[Joeiss]

Red Faction 2

From www.redfaction2.com (features of the game) -

Earth. Twenty-second century. Five years after the rebellion on Mars.

For 15 years, Chancellor Victor Sopot has oppressed the people of the Commonwealth. His corrupt rule and a relentless war of unification with the United Republic has left the Commonwealth bloodied and impoverished. As distant battles rage, sewage taints Sopot City's rivers, pollution smudges the sky, and wretched citizens huddle in crumbling ruins. The Public Information Building, built by the dictator as a tribute to himself, broadcasts lies about Sopot's bravery and the Commonwealth's military victories.

Condemned to death by Chancellor Sopot, six super-soldiers unite to save their country, vowing to overthrow Sopot using the unique powers that nano-technology has given them. Join the squad as Alias, a demolitions expert. Fight side-by-side with Molov, Repta, Shrike, Tangier, and Quill--each possessing unique attributes and specialties. Battle through diverse environments using vehicles, an arsenal of specialized weapons, and explosives in a mission to overthrow the government. Defeat Sopot and restore the honor of the Commonwealth!

-Revamped Geo-Mod engine
- the only FPS with real-time, arbitrary geometry modification.
-All-new storyline & characters
- fight as a member of an elite squad of six.
-Enhanced graphics and prerendered cutscenes for a completely immersive experience.
-Utilize four varied vehicles in combat, including a tank, a hover flyer and a submarine.
-Acquire superior firepower from multiple boss battles
-14 specialized weapons of mass destruction, including dual-handed pistols and machine guns.
-All-new inventory of useful items
- health kits, night vision goggles, numerous grenades and more.
-Stealth, puzzle solving and action-oriented objectives.
-Advanced AI behavior
- AI works in squads and reacts realistically to events.
-High replay value due to multiple endings based on player actions.
-4 player mode
- split screen death match and create your own bots.
-USB keyboard/mouse support.


From IGN (preview) -

Five years after the rebellion on Mars, THQ has returned to action. As a demolitions expert named Alias, your mission is to meet up with your five specialist squad members and dethrone the powerful dictator Sopot. After 15 years of a ruthless and merciless reign, it's time to end the bloodshed and bring peace to his oppressed people; and so begins the storyline behind Volition, Inc.'s next first-person shooter, Red Faction 2.

Building on the groundbreaking Geo-Mod engine that allowed players to alter and destroy different areas of the game environment in real time, Red Faction 2 is trying to outdo the original in just about every way. Instead of tossing in the ability to destroy your surroundings as a novelty, it will become an integral part of solving puzzles and finding items from level to level. Not to mention the additional elements that can now be manipulated that couldn't have been in the original.

Weapons will be just as powerful as ever, with everything from grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and rail drivers to the brand-new dual-handed weapons and grenades. 15 in all, the explosion- heavy arsenal is primed to mix a healthy dose of first game guns with new items for the sequel. Accompanied on a much heavier level than before, your five squad companions are now completely autonomous and have particular skills that can be applied to individual missions throughout.

Also new to the mix will be full-on USB keyboard and mouse support. Hoping to reel in the PC addicts perhaps who have stayed away from the majority of console FPS titles over the years, Red Faction 2 should have even tighter control than ever before (not to say that the award winning first edition didn't, since it's considered by many to be one of the most brilliant of the genre to ever appear on a home system).

The other big bonus for returning players has to be the all-new four-player split-screen mode. While details on that particular feature have yet to be revealed (no word yet on what kind of cooperative and competitive modes there will be), we do know that there will be customizable CPU opponents. Similar to the bots we've seen in the online world for years, the reportedly clever A.I. foes are set to emulate human competition extremely well.

Slated for stores this winter, Red Faction 2 is easily one of the most anticipated first-person shooters this year. With multiple mission objectives and game endings, refined graphical polishes and smarter A.I., plus the return of several rail-based vehicles like tanks, hover flyers, and submarines, Volition's heavy hitter is already turning heads. Check back with us later this month from the E3 show floor, for hands-on impressions. See you then.