Andy Ruyter

Red Faction: Guerrilla is a groundbreaking open-world shooter that combines — OK, we've all heard this enough before, so I'm just going to motor ahead and give you my thoughts on the game. I'll start out with pointing out the inevitable flaw in my preview: It's incomplete. I didn't even play the single-player campaign! I suppose I could try to blame others, but alas, it is my fault because the opportunity was offered. Basically, it's because I am a gamer whose sole purpose in life is to play socially. If I can't play a game with my friends, then I don't want to own it. That isn't to say I won't play other games, but when it comes down to it, I still have to force myself to finish games like Fable 2 and Ninja Gaiden. I thrive on the multiplayer, social interaction and working with friends. If you're like me, then Red Faction: Guerrilla is for you.

From the first moment I got my hands on the multiplayer, I was a bit overwhelmed as most of us are when we pop in a new game and throw ourselves into a multiplayer mode that we've never seen before. This mode was one that no one has ever seen before. We've seen buildings being destroyed before, but immediately after destroying it, we had to build it back up again to protect it. That was a new one on me. Although confusing at first, I soon found the Damage Control mode to be quite a riot. In no time, I was yelling back and forth to the teammates seated around the large table: "Watch my back; I'll build it back up!" or "Get to the garage!" I also found time to berate anyone who was dumb enough to get close to my sledgehammer. The backpacks are amazing and add a lot of variety to the way you use weapons. One second, you think you have a guy lined up, and the next thing you know, he's 30 feet above and dropping mines on you.

Capture the Flag was wonderful as usual, as it is one of my favorite game types. I'm going to say something monumental in my book: It brought me back to my days of system link in Halo 1. That is a game that will always live in infamy for me, as I think few games have ever came close to the entertainment and fun factor. Red Faction: Guerrilla is one of the few titles that do.

Siege was also a refreshing mode, as sometimes just having one objective of "kill anyone near my building" was simple and easy, but it could also turn complex in that you have to coordinate multiple attacks and use teamwork to take down buildings before the defense could build them back up.

Wrecking Crew was also innovative and fun, with the only flaw being that it must be played on the same TV as those you are playing against. I think this is a great idea, but I am unsure of how much I'll get to this game mode because I don't close to any gaming friends, but for those who do, this is sure to start some great yelling matches.

I also want to be sure to let everyone know how awesome THQ and Volition's parties are. Being brought into San Francisco like a rock star in a Town Car is a pretty good start. It was a gamer's dream to walk down into a club that had the game showcased on flat screen TVs and be able to meet the developers who had made the game. After some official news and some speeches from Volition and THQ, we were off to play while waiters and waitresses passed out food and drinks. It was very apparent that this was not THQ's first time throwing an "event," as every need was catered to. I spent my night talking to press members and developers, while trying to get as much face time with the game as I could manage.

After all the hype, from someone who thrives on the social aspect of multiplayer games, it is my final answer that Red Faction: Guerrilla is going to be a serious online multiplayer experience. I went to bed that night, and I could not get some of what had happened out of my head. I kept thinking, "What if I try it this way next time?" This game is a canvas, and the player is an artist who is able to do with it what he pleases. If you are looking for a great game to keep you entertained online for the next few months, you have to check out Red Faction: Guerrilla. I'll see you online!

Ron Goff

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I'm still amazed that I won the contest and was able to go all the way from Maine to San Francisco to attend the Red Faction: Guerrilla event. The event was held in a club next to the hotel, and the club had been converted into the ultimate man cave, with dozens and dozens of consoles set up to play the game. They even had to provide more power because of all the PS3s and Xbox 360s that they had running.

The Volition guys presented the details of the multiplayer gameplay, and then we were able to sample it ourselves. We were able to try all of the multiplayer modes and some single-player action. The event was for members of the gaming press, but we were also able to interview the lead multiplayer designer, just like we were members of the gaming press. It was so cool to rub elbows with developers, and you could see them bursting with joy to be able to show off their finished work.

The multiplayer game has tons of weapons, and it features backpacks that give you special abilities. Some of the abilities included Invisibility, Jetpack, Weapon Damage Boost, and a bunch of others. The options of mixing and match those backpacks with various weapons will keep you on your toes as you change tactics and try different combinations. You have your standard rifle, sniper rifle and shotgun, but you have other weapons like the nanorifle, which leaves an amazing melting effect in the wake of its destruction. There are no grenades, but there are mining charges, which were featured in the single-player demo, and proximity mines. The weapon of choice for close range is the hammer; there are very few weapons that match its ability in close range combat.

As for multiplayer modes, you have some of the standard Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture and Hold game modes, but there are also modes based on the game's destructible environment. One mode involved protecting your building while destroying the enemy's building, and another mode had a hero of sorts who was supposed to do the damage, and your team's job was to take out the enemy's hero and protect your own. There is even a local multiplayer mode were you compete to cause the most destruction and try to attain the highest score, which makes for a great party game.

The multiplayer mode has unlockables and Trophy/Achievements support, and there will be a leaderboard and XP earned from each match. The two minor things that it didn't have that I was looking forward to are clan support and the ability to chain multiple game modes in a row for some variety for a group or clan. Volition and THQ will be releasing a multiplayer demo shortly, so people will be able to experience it for themselves very soon. One of my favorite in-game experiences was using the hammer to take out a tower from which a developer was sniping. I want thank Volition, THQ and WorthPlaying for giving me a chance to be a part of this event.

Anthony "D4RK_4NG3L" Smith

Playing Red Faction: Guerrilla last week was amazing. Even though I am a PC gamer, playing the title on the consoles was fun. The weapons each seemed to have their strengths and weaknesses, but each shone in their own right. The game brings a level of destruction to the playing field with smoothness and playability that I have never seen before. There have been tech demos made to point out how great it could be, but Red Faction: Guerrilla actually does it.

It's really fun to strap on backpacks, grab weapons, and then just go to town. It's difficult to have a favorite back pack because they each are so useful for different reasons. If someone gets too close, pull out your uber-hammer or use the Rhino pack to trample and crush them. I do, however, wish that for close-quarters combat, there was a counterattack against the hammer (using your weapon to block a hammer blow or something) because the hammer is probably one of the most devastating weapons in close quarters, which can be quite frustrating. With that said, when you're the one using it, the tables are turned, and it is quite fun to smash people and watch their bodies crumple or fly through the air.

The single-player component has some great stuff. Whether it's driving one of the many vehicles, inciting civilians to join your cause, destroying the enemy or generally just blowing stuff up, this game is explosively fun. Unlike many games, the spectator mode is actually fun to watch, and for tournaments, it could be a great mode to use for the big-screen commentary.

I see Red Faction: Guerrilla as a great start of a new style of multiplayer game where the physics and destruction actually matter. For all of the multiplayer matches that I played, there weren't any two that were the same because as the round drew on, the battlefield was changing, and huge towers were crashing down. The developers made a great choice in making this game from the third-person perspective. Because of the destruction going on around you, you need to have a better perspective of things so you don't get squished, crushed or meet some other terrible end due to the amazing amount of destruction going on around you.

Red Faction: Guerrilla will be a great multiplayer title for the PC, but that's another topic altogether. It was such an amazing experience and a dream come true to be able to play the game.