Red Faction II

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In Red Fiction II, set in a dystopian 22nd century Earth, players join a team of super-soldiers with nanotechnology, seeking to overthrow the oppressive dictator Sopot and his government. As demolitions expert Alias, leading a diverse team, each with unique destructive abilities, players navigate various levels using an array of weapons and vehicles in their mission to restore peace.

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

Reviews

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 554 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

story52 negative mentions

The game features a variety of weapons and enjoyable gunplay, making combat engaging.
The destructible environments, while limited, add a fun element to gameplay.
The voice acting, including performances by Jason Statham and Lance Henriksen, adds some charm to the characters.

The story is weak and disconnected from the first game, making it feel like a different title altogether.
The game is short, with a campaign that can be completed in just a few hours.
The level design is linear and often confusing, with many areas feeling bland and uninspired.

story
260 mentions
14 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The story in "Red Faction II" is widely criticized for being weak, predictable, and poorly connected to its predecessor, with many reviewers noting that it lacks character development and coherence. While some appreciate its cheesy, B-movie charm, the overall consensus is that the narrative feels rushed and uninspired, failing to engage players or provide a meaningful continuation of the original game's plot. Despite its attempts at introducing new elements and characters, the storyline is often described as forgettable and lacking depth, making it a significant downgrade from the first game.
- “One of my favorite things about this game is how much it feels like a weird 1990s sci-fi B-movie; the game introduces a dozen distinct characters between supporters of the titular Red Faction and some antagonists, and basically gives everyone like three or four lines of character or plot exposition at most through the entire game, yet the game still treats the characters like people you are supposed to remember and care about.”
- “The story is set in the year 2075, where players take on the role of Prometheus, a genetically enhanced super soldier who must take down a corrupt regime and its leader.”
- “While the story may not be groundbreaking, it is still enjoyable and adds depth to the game.”
- “The pacing is just awful and the characters and storyline are horrendous.”
- “The story is a mess.”
- “The story is weak and the characters are forgettable.”
graphics
103 mentions
14 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics in Red Faction II have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear worse than those in the original game, despite some minor improvements. While the game features a gritty art style and enhanced character models, it suffers from dated visuals that do not hold up well against contemporary standards. Overall, the graphical presentation is seen as a significant downgrade from its predecessor, with many players expressing disappointment in the lack of innovation and detail.
- “The graphics in Red Faction II are impressive, with detailed environments and smooth character animations.”
- “The graphics are a step up from the first game and it easily runs on modern systems.”
- “It's a fun, explosive first-person shooter with great graphics for its age.”
- “The graphics are awful even for the time, and arguably a downgrade from the predecessor.”
- “Red Faction II is a very poorly written sequel with downgraded graphics from the original game.”
- “The graphics, somehow, seem worse than in the original game, even though it was made later.”
gameplay
102 mentions
21 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Red Faction 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant downgrade from its predecessor, Red Faction 1. Critics highlight issues such as clunky controls, uninspired level design, and a lack of engaging mechanics, leading to repetitive and boring gameplay experiences. However, some players appreciate the improved shooting mechanics and the fun multiplayer mode, suggesting that while the game has its flaws, it can still provide enjoyable moments, particularly in its destructible environments and varied weaponry.
- “Its exhilarating gameplay and captivating mechanics never fail to entertain.”
- “The dual fire mechanisms and fluid movement mechanics truly elevate the gaming experience.”
- “The gameplay in Red Faction II is intense and satisfying.”
- “Clunky gameplay and a sloppy storyline and characters.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are really dull and the combat gets very boring in a hurry.”
- “Gameplay is stale because of the uninspired level design and player involvement, and the way combat works doesn't really make it better either.”
music
24 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a mix of reused tracks from the first installment and new compositions, with some players praising the blend of electronic and orchestral elements that enhance the sci-fi atmosphere and action. While the soundtrack is generally considered decent, with a few standout tracks, some players find it forgettable outside the game context. Overall, the music complements the gameplay well, though opinions vary on its overall impact and memorability.
- “The musical score of Red Faction 2 complements the game's high-octane action and futuristic setting.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Dan Wentz, blends electronic and orchestral elements to create an adrenaline-pumping backdrop for intense firefights and dramatic story moments.”
- “The music dynamically responds to in-game events, boosting the emotional impact during pivotal scenes.”
- “Music is mostly reused from the first game.”
- “Music and gun sounds are nothing to write home about.”
- “The music is overall average with a couple of tracks that are pretty great, and the guns are more fun to use than in the previous game.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its lighthearted tone and funny moments, particularly in the dialogue and character interactions. While it lacks the charm of its predecessor, it offers a more enjoyable experience with its absurdities, such as the ineptitude of enemies and the overall silly premise. However, some reviewers feel that the humor could have been improved, noting that it often elicits laughter more from its flaws than intentional comedic elements.
- “Its funny that the bad guy tells you that these new soldiers are better and you are obsolete but then you see them running in circles in front of you.”
- “The funny thing about this game is the fact that it is actually more enjoyable to play with a controller than keyboard and mouse.”
- “Funny and stupid shooter game, has a perfect rent from blockbuster feel to it.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the effective sound design and sci-fi soundtrack that enhance the experience, while others criticize the lack of depth and cohesion compared to the original title. The visuals suffer from poor shading and texture quality, detracting from the overall ambiance, and the absence of certain gameplay elements diminishes the tension and immersive qualities that contributed to the atmosphere in previous installments. Overall, while there are standout moments and engaging level design, the atmosphere fails to consistently captivate players.
- “The sound design effectively captures the chaos of battle, with gunfire, explosions, and the clatter of debris contributing to a visceral and dynamic atmosphere.”
- “For me, one of the key elements of Red Faction's atmosphere was Mars, where the journey was taking place.”
- “Sound effects are greatly improved, with a more crisp and varied quality, and the gloomy, dystopian soundscapes enhance the overall atmosphere.”
- “There are major drawbacks to the PC version such as lack of enemy health bars and poor shading and atmosphere.”
- “It has naught but a semblance of the original and is overall badly written; the voice acting is horrendous, and the game lacks any type of atmosphere.”
- “Example is below - which has aged like an elephant's wrinkly buttocks. The texturing shows its beauty at the beginning of the game and slowly but surely starts to dwindle fast in sharpness, saturation, and atmosphere, consisting of shades of brown with a layer of fog for bad measure, probably to mask pop-up on long distance rendering.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with a score of 2.5/10, primarily due to a lack of engaging single-player content and collectibles. While multiplayer against bots offers some replay options, many players feel that the overall experience does not encourage repeated playthroughs.
- “The score and time attack features significantly enhance the replay value.”
- “Despite my opinion that the story is lacking compared to Red Faction 1, the game still offers a level of replayability.”
- “Content/replayability: 2.5/10”
- “You can play multiplayer against bots...because single player, unless you want to replay this again, has no replayability, no collectibles, or anything of the sort.”
- “This really affects the replayability of the game.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally criticized for being rushed and superficial, leading to a lack of emotional connection with the protagonists. While some improvements over previous titles are noted, the overall execution is hampered by a fast-paced storyline that undermines meaningful character arcs.
- “Better character development than the first Red Faction.”
- “The character development allows for a deeper connection to the protagonists.”
- “The character design is impressive and adds depth to the overall experience.”
- “The story feels rushed, and character development takes a hit, preventing a deeper connection to the protagonists.”
- “The storyline and character development are hideous.”
- “It's also too short and too fast, so when the game tries to have even the slightest form of character development, it falls flat on its face, since 5 minutes later you gotta kill your former allies (whom you've just met).”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the introduction of bullet sponge enemies that prolong battles without adding enjoyment. The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and lacking the engaging fun that characterized earlier titles, leading to a sense of monotony and irritation rather than excitement. Overall, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the game's enjoyment.
- “About halfway through, most of the enemy types switch to incredibly tedious and annoying bullet sponges that are simply not fun to fight.”
- “They go on for so long and are so boring it is ridiculous. We only control a submarine and a walking mech, then we are gunners for a tank and a plane. All sections are boring, long, and tedious.”
- “Who cares if the level design is linear or if the graphics don't hold up to 2016's standards? This game was made in 2003, back when, for the most part, games were something more than repetitious grinding for a cosmetic item or playing the same match over and over again for a whole day or more just to advance a single rank. This was back when games were about mindless fun you could pick up and play without having to worry about anything but beating that one pain in the ass level with nothing but the tools at hand and maybe a few hidden power-ups along the way.”
emotional
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its dynamic music that enhances pivotal moments, though it is often undermined by a cheesy story and characters that evoke frustration rather than genuine emotion. While some players find nostalgia in its 90's style, others feel that the overall execution, including gameplay and graphics, detracts from any emotional engagement.
- “The music dynamically responds to in-game events, boosting the emotional impact during pivotal scenes.”
- “This game's story, characters, and voice acting are so horrifically cheesy that it makes me want to cry.”
- “This game is so 90's that it makes me want to cry sometimes.”
- “The game fails to evoke any real emotions, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their struggles.”
- “Despite its attempts at emotional depth, the narrative feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to care about the outcomes.”
- “The emotional moments are poorly executed, resulting in a lack of impact that leaves players feeling indifferent.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and a frustrating checkpoint/save system that only activates after death. Many players find themselves relying on glitches to progress, indicating significant issues with gameplay consistency and reliability. Overall, the game's technical shortcomings detract from the experience, despite some players still enjoying it.
- “This game sucks mega ass, enemies respawn constantly, the story doesn't make sense, the game is buggy, the environment is boring, and don't even get me started on the checkpoint/save system - the checkpoints are only available to use after you die, not when continuing a game while saving your game does nothing since you don't even have a load game option.”
- “The boss battles aren't that great either since I needed to rely on bugs and glitches most of the time to win the boss fight.”
- “Buggy, crashy but still a fantastic game.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is described as semi-stable, with some stuttering issues, but it generally runs smoothly without game-breaking bugs. However, players note that it performs worse than its predecessor, suffering from poor performance on modern systems and various design flaws that detract from the overall experience.
- “The only positive thing I found in this game is that I didn't encounter game-breaking bugs, unlike the first one, where I had to force a 30fps limit with mods to pass certain sections. This time, there are no performance issues, and the game runs smoothly.”
- “Though this widescreen mod does cause some stuttering, so I would say this game is semi-unstable but playable.”
- “Somehow RF 2 is worse than RF 1, despite having arguably better gunplay and weapons, but the even weaker narrative, the many on-rails sections, the confusing level design and the constantly respawning enemies as well as the inability to save the game at any point (granted the checkpoints aren't far apart, but still, no skipping cutscenes, etc.) and the bad performance on modern systems make me not recommend it.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers criticize "Red Faction 2" for its monetization strategy, suggesting that the game feels like a cash grab capitalizing on the success of its predecessor. The touted "revamped" geo-mod system is seen as overly simplified, further contributing to the perception that the game prioritizes profit over quality.
- “The story is subpar and it is obvious this game was just created as a cash grab after the success of the original.”
- “Red Faction 2 claims a 'revamped' geo-mod system, which is a bit of a laugh since it's even more simplified here, really only letting you blow through the occasional wall during a firefight and once again the series' signature feature feels more like an advertising point.”