Red Earth has loads of endings, generic endings for everyone/Good/bad. Kenji and Tessa can pick theirs, Leo and Mai Ling get theirs from certain factors. Perfect endings yield a Staff Roll with a "Coming Next?" bit at the end. Here's what i reckon they'd be!
Probably a no brainer at first, Leo gains his humanity back, but consider. The other dude doesn't have his scars, and his hair/color is different. I reckon he would've been an opposing ruler, maybe enraged at Leos absence as his people died, or a potential usurper
Wardrobe change, or a fellow Shinobi hunting Kenji down for potentially murdering his Shogun? Maybe he allied with Scion, and resents Kenji for killing him. Whatever the case, gotta admit the ideas kinda hype!
This ones fun, there's loads of ways to take it. Just a friend, an apprentice maybe, or my favourite idea, that Tessas bad ending would have been canon, and this fellow sorceror would wish to purify her of Scions corruption. Note, wielding a wand while Tessa isn't. Stolen powers?
I like to think either her bad ending was canon and she grew more reclusive, or a fellow martial artist wasn't in her village as it was destroyed, thus surviving it's sacking. Whatever the case, Tin better be around!
Aight imma stop rambling. Long story short, #PlayRedEarth. It's genuinely a really great game. Not perfect, but DEFINITELY deserves more love than it gets. This thing came out 24 years ago and still looks awesome! Also join the Discord if ya like! https://discord.gg/7eNk7pm
