Within a console generation, gaming generally gets better in tiny incremental steps; killing an undead menace in a zombie game today is just a bit cooler than it was a year ago because technology continues to discover small new ways to make flesh-hungry shufflers collapse into bloody heaps. Similarly, explosions will no doubt look slightly better in the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 than they did in the last Call of Duty entry. We expect this from our games. What we dont expect, and rarely get, are huge leaps in technology that send our jaws racing to the floor. For me, Red Faction: Guerrilla delivers exactly this with its destructible environmentsexcuse me while I collect my jaw.
Not since the original Mercenaries have I so enjoyed not only blowing stuff up, but sticking around to take in the explosive effects. From single-room buildings to multi-story towers, every structure in Red Faction falls differently and with incredibly satisfying realism. Every time you level a building youll be treated to some varying combination of fractured concrete, twisted metal, shattered glass, smoke, fire and debris. The folks at Volition have taken everything into accountphysics, gravity, architecture, weight, massin ensuring this aspect of their game stands out like a mushroom cloud in the desert.
Watching a seemingly unbreakable structure crack, crumble and ultimately fall into a smoldering pile is only half the fun, though, as using the games staggering variety of weaponsreal-world and Mars-madeto turn yourself into a human wrecking ball is also all kinds of awesome. But, its not just the expected thrill of blowing a Volkswagen-size hole in a wall with a rocket launcher that makes the destructive play so damn satisfying; sure, taking out a baddie-populated building with a single blast will jolt your adrenaline, but going to town on a wall of concrete with a sledgehammer, and letting your senses swim in the ensuing creaking and buckling, is equally amazing. Whether I was busting up a building brick by brick or outfitting a vehicle with remote charges and driving it into its support pillars for a quicker result, I was continually engaged by the destruction-driven gameplay.
Thankfully, turning everything in your path into dust and rubble plays right into Red Factions main objective. As a member of the titular revolutionary group, youre tasked with taking on the corrupt Earth Defense Force. And liberating Mars by pissing on their property is the fastest route to victory. The more of their stuff you destroy, the weaker they become. Additionally, the red planets oppressed populacetracked by a morale meterwill come to your aid as your ability to kick ass becomes apparent to them. If all that wasnt incentive enough to blow up the bad guys, youre also awarded in-game currency for your destructive deeds, allowing you to upgrade and purchase weapons and gear.
The game unfolds in an open world, comprised of six areas, through a series of critical and side missions. And while this structure sometimes struggles to support a story that starts strong but quickly moves into afterthought territory, Red Factions focus on destruction is handled so well it easily outshines any shortcomings. Quite simply, itll be a long time before you have this much fun blowing shit up, again.
score 9.0 out of ten
verdict Red Factions destruction tech is leaps and bounds beyond anything youve ever seen or played. But the fact this aspect encompasses nearly the entirety of the gameplay is really what makes it stand out; destroying stuff isnt just a means of extracting some cool eye and ear candy within the gameit is the game.
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