It's always great to overthrow a government or rebel against authority in a video game. And while this is one of the few concepts that can always be counted on as a sure-fire hit, Red Faction 2 has much more than mere premise going for it. Beginning with its graphics, it's obvious that even if the game hasn't been overhauled, it has definitely been tweaked for peak performance.
Those who have played the PS2 version will note that Red Faction 2 looks much more crisp and defined on Microsoft's system. There aren't any major differences between the two, ala Splinter Cell, and Red Faction 2 has always been a graphically sound title. That said, having put the PS2, GC, and Xbox versions on at the same time, and after switching between them on the fly with an AV selector, I can tell you that the Xbox version is the edition of choice for videophiles.
The most significant improvements come in the controls, though I am not sure how much of this is inherent to the game, and how much can be accredited to the Controller S, which is what they give you to play console FPS titles in heaven. Red Faction 2 was made for the Controller S, much like Halo. What often seemed clunky and unbalanced on the PS2 moves like a dream on Xbox. Once again, the Xbox controller proves its unwavering worth for first person shooters. As a result, Red Faction 2 now seems more like a test of your skill, rather than a constant scramble to pick up the next health kit. Also improved are the "on rails" sections – again, this goes back to the increased clarity of the visuals and the ease of use of the Controller S, but the tedium of these shooter levels has been replaced by fun, since you can now accurately move your aiming reticule, as well as clearly differentiate friend from foe.
Perhaps the improved control is primarily to thank, but whatever the reason, Red Faction 2 is far more enjoyable in multiplayer this time around, and for straight deathmatch action, it doesn't get any better than this…not even in Halo. Screw the Warthog and sniper whores; there is nothing more satisfying than loading the grenade launcher as your default weapon with 4 friends and bots of varying skill, then wreaking havoc on each other. Good stuff.
Red Faction delivers, in my opinion, the most rock solid FPS experience on Xbox since Halo. What was good on PS2 is great on the black behemoth, and those who own one should check it out.
-George
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