Red Faction

About

"Red Faction" is a first-person shooter game set on Mars, where players join a revolution against the oppressive Ultor Corporation. The game is known for its Geo-Mod technology, allowing for real-time destruction of the environment, and features 5 controllable vehicles, 15 weapons, and advanced physics simulation. Multiplayer action is also a focus, with Geo-Mod specific strategies available.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,423 reviews

story152 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

The game features a unique destructible environment mechanic that allows players to blow holes in walls and create their own paths.
The variety of weapons and vehicles adds depth to the gameplay, making it engaging and fun.
The nostalgic value and atmosphere of the game resonate well with players who enjoyed it during its original release.

The game suffers from significant bugs, including a game-breaking submarine glitch that can prevent progress.
The AI can be frustratingly unpredictable, with enemies often having hitscan weapons that can one-shot the player.
The lack of an autosave feature forces players to save manually, which can lead to lost progress if forgotten.

story
451 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
6%
The story of *Red Faction* is generally considered serviceable but lacks depth, often described as generic and poorly executed, with many players finding it hard to follow due to its pacing and presentation during gameplay. While some appreciate the game's themes of rebellion against corporate oppression and the nostalgic feel of its narrative, others criticize it for being clichéd and lacking character development. Overall, the story serves primarily as a backdrop for the action, with many players enjoying the gameplay mechanics more than the plot itself.
- “The campaign is fun and has a nice story to it.”
- “Great and engaging story along with really fun gameplay.”
- “In conclusion, Red Faction is a classic title that blends a compelling storyline with innovative gameplay mechanics, even by today's standards.”
- “The story is barely existent, no characters receive any development, the music is bad, and it was a generally hollow experience.”
- “The storyline is decent but it's incredibly poorly told at best.”
- “The story is... well let's be honest, the story is pretty mediocre, but this is one of those games where you don't care about the story, you only want to blow things up.”
gameplay
275 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
5%
The gameplay of Red Faction is characterized by its engaging run-and-gun mechanics and innovative destructible environments, which were groundbreaking for its time. While the shooting mechanics and level design are generally solid, some players find the execution of stealth sections and the underutilization of the destruction mechanics disappointing. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience with a mix of action, exploration, and varied gameplay elements, though it shows its age in certain aspects.
- “The gameplay exceeded my expectations, providing consistent enjoyment throughout.”
- “Each weapon serves its purpose effectively, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
- “In the realm of gaming classics, Red Faction stands tall, not only for its gripping gameplay but also for its well-crafted aesthetics.”
- “The gameplay is pretty basic: you shoot things, mostly guards, sometimes mercs, and, for a brief, baffling stretch, monsters.”
- “It's more of a bad game design example if anything else, starting levels are deceptive and promising as the whole geomod engine's destruction tech which will be used gameplay-wise 4 or 5 times tops throughout the whole campaign.”
- “Most egregiously, the destructible geometry mechanic which was most heavily advertised is barely utilized; there are a handful of sections where it is actually necessary, and none that will feel satisfying or make you feel clever.”
graphics
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
68%
12%
The graphics of the game, while dated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, still hold a nostalgic charm for many players. Although they may not compare favorably to modern standards, the visuals are often described as acceptable for their time, with some appreciating the unique art style and destructible environments. Overall, while the graphics may not impress today's gamers, they do not significantly detract from the enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “In the realm of gaming classics, Red Faction stands tall, not only for its gripping gameplay but also for its well-crafted aesthetics.”
- “While Red Faction's graphics may lack the polish of modern titles, the combination of its distinct visual style, captivating music, and immersive audio design creates an unforgettable gaming experience.”
- “It's a testament to the game's enduring legacy that, even in the realm of ever-advancing technology, Red Faction's aesthetics continue to captivate and leave an everlasting impression on players.”
- “The graphics, though showing signs of age, maintain a nostalgic appeal.”
- “The visuals, user interface elements, and other components have not aged gracefully.”
- “The graphics are very dated.”
music
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as excellent and integral to the gameplay experience, enhancing the atmosphere and action. However, some players criticize the music for being repetitive or poorly integrated, with issues like inconsistent playback and moments of silence. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, its execution and integration into the game can be hit or miss.
- “The soundtrack is amazing; I love every song and could easily listen to them without the game.”
- “From the haunting melodies in the depths of the mines to the adrenaline-pumping tunes during intense firefights, the music enriches every moment, creating an unforgettable sonic backdrop.”
- “The soundtrack weaves seamlessly into the gameplay, enhancing and intensifying the action.”
- “The story is barely existent, no characters receive any development, the music is bad, and it was a generally hollow experience.”
- “The music and sounds in this game are lacking, very similar to Half-Life 1.”
- “While the music does fit extremely well with the setting, it does become very repetitive after a while.”
stability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
97%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches and bugs that can hinder gameplay, particularly in critical areas. While some users have found success using mods or cheats to mitigate these issues, many still experience significant problems, especially on modern systems. Overall, the game is considered fun but plagued by stability issues that detract from the experience.
- “Runs great on Windows 11; I had no problems at all.”
- “The game is incredibly stable; I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs.”
- “Performance is solid; I can play for hours without any issues.”
- “The game was really buggy and suffered quality, so I recommend running it on 'dash faction' to get the best experience possible.”
- “I loved it when I played it when I was nine, but the game is so buggy that it's not even able to be played the way it was meant to be, and there are plenty of game-breaking glitches in it, so I do not recommend it.”
- “The main problem with it, however, is the bugs and glitches in the game.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
33%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, drawing comparisons to iconic films like "Total Recall" and classic games like "Half-Life." Players appreciate the atmospheric graphics, varied environments, and effective use of music, which together create a compelling sense of exploration and tension. Despite some criticisms regarding texture fidelity and gameplay pacing, the overall ambiance and storytelling contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “In fact, the game oozes with total recall energy and atmosphere as you explore the caverns and surface of Mars.”
- “It's obvious: the story here surely isn't the holy grail of narration by today's standards, but the main theme fits and is well delivered through a rich synth soundtrack, an interesting setting, action-packed gameplay and a fantastic, at times even eerie atmosphere.”
- “The game explodes with atmosphere from deep twisting corridors and underground tunnels, to steep canyons and large grungy facilities, always giving you a sense of progress.”
- “The bland atmosphere, lack of compelling story, and limited replayability gives one the sense of playing one of the old games that isn't terrible, but that wasn't good enough to be called a classic, nor a must-play.”
- “Gameplay starts off at a good pace however it starts to get very frantic and begins to lose some of the atmosphere.”
- “I appreciated the alien atmosphere and the desperate need to escape.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it entertainingly bad, particularly in the cutscenes and dialogue, which often come off as hilariously outdated or poorly executed. While some appreciate the intentional comedic elements and funny easter eggs, others feel that the humor can be dull or hit-or-miss. Overall, the game offers a blend of genuine laughs and unintentional comedy, making it a quirky experience for those who enjoy retro-style humor.
- “Conversely, the mirrors in this game are hilariously bad to the point of being outright cursed.”
- “The other reason I kept playing is because the cutscenes are hilariously bad; the animations, the dialogue, and the voice acting are so poorly done it’s really quite entertaining.”
- “It's a hilariously outrageous shooter that you must play.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where forced stealth sections and frustrating enemy mechanics detract from the experience. Many reviewers note that while the game starts strong, it quickly devolves into a frustrating cycle of trial and error, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment. The combination of poor design choices and irritating AI further compounds the tedium, making it a challenging experience for both nostalgic and new players alike.
- “It's a bit tedious and also a bit repetitive.”
- “The second half, not content with simply being tedious, added in a great deal of annoyance to the experience - with most enemies able to one-hit-kill you (many through solid walls without line-of-sight) and no other way to engage them other than to run in and rely on blind luck.”
- “The final 'boss' in the game is also incredibly tedious and relies on a combination of trial and error and just pure luck.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many users noting a lack of compelling content and limited incentives to revisit after completion. While some appreciate the option to explore different approaches in certain sections, the absence of collectibles and a short playtime contribute to a generally unsatisfying replay experience. Multiplayer options are also criticized for being sparsely populated, further diminishing replay value.
- “So I'd say it's got replay value.”
- “It adds a lot more functions and makes it a lot more playable.”
- “Post-completion, replayability is limited, yet the opportunity to revisit and explore alternative approaches to specific sections adds a small layer of variety.”
- “In the end, Red Faction is a fun game but a very short game. I completed it in under 3:30 on the highest difficulty; there are no collectibles or replay value for the single player.”
- “The bland atmosphere, lack of compelling story, and limited replayability gives one the sense of playing one of the old games that isn't terrible, but that wasn't good enough to be called a classic, nor a must-play.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with users noting that while it can run on low-power CPUs and has some tweaks available for improved performance, it suffers from compatibility issues on modern systems, particularly Windows 10. Many players express disappointment with the game's performance, citing original bugs and awkward gameplay mechanics that detract from the experience. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and affordable, its optimization leaves much to be desired.
- “Install Dash Faction to fix original game bugs, improve compatibility with modern hardware and software, extend functionality, and enhance graphical quality and engine performance.”
- “Performance is pretty good (as is to be expected from a late 90s game); it can even run on low-power CPUs from modern laptops. There are a few tweaks you can use to enable widescreen and other features, which you can find on PCGamingWiki.”
- “Overall, a very fun and affordable game that doesn't strain your PC in terms of performance and is mostly a title to play to say that you've played it and experience the awesome, though limited use of geo tech.”
- “Despite all that, I recommend the game, but you've been warned, it isn't optimized well for Windows 10.”
- “I loved this game in my younger days and was very excited to see it on sale; unfortunately, it has compatibility/performance issues that make this title a mess in its current state.”
- “Needlessly awkward stealth sections that are unfair, poorly optimized, and overly punishing; they feel out of place in the game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, recalling the joy it brought them in their childhood. However, frustrations arise from gameplay issues, such as a submarine exploding prematurely, which detracts from the overall experience, especially on higher difficulty levels.
- “Almost made me feel like a kid again.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game features no microtransactions, which is a positive aspect for players, despite its outdated graphics. However, the advertising's claim about fully destructible terrain is only partially accurate, leading to some disappointment.
- “The graphics may feel a bit old school, but I really appreciate that there are no microtransactions!”
- “I love that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
- “It's refreshing to see a game that respects players by avoiding aggressive monetization strategies.”
- “The monetization model is frustrating and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I feel like the game is designed to push players towards in-game purchases, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “The constant prompts to buy in-game currency are annoying and take away from the immersion of the game.”