The Rise and Fall of Red Faction

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Initially conceived during a period of great competition in the first-person shooter space, Red Faction had its work cut out for it long before entering the spotlight. Developer Volition Inc. harbored dreams that ventured far beyond simply adding another Quake-like shooter to the pile, though. Advanced destructible environments and intense vehicular combat were positioned as the differentiating factors between Red Faction and nearly everything else available for PC and console. And despite launching in 2001 to tepid reception, the Volition-developed FPS title set quite the precedent.

Commercially, Red Faction secured its place as publisher THQ’s top-selling franchise until another Volition property, Saints Row, stole the crown. Such success begat a few sequels, spinoffs, and even a TV movie. Improved technology along with the open-world structure of Red Faction: Guerrilla introduced a new level of destruction and reinvigorated excitement for the brand. But victories of this caliber were squandered two years later when a shocking case of regression engendered a return to linearity in Armageddon that few wanted.

All in all, Red Faction sits atop a lengthy list of PS2-era franchises that never found their footing. It didn’t help that Volition’s parent company long struggled to keep itself afloat amid financial woes and industry changes, ultimately culminating in bankruptcy. Still, the road that led to Red Faction fading into obscurity may not be as straightforward as it once seemed.

This is the Rise and Fall of Red Faction.

0:00 Intro
2:30 Sponsorship
3:55 Red Faction
16:00 Red Faction 2
25:29 Red Faction B.E.A.S.T.
26:02 Red Faction Guerilla
33:47 Red Faction Armageddon
39:11 Outro

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