With intense action and destruction, the Red Faction saga evolves in this highly entertaining sequel that should please fans of the series.

Game Summary

Popzara Rating

The flow of good games is always scarce during the summer but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any noteworthy gaming blockbusters, as Volition has made evident with Red Faction: Guerilla. Sure, the sci-fi plot driving this game is as deep as a evaporating puddle, but the idea of being your own wrecking crew is quite possibly beyond anything most have seen before - even becoming the core aspect of the game itself. Fans should love this chapter in the series, even with the shifted perspective and sandbox-style mapping system. No matter who you are, you'll probably enjoy blowing up buildings and watching them crumble to your feet. The best part? You can do it again, and again, and again. Release Date: 06/02/09 ESRB Rating: M Publisher: THQ

Written by Herman Exum

It's that time of the year again: blazing hot summer days, outdoor picnics, and a genuine lack of respectable games to play. Unfortunately, that is to be expected during these beautiful summer months. Most everyone would probably rather be taking some leisure time outside with friends anyway, instead of being alone in their rooms with a controller in hand. That still doesn’t mean that there aren’t quality titles to enjoy when the heat has you taking refuge. The long-awaited chapter to Volition’s own Red Faction series is finally here, in the form of Red Faction: Guerilla, which will at least satisfy that lust for destruction hidden deep within your psyche.

First, let's talk about the story - possibly the least interesting aspect in the entire game’s equation. Guerilla is set about 50 years after the events of the first game, with you stepping into the shoes of Alec Mason, a recently employed resource miner on Mars will lead his fellow comrades to independence against the Earth Defense Force (EDF). The game's perspective has switched from standard first-person to a surprisingly effective third-person view, allowing players to immerse themselves into the political intrigue - not to mention intense destruction - in ways like never before.

What has always been a cornerstone in any Red Faction game is the concept of physically altering your environment. It’s no different in Guerilla, but no longer will you digging into the ground. Instead you’ll be dismantling pretty much anything that is man-made - piece-by-piece or by leveling entire structures. Almost nothing is immune from being turned to rubble as a whole multistoried building can eventually come crumbling to the ground with a incredibly impressive amount of detail – physics, architecture, and structure integrity are some of the things you're treated to when the orchestra of fractured concrete and twisted metal come crashing down from heavens. Okay, it's probably not as poetic as initially stated but it is a remarkable sight to behold nonetheless.

You can level any imaginable area of foundation, but figuring out which weapon to do it with is half the enjoyment. From rocket launchers and sledgehammers, to the unique nanorifle that can literally turn any target into molecular bits, you've got plenty of options. Creating an improvised second door for yourself or turning an enemy stronghold into a smoldering pile are propositions available to you when it comes to blazing a path of destruction. When the fate of the Martian revolution relies on your destruction of the corrupt EDF infrastructure, the incentive of just blowing things up wasn’t satisfying enough.

The single-player affair is quite engaging and if nothing else is clearly driven by idea of demolishing everything in your path, with the game being played in a open world divided by six areas and a plethora of extra objectives to complete alongside the standard campaign. The main idea of the of the story doesn’t make the experience too deep, but this quickly becomes irrelevant with every single building you destroy. The multiplayer offering provides the same, if not a more hectic pace to the environment as deathmatch and team battles are consistently tense and involving. Damage Control is a personal favorite, where opposing forces must destroy enemy bases and rebuild over the fresh rubble. This guarantees that everybody will be keeping busy and that the “camping” method” remains ineffective in this game.

The flow of good games is always scarce during the summer but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any noteworthy gaming blockbusters, as Volition has made evident with Red Faction: Guerilla. Sure, the sci-fi plot driving this game is as deep as a evaporating puddle, but the idea of being your own wrecking crew is quite possibly beyond anything most have seen before - even becoming the core aspect of the game itself. Fans should love this chapter in the series, even with the shifted perspective and sandbox-style mapping system. No matter who you are, you'll probably enjoy blowing up buildings and watching them crumble to your feet. The best part? You can do it again, and again, and again.

Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3.