There have already been a number of quality first person shooters on the Playstation 2 format, but not one was able to deliver a rock-solid single-player experience. As odd as it sounds considering consoles at this point are primarily single person experiences, the fact of the matter is no matter how good Timesplitters or Quake is, there is little for a person to do on his or her own. Fortunately, Volition and THQ have addressed this issue clearly with it's excellent FPS Red Faction. I was beginning to wonder if there was going to ever be a FPS experience in the leagues of Golden Eye and Half-Life. From the creators of the award-winning Descent and FreeSpace series comes Red Faction, the first person shooter that essentially puts an end to the clones and stagnant technology that currently plagues the genre. Many gamers have imagined what it would to be like to unleash weapons not only on enemies but on the environment itself. With that in mind, Red Faction introduces "Geo-Mode" technology - real-time, arbitrary geometry modification capability that drastically enhances realism and diversity of gameplay.

Graphics
The visual experience in Red Faction is a demonstration of what we can come to expect in the second generation of PS2 titles. The areas are beautiful and massive in nature. While there is a goal to achieve, getting there has a few options including the Geo-Mode technology which allows you to blast your way through walls, floors and ceilings. The textures are tight and the game mostly blazes along at 60 frames per second refresh rate. Add to this spectacular explosions that showcase some nice lighting effects and the PS2's ability to handle particle effects clearly. Unfortunately, there are a few instances where the PS2 can not handle all of the visual effects at once and as a result some slowdown is evident. It is rarely an issue in terms of gameplay but some FPS hardcore fans demand speed at all times. The character models leave a lot to be desired but still are convincing enough to further the enticing story and events take place. It would have been nice to have had some CG or game engine cut scenes to push the storytelling even further.

Sound
There has not been a successful aural experience in a FPS for sometime. Red Faction shatters the aural experience by having high quality explosive and weapons sound effects, effective and moody soundtrack and very believable voice talent throughout the entire game. The soundtrack consists of some very dark pieces that fit ever so nicely with the dark environments and onscreen chaos in some areas.

Gameplay
Red Faction's variety in gameplay and interesting weapons are its main strengths. Missions range from chaotic battles in armored vehicles to covert operations. While the armored vehicle sequences and search and destroy missions are solid, the couple of covert operations are a bit unpolished in terms of gameplay balance. In these missions, you must try to stay a safe distance away from enemy soldiers, workers and cameras. The problem is the safe distance greatly varies and as a result the covert operation quickly turns into a unwanted battle. Tightening these covert operations would have pushed the score a bit higher. The weapons, most of which are standard for the genre, offer a few unique features. For example, the Rail Driver and Fusion Rocket Launcher enable you to lock on and kill enemies through walls and doors. Again, thanks to the Geo-Mode technology, such actions can be utilized quite easily and effectively. Nothing is more satisfying than blowing a hole in a wall and taking out the guy on the other side.
The addition of the ability to hi-jack and take control of 5 fully armed land, sea and air vehicles propels the gameplay to new heights. While other games have had similar abilities, they were unsuccessful at making them worthy of the idea. Volition on the other hand has take great care to ensure their addition is meaningful and very playable.
More has to be said about Geo-Mod technology. At the simplest level, the Geo-Mod Engine creates a much more realistic world because players have the ability to blast holes and destroy buildings. It also adds new layers of strategic gameplay absent in all other first person shooters. With the Geo-Mod engine, the world becomes a weapon, it's up to you how to use it. For example: Destroy enemy cover by annihilating walls and bunkers, sending enemies in search of alternate cover. Flank and surprise enemies by creating new paths they hadn't thought to defend. Annihilate bridges as hordes of enemies attempt to cross. Crush unsuspecting enemies by collapsing a guard tower or shooting stalactites from the ceiling. Be prepared for the AI to use geo mods against you too. By far this technology rocks! One of my favorite scenes comes early in the game where you take control of a ultra machine gun nailed to the floor. Unleashing firepower from this puppy allowed me to clear an entire room of enemies while blowing holes in walls to get the reserves, and then walking around the mass destruction you have left is pure sweetness. Just imagine walking the hall after the shooting spree scene in The Matrix.
A minor complaint about the controls, the auto-aiming feature is not as precise as it could have been. It tends to aim at the enemies chest, which causes problems in the latter stages of the game where most enemies where flack jackets. As a result, a lot of ammunition has to be used in cases where you are trying to conserve. A nice auto-aim on the head would have been more effective. Beyond the auto-aim discrepancy, controlling the game is quite easy and user friendly.

Value
The focus of Red Faction is definitely on the one-player experience. The game has a completely immersive and compelling storyline that spans over 20 vast levels. Unfortunately, the two-player experience feels like a tacked on afterthought. While there are some interesting options available, the arenas are quite pale in comparison to Quake or Unreal. The absence of vehicles in the two-player mode is also disappointing. If it is a solid one-player experience you are looking for then Red Faction is the game for you. The game should take you around 20 to 30 hours to fully explore and complete. Multiplayer experiences are still best suited for Quake and Unreal.

Final Word
Red Faction represents what can be done both on the PS2 and with FPS in general. Framed by impressive features including Geo-Mod engine, controllable vehicles, intense graphics, mind-blowing weapons, unique natural environments and a hugely involving storyline, Red Faction is one kick-ass ride. Both FPS veterans and new comers will enjoy the ride. Be sure not to miss this one!