Red Faction: Guerrilla Windows Review

Volition were onto something big when they started the Red Faction series. The prospect of smashing your way through the game not only provides an opportunity for varied gameplay, but is also highly satisfying. As such, Red Faction: Guerrilla continues the series with as much focus on destruction based gameplay as the previous two. The question is; is it as innovative and enjoyable as its predecessors, or does it just crumble under its own weight?

As you start the game you're quickly introduced to the main character, Alec Mason, who lands on Mars looking to work as a miner. His brother Dan, who is already on Mars, greets him and sets him to work. You learn the Earth Defence Force controls Mars through brute force; and with superior weaponry, money and a heap of soldiers, that's unlikely to change. This is where the Red Faction come in. The rebel group, of which Dan is a prominent member, are looking to overthrow the EDF and replace it with a more honourable ‘Voice of Mars'. Alec wants none of this, and instead just wants to be a miner, but a short tutorial mission and a couple of cut-scenes later and he quickly changes his mind. Moreover, without actually doing anything, he's suddenly notorious within Red Faction and is called upon to attend to many a mission. I hate to say it, but it's all very generic. The characters seem to lack any kind of feeling and it's hard to really understand Alec's intentions bar the fact that the EDF are the bad guys and thus should be attacked.

This is, however, forgivable. What the game lacks in storytelling, it makes up for in abundance with pure fun. In a way, the to-the-point storyline is a necessity, because anything too serious would just detract from all the fun you'll have playing this game. It also has to be said that this is not the best looking game you'll have seen. The graphics won't offend your eyes, but some of the models on vehicles and people are a little less than realistic. Again, though, this is forgivable considering the nature of the game.

Mason is tasked with helping the Red Faction build their power in each of the six sections of the game world. This is accomplished by lowering the EDF's control over the area and completing missions for that section. You are then required to complete another mission which will drive the EDF from the section. You have a variety of ways in which to lower the EDF's control; guerilla actions, missions or simply destroying the EDF's structures. Guerilla actions are basically the side-missions for the game, and include a variety of objectives. Some are timed missions, requiring you to destroy a building with a particular weapon in the time limit or deliver a vehicle to a specified safehouse as fast as possible. Others include raiding (or defending against a raid) buildings, rescuing hostages, chasing couriers or just causing as much damage as you can riding shotgun with (crazy) Jenkins. Most of the time these missions are located on the map for you to find, however you can be radioed in for assistance from time-to-time. There's enough variety in these missions to never become tiresome and there's no penalty for not completing them. This means you can get as much out of the game as you require, rather than having to complete each side-mission just to advance the story.

As for taking out the EDF's structures, it's as simple as it sounds. It only makes sense that a game which has emphasis on destruction, that it is done properly. The EDF has many buildings spotted about the game world, some more important than others. The more important the building, the more of EDF's control lost when it's destroyed. Smaller, less important structures a usually not worth much to destroy, but medium importance and higher are marked on the map and usually represent ten points worth of control. High importance targets are worth much more, but are often more difficult to destroy or are heavily guarded and require a little planning beforehand.

The destruction itself is endless fun. The GeoMod physics based engine really improves upon the idea of the previous two games, with buildings collapsing under their own weight when enough damage is dealt to key areas. Think Mercenaries but much, much better. As it is all physics based, there are certain parts of a building that are more crucial than others, take that out and the building will collapse - and it is immense fun when it does. Naturally, if you so wish, covering a building with enough explosives to send it sky high is just as fun, but there is a sublime beauty in finding a buildings weak spot, taking that out then watching as it slowly becomes too much for the building and it collapses. There are instances where the building is seemingly held up by a single piece of metal but they aren't too common. On the whole, GeoMod works brilliantly and should be incorporated into as many games as possible - it really is that fun.

Combat is, of course, a main focus of the game - as expected when you're fighting in a rebellion. The controls for movement and combat all work efficiently and intuitively and never was there a struggle to manoeuvre or fight. On your person you can carry four different weapons, one of which must be a sledgehammer. These can vary from mines and remote charges to assault rifles and rocket launchers - and even a favourite of mine from the series, the rail driver. There is a large variety of weaponry available, which are unlocked after completing set amounts of guerilla actions. These weapons are then bought using Salvage, the currency of the game earned either by destroying anything and collecting its scrap or completing missions. Once bought, upgrades become available, increasing a weapons damage or ammo limit. It's a good economy that rewards the player for playing more of the side-missions, but never forcing you too. The best thing about the combat, though, is the fact that you can tackle a situation however you like - if you'd rather sneak about a base rather than flying your vehicle into the nearest building that's certainly possible. The game really lets to take on anything however you like, rather than being forced into the preferred method.

As most games these days, Guerrilla features a multi-player mode. It has a variety of modes available, from the staple deathmatch mode to a more true-to-the-game idea of destroying/defending a building. Unlockables feature as heavily in this as they do in the main game, with new modes, characters, sledgehammers and name colours being unlocked at intervals. Most different with this mode is the use of a variety of jetpacks, each of which can provide temporary effects such as invisibility, a speed boost or increased damage. This mixes up the online mode, and coupled with collapsing buildings this allows for some really hectic matches. Also worth mentioning is the addition of a local competitive mode, in the form of Wrecking Crew. Personally, I'd like to see more of an emphasis from developers incorporating a local competitive mode, as too few do these days. Wrecking Crew is a turn-based destruction game, where each player attempts to earn the highest score by destroying as much as they can in a time limit. It's not going to keep you and a friend entertained for hours, but it is enjoyable nonetheless and a pleasant addition to a game already filled with extras.

All in all, Red Faction: Guerrilla is a highly enjoyable experience and Volition should be very proud. Personally, this is what a game should be. Hours of free-roaming fun and destruction, a wide (and I mean wide) variety of collectables to keep even the most ardent of completist's happy. Unlockable cheats and interesting multi-player options provides for a brilliant game and as many hours of gameplay as you're willing to put in. This game is a breath of fresh air in an era of games that are too short, too serious, too easy and lack any real additional content.