GENRE
	First-Person Shooter
	DEVELOPER
	Cranky Pants Games
	PUBLISHER
	THQ
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
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THQ has brought yet another successful title over to the GameCube. After Volition’s Summoner: A Goddess Reborn comes Red Faction II, a first-person shooter which made it’s original debut, much like other Volition titles, on the PS2. With the help of Cranky Pants Games, Cube gamers can finally experience one of the best shooters of last year.

Red Faction II is your basic first-person shooter but the visuals are nicely detailed and the play mechanics can be just plain fun. While it follows the path of your average linear shooter, you can have a blast getting from A to B (no pun intended). The controls are a bit on the loose side which can be expected with a GameCube controller, but with a bit of practice, you’ll be getting headshots in no time.

visuals

The graphics found in the original Red Faction left a bit to be desired. However, Volition took their past attempts to heart and did what every great developer should do: expand. The character models have twice the detail and flexibility as they had in the past. They move smoothly with very little chop, which makes for a surprisingly excellent visual experience.

The level design is complex and it can be extremely easy to become lost. However, it’s better to approach a more open-ended environment rather than the linear path one would follow in the original. Thankfully there are plenty of areas that let you explore rather than search every nook and cranny for the exit. Most levels are generic in design but they aren’t completely simplistic.

audio

The best aspect of the sound has to be the effects. The weapons sound amazingly realistic and work for the game as a whole. While some aspects of the sound effects are minor, the overall sound of bullets wizzing by your head is enough to make you squirm with glee. The voice effects show their own potential during radio conversations as you traverse the deep underground levels. To understand what your cohorts are saying, you must move to a better transmission range, otherwise you’re stuck with static.

The music in the original Red Faction was easily the best feature of the entire title. While it may not be the best aspect in this case, it is definitely just as amazing. The feel of the title, the purpose of the characters, the depth of the action are all fully realized within the game’s powerful musical score.

The voice acting in Red Faction II is surprisingly well done. Even more of a surprise is that the voices were actually provided by professional actors such as Lance Hendrickson (Aliens, Every Other Videogame) and Jason Statham (Snatch, The Italian Job). Thankfully, these actors have given the characters portrayed enough depth to breathe life into the loose script. One can only hope that the next attempt will feature both excellent storytelling with an excellent cast as well.

gameplay

Red Faction II is a brilliant game which uses an extremely nifty development tool called “Geo-Mod”. Geo-Mod allows the player to nearly completely destroy the environment around them. Can’t get around that door? Blast a hole through the side and you’ve got your own personal entrance. The weapon selection is incredible ranging from several different rifles to a delightful variety of “gib-you-in-your-face” weapons. Most any of these items can get the job done in a matter of seconds.

As mentioned earlier, the controls can be a bit on the wonky side. If you’ve played a first-person shooter on the GameCube (you know what counts and what doesn’t), you’ll know what to expect. Not quite the precise controls of an Xbox or PS2 title and far from your garden variety “mouselook” way of life on the PC. While it takes a bit to learn the control schemes, it becomes second nature once you do. Well, more like third nature, but the title can still be extremely fun.

multiplayer

Like most first-person shooters, the multiplayer modes make the game that much better. The same pertains to Red Faction II which offers many different multiplayer modes such as CTF and your classic Deathmatch. What makes RFII deathmatch different from any other title is that the environment is completely destructible. A rocket could fly past your head and crash into a wall, creating a massive crater of an impact which could have easily been sprayed with your brains. Always a pleasant thought.

overall

Red Faction II is easily one of the best first-person shooter titles on the Nintendo GameCube so far. The game is fun, action-packed and offers much more bang for the buck than other first-person shooters on the console. With impressive visuals, landmark play mechanics, and multiplayer mayhem, this title is easily recommended for the violence-tolerant. If you haven’t picked it up on another system already, grab this one now.

9.2/10