Red Faction II

"All of Red Faction 1's charm has been lost: A decent FPS game, but a very disappointing sequel"

Red Faction I was an amazing First Person Shooter for the PS2 released earlier. It had a great single player mode and its multiplayer was fantastic. It implemented the Geo-Mod technology, which basically allows you to blast a hole in the wall with a rocket launcher. Not many games use this technology and Red Faction I implemented it almost perfectly. Though Red Faction II is an ok game if you're looking for an FPS game, it has many letdowns and hasn't lived up to its sequel. I'd go as far to say that Red Faction 1 is a better game that 2. I'll explain why:

Graphics - 6/10

The graphics haven't improved since the first game, they are basically the same. This game isn't anything glamorous to look at, especially compared to current PS2 FPS games like Timesplitters 3 and Killzone.

Sound - 8/10

The sound in this game is just what you need for a shooter. You'll here explosions, gunshots, and everything. There is voice acting that does well. The music during the multiplayer maps are great.

Gameplay - 7/10

This is where the game falls flat. To sum up the single player, it sucks. The plot is stale and boring, and you won't really care about the story and whats going on. Unlike Red Faction I, you play the game by missions (which to me is a big drawback). The great thing about Red Faction 1's single player was that it was continuous and you felt like you were going through everything. I remember that level where you disguised as the scientist and the beginning when you beat the guy with a stick (or crowbar or something). In Red Faction II, I don't remember anything notable or fun. I got bored of it quick. Don't full judge the single player by my opinion though, I never finished it so maybe something cool happens at the end. My philosophy on single player games is that if its boring me and I don't want to play it, its not worth my time.

The multiplayer is this game's saving grace. The PS2 lacks in the FPS department, but Red Faction II's multiplayer can give you a good time if you play with 1-3 more friends. There are lots of maps which is good, but lots of them just lack quality and are too generic. Some maps are just symmetrical boxes offering nothing fun or new. The maps are also relatively small, so don't expect to play in a city with huge buildings. Though the way I explain the maps make them seem very bad, some of them are alright and give you all you need. There is nothing memorable though, most of them are dull.

The weapons and modes are a high point for Red Faction 2. There are plenty of guns to offer like machine guns, rocket launchers, snipers, the rail gun, duels, and they are fully customizable in multiplayer matches. You won't be longing for anything else (except for maybe a samurai sword). There are lots of modes including deathmatch, arena (when you die, you only respawn when the round ends), bagman, Capture the Flag, and more. Of course there's also the team versions of these modes (team deathmatch, team arena, etc). Also there are bots, which is a huge plus. They aren't amazingly smart, but they'll suffice. You can also customize them.

Now I'll talk about the main disappointment of Red Faction II, its Geo-Mod technology (in multiplayer, I couldn't stand the single player and got bored too quickly). Its terribly implemented. Red Faction 1 gave me tons of memorable moments and was a blast to play. I remember playing that one level in the mines and just blasting hole after hole in the wall. The hole would get so deep that it would form a tunnel and I'd be able to jump inside and camp. If I placed it right, it would lead all the way to this other tunnel with a conveyer belt inside. I also remember that level where you could blast holes in the wall to create a ladder that would lead you to the secret area on the top of the map where you could shoot people from above through the big glass.

Red Faction II doesn't have any of these moments. You won't even realize that they've implemented the Geo-Mod technology, its just about nonexistent. There are only small spaces in each map where you can blow up walls, but they provide nothing useful or entertaining like they did so well in the first Red Faction. Its like they tried to eliminate the best part of the first game in the sequel.

Replayability - 7/10

After you beat the single player or get bored of it, it has a decent multiplayer that is highly customizable and will give you a good time. Even if you don't always have friends around to play you, you can play against bots (though playing with friends is much funner). Sure, the Geo-Mod technology is nonexistent, but there are lots of maps, modes, and guns to last you for a long time. If you need a FPS fix, then you'll be able to come back to this game. Too bad its not online.

Overall Score - 7/10

This game could have been so much more, but it ends up being another bland, generic, and average FPS game that has trashed all its originality it brought in the first game. The single player mode drags you on and frustrates you when you realize that you're wasting your time. In the multiplayer they've eliminated all traces of the Geo-Mod technology, the thing that made Red Faction 1 so fun and original. Don't get me wrong, Red Faction II is a good game standing by itself if you really want an FPS game for your PS2, but don't expect anything revolutionary or amazing. Buy this game for the multiplayer and you'll be sure to have a good time with your friends, but all of Red Faction 1's charm has been lost.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/09/06, Updated 07/10/06