12-Nov-2002 Get frisky with a diet of frantic, futuristic fragging fun Get frisky with a diet of frantic, futuristic fragging fun
With the recent release of the awesome TimeSplitters 2, it's a pity that THQ didn't hold onto Red Faction II a tad longer. No doubt it will be overlooked by many gamers who buy TS2 - and frankly, they'll be losing out.
This class first-person shooter is set in the 22nd century, a time when the 'Commonwealth' no longer conjures up images of British sprinters pulling up in agony. This now describes a collection of states run by the repressive Sopot, at war with the neighbouring United Republic in pursuit of unification.
But Sopot's top 'nano-boosted super soldiers' have turned on him and decided to replace the evil dictator who is the cause of the world's distress. This is where you come in: as demolition expert Alias, you must create maximum carnage in the pursuit of utopia.
FAST AND FURIOUS This game drops you into the thick of the action - you hardly have time to think before missiles and bullets are blasting in your direction. The first level is short and simple - blow up a few things here, kill a couple of enemy troops there, and that's it.
But as you progress, you'll realise that this is more like a PC frag 'em up than your usual PS2 shooter. The later missions are huge, divided into sub-levels that are broken up only by the occasional autosave.
Enemies vary from robotic spiders to humans, and they will all evade your fire, group up and flank you in the hope of seeing your wounded body floundering in the gutter.
It's a shame then that many of the levels look so bland. We were hoping for a dark apocalypic future where there's a surprise around every corner, but in truth only a handful really shine.
The multiplayer mode lets the game down slightly too. The frame-rate is smooth and the graphics quite impressive, but it's not quite as fast or comprehensive as TimeSplitters 2.
Jimmy Francis
// Overview
Verdict
A big, challenging game with some excellent levels. Although the multiplayer isn't amazing, you'll miss out if you brush RFII aside.
The first level sets you down in some deep doo-doo. Pumped full of testosterone and ready to roll, you are dropped into hell with only a gun and some grenades for company. You must gain access to the nano-technology which drives you and your squad members, and do a lotta killing on the way. It's the highest-tempo level in the game and the perfect introduction to the mayhem to follow...
Blow out the coolant pipes and grab the nano-technology
Clear the area of enemy scum. Blow out the towers fast to fulfil your objectives
Wait for your buddies to blow out the warehouse door, then you can storm the building
Make your way through the ventilation shafts to reach a new area and more victims
// Changing Rooms
Fancy a bit of home improvement? Due to the huge number of explosions in the game, you can enter a room that looks beautiful, and leave it in a state that will make the cleaners fume.
That’s much better! Cut the room down to the bare essentials
No Llewellyn-Bowen frills in here, but it has a nice modern style
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