GAME's CJRavey gets revolutionary with Red Faction 2 - the sequel to last year's PlayStation 2 shooter smash.

Revolution, like marriage, is usually the end of the story. Be it Hollywood, literature or games, it's the point where the story ends. We don't get to see the 'live unhappily ever after.' We don't get to see Luke Skywalker struggle with his new responsibilities and begin arranging new-council rubbish collections around Coruscant whilst Lando struggles with a collapsing ex-imperial economy and unachievable goals demanded by a starving and war-weary population. Han Solo and Leia grow old and fat, soon complacent with power and forgetting the little people they fought for - we don't want to see that, generally. And yet, here we are some years after the revolution on Mars with Red Faction 2…

Our hero from Red Faction, Parker the miner who took arms against his guards simply to defend himself and ended up being the unstoppable force behind a full-scale revolution, is nowhere to be seen. The communist-style evil despot Sopot (say that after a few Vodkas, comrade) is still in charge. Mars may be free, but Earth is still very much under the jack boot of whatever politics this dude is actually meant to be. He looks commie, damn him…

No longer are you fighting a lone war. As part of a super-squad of nano-tech enhanced soldiers you're constantly aided by members of your space age resistance fighting squad, each with their own skills. Villa is a thief, Avon a computer hacker, Gan is a strong man and Jenna is a smuggler and Blake is a… Hang on, wrong thing… (Ask yer father). No, sorry, it's Quill the sniper, Repta the heavy weapons expert, Shrike the pilot, Tangier the stealthy one and Molov - the big boss. You are Alias - demolitions expert.

Created by none other than Sopot, you don't begin the game as resistance fighters, but as his special squad. After this prequel, it's revealed that Sopot fears the power of the squad, the project is scrapped and you and your mates are renegades. Might as well join the revolutionary force that made its present felt in the first game, eh? Time to team up with the Red Faction. Several plot twists throughout the game means that, despite sometimes over-ripe dialogue, there'll be plenty to keep your attention between the shooting - though I'd expect few people to connect on a full emotional level with the game. It felt good to deal it back to the bullying guards on Mars in the first game, but you probably won't care what side you're on here - but you should have fun blasting.

The game looks better than the first one, in fact there's not an aspect that hasn't been improved since we last shot things up on the red planet (no, that isn't a drugs reference). The new smoothness will lead some fans of the first game to regard it as more cartoonish, but at least the variety of environments has improved from the mine-after-mine and metal corridors of Mars. From the expected military compounds, ruins of older buildings, and on the war-torn streets of this futuristic land, the game looks more like Medal of Honor Allied Assault than anything sci-fi; at least in terms of the locations - be it a crumbling cathedral or a sniper-laden tower block. Of course, the weapons, enemies and vehicles all have that sci-fi touch.

The flamethrower's gone, but you won't miss it when you get your hands on the incendiary grenades and shotgun. Yep - a shotgun which not only gives you the joy of huge recoil, but bursts your opponent into flames. Horrific in real life, but funny in a game - go deal. In default controls both L1 and R1 control the normal and alternate fire (so in this example, the normal shotgun bullets with R1, the flamey ones with R1) or with double weapons, R1 corresponds to the weapon in your right hand. This is great for some Max Payne style double Uzi action; it also means with a bit of timing (just wait for the right weapon to be half empty then start firing the left) and you'll be able to maintain a steady and uninterrupted blast of fire until the ammo runs out. (Ooo - catch little miss 'guns and ammo' over here…! - Ed)

But the game's arsenal goes far, far beyond shotguns and Uzi-style weapons; this is the dystopian future after all - with grenade launchers, laser-based rail launchers and all sorts of other devilment. Grenades are handled with the L2 shoulder button, so you needn't take a break from firing to change weapons and lob one. They come in various flavours - incendiary being a favourite, allowing you to incinerate a whole troop of dudes if you hurl it right… Throw a frag grenade at close range and it will stick to an enemy soldier - you just watch him or her run around the room in blind panic before being turned into just a tottering pair of legs. Oh yes, did I mention - this game seems much gorier? Not that that will present a problem to most of you blood thirsty little tinkers I expect…!

There's not as many vehicles to clamber into this time; you'll be disappointed early on with a promising looking jeep which is just begging to be hopped into - bar a sub section and some fixed-on-rails tank and hover-fighter sequences there's only the battle suit. Ah, the battle suit. Big robots, so beloved of games makers (and we can only assume, gamers) are available at various points when only an insane amount of firepower will get the job done. Missiles (even more) incendiaries and two whopping great machine guns mean that once you strap in you're happy. Just try to have 'electronics disrupting' grenades (they have a real name, but we're old and we forget things - ah well) handy if you actually come up against an enemy battle suit.

The submersible is enjoyable enough; similar to the first game it gives you the chance to do some Inner-Space style sub battles, with some nice 'underwater implosion/explosion' effects. The water's gloomy, but what would you expect in a grim and grimy future? At least this allows you to nip along at some speed and offers a believable excuse for the resulting lack of view off into the distance. The sub bay could have been a bit more obvious though; the platform screams 'I am a landing bay and will probably open up at my furthermost tip' whilst secretly having opened up underneath, the pressured chamber's surface being brown on darker brown. Gah.

Generally you will find one or two times wondering what the hell you need to do now. You're told to head underground and it doesn't really lead you very far, or you're just left scratching your head where to go or what to do next. It's only a few times, and it's worth getting a guide just to save you headaches. Generally you'll hit yourself for not guessing. All the doors around you locked? Try blowing up a wall, or even smashing your way through floor after floor…

Ah yes, Geo-Mod. The developer Volition's own in-house wall destroying technology. So hyped for the first game, then abandoned more or less in the second half of that game, it's now more evenly distributed. Basically the geography and geology of Red Faction 2's levels can be blown up. Not all of it, of course - that would play havoc with level design. Problem is, as deeply satisfying as it is to see a mighty wall crash down before you, it's equally as frustrating to see the thin metal mesh between you and your objective refuse to yield to the most powerful weapon in the game. Sensibly then, Volition have not made Geo-Mod the be all and end all this time, it's more of a bonus and the subject of the occasional 'what next' puzzle (which, again, makes its hit and miss nature somewhat frustrating). As if to console us, much more 'street furniture' can be destroyed. Lampposts topple, power lines crash to the ground and when indoors all furniture will generally explode at your touch - including a very satisfying lobby Matrix scene, with columns quickly disintegrating in the crossfire.

Basically, the plot twists and turns and there's a series of boss battles on your way to the final end. There's much destruction to be wreaked but the determined will finish the game fairly soon on 'easy'. So, once you're done, notch up the challenge - put the game on difficult and try and complete all the various side missions and objectives offered throughout the game. As with most FPS games, how much you engage will depend on how difficult you're finding things - whether it's a mindless blast-a-thon that becomes wearing or an adrenaline filled fight for life on limited ammo will totally affect the way you play. Speaking of which, the human enemies soon give way to linear-thinking and attacking zombies - which means that later one when you're ready for more cunning enemies you get drones...

Ah - but what about the inevitable multiplayer mention at the end of the review? Multiplayer for consoles can so often be an afterthought for the gamer and the developer. Not the case here. Instead of something to keep you busy once the game's done, it's probably as good if not better than the single player mode - and the perfect forum for some proper geo-mod action. Not knowing where your mate's next best shot is coming from, and knowing they could burst through a wall, frag grenades-a-hurling any minute really spices things up.

Forty different maps and characters grace the multiplayer mode - which includes a mode called 'Regime' which is well worth unlocking. It's four player split screen, with (sadly) no system link as far as we can tell. Having said that, we're sceptical as to how many people actually lug their PS2's round to mate's houses for networked matches.

The expected modes, Deathmatch and CTF are complemented by newer variations such as Bagman and Arena. Hidden areas revealed by a bit of geo mod blasting yield all the extra weapons and power-ups that help add spice to a multiplayer experience. Bots can level up with skill in multiplayer and although it doesn't come close to the experience of playing alongside a real team it's a laudable effort as the bots join in for Team Arena and capture the flag.

Red Faction had the benefit, as with TimeSplitters, of being one of a small bunch of first person shooters - it also had (aha, pun alert) revolutionary technology. Red Faction 2 enters a more crowded market, and to put it simply it will just come down to taste as to whether people choose this or TimeSplitters 2. Beginner gamers will look to Bond anyway for their kicks (don't you just love the way we put you all in diddy little boxes, folks?) There are major differences between these three big shooters - but with only so much money in your pocket, the deciding factor is likely to be all pre-judged; unless you're a Mr Mega Bucks and buying all three. So why choose Red Faction 2? Because it's still original, because it gets mental and hectic and has one of the most genuinely useful 'non-player character co-operation' aspects and is more bloodthirsty than either TimeSplitters 2 or James Bond Nightfire. More havoc and mayhem, more screaming and shouting.

Vive la revolution.

Vive la Redolution...

Red Faction is back and the revolution is continuing. The game is pretty revolutionary, as well as simply extremely pretty, due once again to its Geo Mod engine. But let's not carry away - perhaps the hype surrounding the ability to destroy walls and environments was overstated in the press coverage of the first game. Perhaps people overlooked the genius gameplay, the useable vehicles, the tense firefights and the sheer 'one man against the world' joy of taking on the evil regime. Whatever, Red Faction was one of the great underrated games of last year - and Red Faction II looks to be another gem.

The first game began with a lone miner on Mars being pushed too far by a guard; a genius opening for a game which plonked you right in the action, taking on the guards ill treating your co-workers. From then on you're a fugitive, with a whole host of military force bearing down on you because you refuse to resist.

Straight to the action

Although the sequel is still in development - so final polished cut scenes are not always present - it's straight into the action too. As Alias, a demolitions expert, you're dropped straight into a firefight by a cocky colleague flying a futuristic gunship. Once inside a small military compound, it's your job to destroy all the gun towers - so get your rocket launcher out.

There's no long wait in Red Faction II to get your hands on the big weapons, as you'd expect playing a demolitions expert in a world where pretty much everything but the most solid of alloys can be blown to bits. For the uninitiated, this means that when you aim your rocket launcher at a wall, it's going to leave a big hole - which you can climb through if it helps you on your way. Failing that it's just pretty damn satisfying.

There are some obvious differences from the first game: the most immediately noticeable being the Karma Meter. This bar can be lowered or raised throughout the game and is triggered by how you treat other people. 'Eh?', you may well think. 'This is a first person shooter, I'll be treating them to a hail of bullets - not flowers and chocolate.' Worry not - Red Faction II is as bristling with guns and macho action as the first. However, always remember the family of the henchman. Anyone who points a gun at you is pretty much fair game - as it is with over eager US cops on telly - however you will find admin staff, technicians, accounts people etc., often hid in cupboards pleading not to be hurt. As they're only part of the infrastructure of the evil society, you really shouldn't kill them, apparently.

You can kill these running, gibbering and hiding 'innocents', however your Karma Meter will go down. The status of your Karma won't kill you, it's not a health bar, but it will affect at least the ending of the game - maybe even more throughout the game. After all, good guys always finish best! Well, that's what my mum told me anyway.

Led by your commander - voiced by none other than Lance Henriksen of Millennium, Aliens and Terminator fame - your squad must fulfil certain missions. Generally as far as we've seen, your colleagues appear to carry out their own speciality; for example a futuristic and curvy lass turns up to get through a security system for you; you must protect her and hold off the rampaging guards whilst she does her business...

In a later level your cocky mate with a gunship comes back, and you're airborne for what's pretty much a fixed-rails event as you man the rear guns… Again, your karma comes into effect as you resist destroying innocent civilians. Although it is on rails, this section was damn fun to play - especially as the gunship circled an evil base full of enemy guards, very reminiscent of the Matrix helicopter high-rise section. Great stuff.

Steady flow

Another change from the first game is the controls when you have double weapons. Grab two machine guns or pistols and you can go into a Max Payne stance, with R1 and L1 controlling each weapon separately. You can still only target one place at once (unless this correspondent is being a dweeb at figuring it all out) but with a bit of skill you can keep up a steady flow, reloading the right gun as the left one blazes away. God, this is a satisfying game!

Deeper play is bound to reveal more; once more the game has a well thought out plot and a Russian communist feel and design that's just so gorgeous and thoughtful to look at; not to mention shiny metal, gritty textures and a slick sci-fi feel. How it all ties into the first game isn't entirely clear - we're presuming that Alias isn't the miner character from the first game… (No pun intended). There are sure to be deeper links than first appears, but after a few blast arounds we can certainly say with confidence that even if you didn't play the first one, it doesn't matter, this is a game you need to pre-order if you're at all first-person-shooter-inclined.

Preview by: CJRavey