Red Faction originally launched on the PS2 in 2001 as a ground breaking first person shooter with Geo-Mod technology (GMT). GMT supports real time, arbitrary modification of the geometry that makes up a game’s environment. Which basically means you can dig yourself a tunnel straight through a wall to get to the other side. Completely destructible environments meant that for the first time in a shooter, there was no camping behind cover and there was never a moment you’d find yourself stuck without being able to create an exit. GMT affects gameplay in so many ways, for instance, being able to flank enemies by creating paths that hadn’t previously existed and blasting holes in the ground to trap the competition. Essentially changing the map on the fly every time you play. It’s surprising more developers haven’t adapted this style of gameplay engine.
Setting the revolutionary gameplay engine aside. Red Faction is a story about the fight for freedom. Human rights were nonexistent on Mars, a plague was going around through the working class and miners were forced to slave away while being abused by security guards. Until one day Parker, a recent transfer, witnesses the heartless killing of a fellow miner. This sparks a rebellion, lead by Parker, to overthrow the oppressors. The rebellion was dubbed the “Red Faction”.
Red Faction: Guerrilla (RFG) is set fifty years after the events that took place in the original. This time you’ll take control of an insurgent fighter with the newly re-established Red Faction movement as they fight for liberation from the oppressive Earth Defense Force (EDF). The EDF originally fought alongside the Red Faction to provide freedom to the colony. Once the colony was free from slavery, rather than leave the colonists to rebuild, the EDF saw an opportunity to take Mars for themselves. Thus the EDF has begun enslaving colonists on Mars and forcing them to work. Landing the Red Faction right back where they started, with a larger, more vicious ruler.
Throughout the open world battle for freedom, players will explore treacherous mining outposts and venture to the EDF capital city, where the Red Faction will make a stand against the tyrant. You’ll fight alongside other resistance forces and will get a feel for the struggle at hand, witnessing the brutal forces crashing down upon your fellow workers. It is through the devestation delt to your fellow resistance followers that you’ll be able to connect with and want to fight for the cause.
Seeing how you aren’t exactly a soldier with unlimited resources, you’ll have to improvise many of your weapons and explosives. Re-purposing mining equipment and vehicles for deadly use against your adversaries. True guerrilla combat is to be had when you plan your battle on the fly. Creating new paths with your GMT will no doubt add to the strategy per fire fight. Strategic destruction will give you an advantage that no other shooter can to date. Allowing you to set ambushes, attack enemy strongholds and permanently modify the game environments.
Multiplayer combat should be a real treat. With no place to hide, you’ll be forced to improvise every time you play. Fighting each round should never be the same as players can drill through anything and everything. Making the campers come out to play as no where will be a safe zone.
We can only hope, when RFG launches in early 2009, that it can live up to its predecessors. It should be interesting to see how the series has made the transition from first person to third person shooter. It has been a long time since we’ve been to the red planet and fought along side the Red Faction. But we’re all suited up and ready for launch!
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