Sitemap: Gaming Bits Front Page arrow Review Bits arrow Red Faction: Guerrilla review
 
 
Red Faction: Guerrilla review PDF Print E-mail
Written by Geoff Hathaway   
Monday, 20 July 2009

Red Faction: Guerrilla review
Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Volition
Official website: RedFaction.com

Game Summary from THQ:
"Lured by the rich veins of Martian ore, miner Alec Mason arrives on Mars hungry for a new life. But the promise of a brighter future for Mason quickly fades. The Earth Defense Force, once protectors of Martian colonists, have adopted heavy-handed checkpoints and omnipresent armed patrols. As violence escalates, an underground resistance known as the Red Faction is swiftly gathering strength to combat the EDF. Mason's quest for a new life has become a battle for survival, and the fate of the planet now rests with him and the Red Faction."

Review Summary:
Red Faction: Guerrilla is an open world game based on the surface of Mars. You can take your sledgehammer and a great assortment of weapons to destroy any structure in the game. The story is a bit of a Sci-fi cliché, but the game is just plain fun. With a 10-12 hour single player, a robust multiplayer and some cooperative modes, it is a long experience that is totally worth the sixty dollar price tag. This is the definitely one of the best games that has been released this year. Go pick it up so we can see a sequel from Volition.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Read the full review below.

Red Faction: Guerrilla review

Red Faction: Guerrilla is more than you basic open world game. The developer, Volition Inc., has created a fun, satisfying experience by keeping the missions drastically different and including their new GEO Mod 2.0 technology. With the inclusion of this new technology, you can destroy any structure in the entire game. As you battle through the five environments using an assortment of weapons, you can upgrade these weapons with more powerful and plentiful ammunition. Nearing the end the main storyline, the powerful abilities gained and strategies developed through the other missions fulfill satisfaction I have not experienced in a very long time. Red Faction: Guerrilla does not have the best graphics or mechanics, but the technology used in developing it has made it more than the sum of its parts. It is the best game I have played this year so far, and it's just plain fun to play.

To be fully honest, I played through the campaign on casual difficulty. I personally believe that this is the best way to play through the game. The lack of frustration allows for some great moments where using the sledgehammer to power though missions and throw an enemy 20 feet from a blow. These weapons, in combination with the physics tech, are where the game truly shines. I wish that I had more than four weapon slots because I wanted to use them all in combinations for certain mission types. Incorporating this plethora of weapons gave Volition the freedom to create a bunch of mission types including, point A to B driving, rescue, defend the colonists, and EDF building to blow up, along with story missions. The only mission type I wish could have been improved were the driving ones. They seemed very laborious, but the reward of the salvage (the currency in the game) gives you an incentive to finish them. I would have used more unique vehicles that you would have to steal to improve these missions more.



As stated above, the graphics aren't the best I have seen, but the environments are exactly how a survivable Mars should look. The little colonies are sparse enough to be a rebel colony, yet still populated enough to look more realistic. There are some issues with hills that are impassable, but look very passable. This issue is simply fixed by the inclusion of a Jetpack that is unlocked in the later areas. The characters that you interact within the game are visually great and you see a great differing population from area to area, which sometimes can be tough in an open world game.

The story is somewhat generic Sci-Fi, to save the world from the oppressive enemy, but it is not the focus. Without spoiling how you get it, there is a very powerful weapon that allows you to disintegrate any enemy, vehicle or piece of building, with one shot. Once you unlock it, the game changes direction drastically. It makes many of the side missions simple to complete, keeping the game from a major slowdown. Prior to getting this weapon, the enforcement of completing a certain number of side missions (to minimize control in a certain sector) seems like a chore to unlock the next area or story mission. I wish these could have been optional or just out there to collect more Salvage. I wouldn't call this use of side missions as a way to artificially extend the playtime, but more of a way to show you the surplus located throughout Mars.

If you are an online shooter addict, Red Faction: Guerrilla delivers with a perpetual unlock system with its six online modes. All of these are your standard fare, with deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag and others. They aren't too compelling, but are a fun distraction if you get sick of the single-player and need a break. I was able to play a bunch of matches using all the upgrade packs, which give you a power like super speed, the ability to run through walls, more firepower, etc. It is fun, but it isn't why you would buy Red Faction: Guerrilla. The other mode that can be online is Wrecking Crew, which is more of a cooperative experience where you cause as much destruction as possible within certain parameters. All of these extra modes allow for more use of GEO Mod 2.0 and continue the fun of Red Faction: Guerrilla.

Conclusion:
Red Faction: Guerrilla is a sandbox game that is just plain fun. I haven't had more fun just running around getting rewarded for blowing up buildings. If you do buy this game, play it on the casual difficulty setting because there is no frustration or difficulty spike that would give you a reason to move on from this game. Red Faction: Guerrilla is the best game I have played and reviewed this year, so far. Please support this game so we can get a sequel because we need more GEO Mod 2.0. Red Faction: Guerrilla is a great game.

Upcoming downloadable content preview video:

< Prev   Next >

 
 
 
Follow gamingbits on Twitter Subscribe to the GamingBits RSS News Feed Screenshots, photos  and art on Flickr Keep in touch via facebook Game trailers on YouTube