Overview

Developer: Volition
Publisher: THQ
Red Faction Official Page: http://www.redfaction.com

Descent into FPS

You've probably heard of Volition by now - they're the masterminds behind the Descent series. No one doubts that Volition knows what they're doing when it comes to space sims, but as they spread their wings to other types of games, can they maintain their high level of excellence? Summoner was sub-par (to put it nicely), so how will Volition's foray into the first-person shooter world pan out? Can they jump into the same boat as id and Epic? Is Red Faction the next Counter-Strike? Will you stop asking rhetorical questions and get on with the review already?

Flying to Mars

The Hero

Sub-machingun battle

Story time

Most of us realize that the story takes a back seat to action in FPS games. This preconception is a saving grace for Red Faction. There is absolutely no sense of storytelling in this game. You're Parker, a miner on Mars working for Ultor, a company not known for its employee benefits. One day you're busy chipping a rock and the guy next to you is killed by a guard. The next thing you know you're the cornerstone of an elaborate plot to overthrow Ultor. Why? I have no idea, and the game sure doesn't explain anything.

Only 25k?

Propaganda

She's your boss

If you happen to read the instruction book, you'll find a little background information on the three characters in the game, but even that's thin. As the game progresses you happen upon a handful of cut scenes, but these are dry, pointless wastes of time. There's no character development, no clear motive as to why Parker needs to mindlessly kill everything in sight, and a very thin story. If Red Faction were an adventure game, it would fail in every respect. Luckily for Volition its not, so I can't knock it for poor storytelling.