Red Faction: Guerrilla (or Crackdown 1.5) is a blast

Is it me or is Red Faction: Guerrilla more than a little reminiscent of old favourite, Crackdown?!? Bear with me here...

Swap the bustling metropolis of the latter for a dusty brown, debris strewn Martian landscape... and you've got a sandbox game that takes you on a journey of mass destruction, armed with all manner of big guns, to take down the bad guys and make the world a safer place!

And to top it off, it seems to be narrated by the same fella!

It was his serious tone that spewed from my speakers last night when I realized I'd been playing Red Faction for several hours and had quite lost all sense of time.

There's something huuuuugely satisfying about smashing the hell out of stuff and that's exactly what you're tasked to do in your bid to rid the world of that nasty lot that go by the name of the EDF (Earth Defence Force).

This game is all about blowing stuff up - whether it's with explosives, powerful laser cannons or your trusty old hammer (!). The real selling point is the rather nifty Geomod 2.0 physics engine that makes you consider exactly how you're going to wreak destruction. Before long, you'll be frequently asking yourself "should I place a bomb or two on these walls over here, or knock down the foundations over there to make the building collapse?". Inspired!

By completing various tasks, you weaken the EDF's hold on a region, which eventually results in them scarpering for pastures new. Equally fun though is the fact you've got to raise morale in each area - achieved by ripping down propaganda signs or wrecking your enemy's properties.

I've been roaming the sandy landscape for a couple of nights now and have so far only ventured into four of the six districts. From what I've seen to date, I can understand the criticisms levelled at the game for the uninspiring graphics, weak story and linear mission design... but it's done little to dampen my enjoyment. You get to blow stuff up after all!!!

Anyway, I'd best get back to it - I've just worked out how I'm going to destroy a bridge! At least it's keeping me busy while I wait for the true Crackdown sequel...

(Photo credit: THQInsider)