> Red Faction: Written
by: Adam Keller
Publisher: THQ Price: 19.99 Genre: First-person shooter M for Mature
You will hear mixed opinions on this game,
but when you get right down to it, it’s not a bad first-person shooter.
First of all, Red Faction differs from most first-person shooters in the fact that it has an
appealing story that will keep you interested. In the mines of Mars, the Ultor Corporation is oppressing the miners it lured
to the planet. In addition to horrible working conditions, exhaustion, and abuse from Ultor guards, a deadly plague is spreading.
A rebellious group called the Red Faction (hence the name), led by Eos, are trying to incite a full-scale revolution. You
play as Parker, just an average miner. While coming back from a hard day’s work at the mines, an Ultor guard and a miner
get in a scuffle, resulting in the miner’s death. The revolution has begun! In an instant, the mines erupt into chaos
and Ultor guards start slaughtering miners. There are a number of characters, some who will help you, and some that are really
nasty. The science-fiction story really adds to the game; it’s more than just killing mindless minions.
Another positive aspect of Red Faction is the innovative “Geo-Mod
technology”, which allows you to destroy and modify the environment. It’s not just a cool bonus though. The “Geo-Mod
technology” actually factors into the gameplay. No more wasting time looking for keys; just blow up the door or create
your own tunnel! It’s a unique feature that really makes Red Faction a more pleasurable experience.
The gameplay is well varied. There are numerous
elements, such as one on one fighting in narrow tunnels to huge, intense gun battles to stealth. All of the gameplay elements
work well, but none are exceptionally great. Also, the Dual Shock controls start to get really frustrating, especially when
accuracy is vital. There is an auto-aim that helps the problem, but it doesn’t solve it.
There are plenty of cool looking weapons, from simple riot shields to devastatingly destructive
Fusion rocket launchers. Most of the weapons feature secondary fire and there are some beautiful reloading animations. I can’t
forget the fun vehicles, such as hovercrafts and a Driller.
One thing you will notice about Red Faction is the near seamless transition
between levels. It really allows you to become engrossed in the story and the game.
While not spectacular, the graphics get the job done. The environments are detailed pretty well.
There is a nice array of colors and textures. The characters are average but character movement is done satisfactorily. Overall,
Red Faction features a balanced graphical package.
The sound is a definite high point of the game.
The voices, for the most part, are serious and well done. From subtle sounds to loud tune to eerie silence, it all fits into
the story nicely.
The control is the biggest negative aspect of the game. As stated earlier, precision is hard and frustrating. Thankfully,
it’s not too damaging to the gameplay.
First of all, the central game is long and challenging. In addition, Red Faction features a multiplayer. While it only
supports two players, the ability to have up to five bots, exclusive levels, and increased emphasis on “Geo-Mod”
makes for plenty of fun.
Red Faction rated “M” for violence, blood and gore. While realistic, it is not excessive nor out of context,
and any teenager should be able to handle it.
The only major problems with Red Faction are the shoddy controls and too little use of the “Geo- Mod technology”.
Otherwise, an interesting sci-fi story and fun gameplay create a very solid first-person shooter.
Graphics: 8.0 | Sound: 9.0 | Control: 4.5
| Replay: 8.5 | Overall Game Score: 8.0/10
