History VideoGame / RenegadeOps

The game has been called the modern day equivalent of the cult 3DO game
''Return Fire'', as both are top down military-based vehicular shooters with a heavy focus on action and a sprinkling of strategy. It’s also probably the closest thing we have to a spiritual successor to EA’s classic ''VideoGame/StrikeSeries''.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Sometimes seen as one to EA's VideoGame/StrikeSeries, especially the helicopter parts.

The game can be played alone, or in [[CoopMultiplayer two-player split-screen or four player online co-op.]] You earn ExperiencePoints as you play, even if you do not complete a mission. A LevelUp grants Upgrade Points, which are then spent on a series of upgrades that affect the offensive, defensive and [[SpecialAttack tactical]] abilities of each character's vehicle. Up to four upgrades can be equipped at any one time.

* InTheBack: What happens to [[spoiler: Bryant]] when [[spoiler: Natasha reveals herself as a HeelFaceMole.]]

* LeftForDead: ''Twice,'' in quick succession. [[spoiler: Natasha, as part of her [[TheReveal reveal]] as a HeelFaceMole, shoots Bryant InTheBack and leaves him lying there. She then triggers a landslide, seemingly burying the Renegades in their vehicles. [[NotQuiteDead You can't keep a good Renegade down, though.]]]]

* ManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler: Or rather, woman. [[HeelFaceMole Natasha]] has been pulling the strings from the beginning, and even ''she'' isn't the real BigBad. [[SequelHook Who that is, we aren't told...]]]]

** Blazemo can turn his buggy into a [[IncendiaryExponent flaming]] [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning pinwheel]] of doom - and said flames protect him from attacks. You can't use weapons while it's active, but you don't need them- you're [[InvincibilityPowerUp an invulnerable,]] [[IncendiaryExponent flaming,]] [[{{Determinator}} unstoppable juggernaut.]] [[TimedPowerUp Briefly.]]

* BattleAmongstTheFlames: Given the [[MeaningfulName Inferno]] group's WeaponOfChoice, this can happen often. More to the point of the trope, though, [[spoiler: The FinalBoss fight against Inferno himself is this.]]

* HeelFaceTurn: In the second mission, you rescue a woman named Natasha, an apparent ex-Inferno scientist who vows to help you defeat him. [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceMole At least, that's what she wants you to think...]]]]
** Worse, [[spoiler:it turns out that Natasha is Coldstrike, this wasn't some lowly [[{{Mooks}} mook]] [[HeelFaceMole infiltrating the renegades...]] this was a [[BigBad bigger bad]] than Inferno himself!]]

** While Diz is short for a name that doesn't really apply, she does make enemies "[[StandardStatusEffects dizzy.]]"

* ShockAndAwe: Diz's {{EMP}} can be upgraded to damage enemies in addition to [[StandardStatusEffects stunning them.]]

** Confirmed with the Coldstrike {{DLC}}. That leaves out Shadowhunter as a [[SequelHook threequel hook.]]

** Resolved in the {{DLC}} [[spoiler: where you face Natasha A.K.A. Coldstrike and her 'pansy worm.']]

* WorldOfHam: The game's story and dialogue plays out like a cheesy 80's Saturday morning cartoon mixed with a silver age comic book. Every line General Bryant says is spoken with the serious gravitas of a total badass who isn't going to take shit from anyone or let a situation get out of his control. Inferno chews the scenery with his dedicated evil dialogue with the intensity of [[WesternAnimation/GIJoe Cobra Commander]] or [[WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget Doctor Claw]] swearing vengeance for having thier plans foiled again.

** Inferno's {{Mooks}} of [[GIJoe Cobra]] ones, right down to the red uniforms and flanged helmets. To a lesser extent, the Renegades of GIJoe themselves, given their preference for high-speed, highly customized combat vehicles.
** Coldstrike's {{Mooks}} take this up a notch, [[GasMaskMooks adding gas masks to the look.]] This in turn makes them somewhat resemble [[GIJoe Cobra's]] EliteMooks.

* UnexpectedCharacter: Wait, [[VideoGame/HalfLife Gordon Freeman?]]
%%* VehicularCombat

%%* BadassCrew: The Renegades.
%%* BadassDriver
%%* BadAssLongCoat: Blazemo.
%%* BadassMoustache: Bryant, and how.
%%* BaldOfAwesome: Armand.
%%* BaldOfEvil: Inferno.

* EasyModeMockery: Playing on "Casual" difficulty gives you unlimited lives, but reduces your score and prevents you from getting ExperiencePoints ''and'' using upgrades.

* {{Expy}}: Inferno's {{Mooks}} of [[GIJoe Cobra]] ones, right down to the red uniforms and flanged helmets. To a lesser extent, the Renegades of GIJoe themselves, given their preference for high-speed, highly customized combat vehicles.

%%* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Coldstrike.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the second-to-last mission, you pick up various Inferno intel files. You don't get to actually read them, but their titles are enough. Mixed in with one about Inferno himself are ones named "Coldstrike" and "Shadowhunter". Other [[EvilOverlord Evil Overlords]], perhaps?

It's the present day, or maybe NextSundayAD. [[EvilOverlord A power-hungry madman]] [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast by the name of Inferno]] has [[MoralEventHorizon firebombed defenseless Catalonia City]]- and promises to an assembly of world leaders that he will torch other cities [[TakeOverTheWorld if control is not ceded to him.]] [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath The leaders want to negotiate.]] But one [[FourStarBadass General Bryant]] believes that Inferno [[CaptainObvious is not the sort of man to be negotiated with.]] [[CassandraTruth The leaders shut Bryant down,]] so he decides to take matters into his own hands, [[DefectorFromDecadence tossing his medals onto a desk in disgust.]]

* VideogameLives: How many you have depends on the difficulty level. You can occasionally find one in-game, and the "Extra Life" upgrade allows you to begin with... [[CaptainObvious well.]]

** Armand's APC can deploy a segmented [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe armored shell,]] [[InvincibilityPowerUp negating all incoming damage. It drains quickly, however,]] and is best used as a timed block to intercept strong attacks, like missiles.

** Blazemo can turn his buggy into a [[IncendiaryExponent flaming]] [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning pinwheel]] of doom - and said flames protect him from attacks. You can't use weapons while it's active, but you don't need them- you're [[InvincibilityPowerUp an invulnerable,]] [[IncendiaryExponent flaming,]] [[{{Determinator}} unstoppable juggernaut.]] Briefly.