Destruction and creation are popular themes within gaming – occasionally intertwined to the extent that they are difficult to separate – with some offering creativity and destruction at the same time, presenting an often intriguing dilemma. Red Faction: Armageddon does not dwell excessively on this conundrum, instead grounding itself in the concept that knocking things over (in as creative a fashion as possible) is simply a lot of fun. And happily here, it really, really is.
A lot of games claim full destructibility of environments, but Red Faction actually has it – everything can be turned to rubble, even the bridge that's needed to advance to the next part of the level. Thankfully, there's also a rebuild ability, causing structures to snap back into place at the touch of a button if the mayhem goes too far.
This creative destruction is at the heart of Armageddon. The well-paced but forgettable narrative takes you through the story of false accusations, megalomania and a human-colonised Mars under threat from a dormant colony of violent native aliens, but it's the unrivalled potential for demolition that will keep players coming back.
Weapons such as the Maul Hammer and a gun that fires tiny black holes play right into this central appeal – and it just doesn't wear off, aided and abetted as it is by some brilliant vehicular destruction. The action is always high octane and enjoyable, and multiplayer options extend this glorious ruination, giving it more space to breathe.
