Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

40 to 100 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Immersive"

Red Faction is one of the most foundational games of the FPS genre, whether people today like to admit it or not. It introduced a plethora of features that surprised many people who had never seen things like destructible terrain and multiple play styles in an FPS.

In my opinion, the best part of the game is the mars atmosphere. Just the thought of being on mars is pretty cool, so when I first played Red Faction I was in awe at the depth and "feeling" of the game. Ambient sounds and an almost constant narrative throughout the game keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Here are a few random facts about the game:

There are multiple weapon types, one of which allows you to see heat signatures and kill enemies through walls.
You can tunnel your way through walls and solid ground by using explosives or by operating a digging vehicle.
You wear an "envirosuit", which acts as body armor and allows you to breathe underwater indefinitely.
Throughout the game you will control numerous vehicles including trucks, submarines and aircraft. You can also operate fixed guns.
There is a lot of good ol' gory action, as well as a few stealth missions reminiscent of Splinter Cell.
I have found a few hidden areas by tunneling through random cave walls just out of curiosity.
If you attach a remote explosive to an enemy, they will run around screaming and waving their arms. It's hilarious.

The game is still a lot of fun to me, even after playing it off and on for nearly 8 years. So yeah, if you haven't played it, play it. :)