Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Red Faction 2

Written by Chris Reiter on June 03, 2002

First Impressions: If people bled blue, it would be called Blue Faction II.

2001 was the year of the PlayStation 2. There's no doubt about that. From start to beginning, the system gained a wide array of franchises that have impressed thousands, and continue to impress newcomers to the console today. Last spring, one of those games was Red Faction: a unique and innovative First Person Shooter that is still today called one of the best in its genre to ever be released on any platform. THQ and Volition, Inc. is revisiting the series in a brand spanking new sequel that won't only improve upon the last title, but will make it seem as if this is the only version you need to own.

It's now five years after Red Faction's story came to an end. The slave pusher, mining corporation Ultor has crumbled. But, evil still lurks in the hearts of men. A dictator by the name Sopot has been controlling his own reign of terror upon mankind for 15 long years now. You are Alias a demolition expert. Your mission is to join up with a group of five other team members to put a lid on Sopot's scheme. Together with heavy artillery, and five allies to help you defeat Sopot's army, you'll live to see freedom ring, or at least die trying.

The last game's one feature that shined the most above all others was its ability to literally break into and out of through walls using either explosives, or powerful weapons like a missile launcher. Volition is allowing players to do that again, only this time it will become rather a requirement to completing the game, as opposed to it being just an optional feature mostly through the last. Additionally the gameplay will now focus on relying on the computer controlled team members. Each of the five-team members in all has their own abilities that will become useful throughout the game. Some will be skilled in one practice, and the gameplay will revolve around those attributes through the story.

Being an explosives expert, your character for instance will most likely have to deal with bomb related situations a lot of the time. Despite your characteristics, you'll have a total of 15 weapons in all in which to be accustomed to. Getting the chance to deal death to enemies in a number of ways, like Parker in the first game, you'll have at your disposal items like the sniper rifle, the rail gun, the missile launcher, grenades, C4, flamethrower...and new to the series, double handed guns. With each weapon also arrives its secondary feature, another notable aspect to the last game. For example, the flamethrower in the previous title could be used in two ways. The first was to burn enemies to a crisp. The second was to take the flame canister, toss it on the ground, and use it as an explosive. So whether you like using one method or another, there will be plenty of different ways to remove the opposing forces at hand.

One other great thing about Red Faction was that players often had the opportunity to ride in an assortment of vehicles. Using an underwater submarine, a flying hovercraft, a massive drill tank, and amongst others, you were able to mow down the AI like they were tiny ants under your hoof. In Red Faction 2, you can do the same thing once again with a list of devices. However, no details have been announced on any specific types. To add to the single player game, a 4-player deathmatch mode will be latched on and placed in order to enhance it even more than the last game's. Enemy AI in the deathmatch game is shaping up in a crafted form to act as if they were your real life friends right next to you in the room. Now that's impressive.

For the visual montage, the sequel is also receiving an improved look to compliment its unparalleled gameplay. Red Faction alone was detailed in its highly realistic character models that had their own facial expressions and textures that made them look seemingly lifelike. Large areas brimming with light and shadow effects from the heat of gunfire, and break away rock to dig into with your tools of mass destruction were all great features when appearing on screen. To duplicate that effect and to improve on it further will be quite a challenge, and if Volition says they can do just that, I don't foresee them incapable of it.

Red Faction II

First Impressions: If people bled blue, it would be called Blue Faction II.