Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows)

common sense media says

Sci-fi shooter tackles tricky topic in terrorism.

parents & educators say

30% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this third-person action game tackles the difficult subject of wartime insurgency and terrorism. Players take on the role of a reluctant freedom fighter who uses his expertise in demolitions to help defeat a corrupt, militaristic occupational force. The violence, while more or less constant, is often directed at buildings rather than people, and players are encouraged to avoid hurting civilians whenever possible. When they do get into direct combat players use a variety of ballistic and melee weapons. Blood can be seen, but only in small splotches. Parents should also be aware that this game features a moderate amount of coarse language in its voice dialogue. Online modes facilitate open voice communication.

Positive messages: This game tackles the timely and difficult subject of war-time insurgency. Players take on the role of a construction demolitions expert who ends up becoming a rebel when Mars’ occupational force kills his brother and arbitrarily brands him a terrorist. As a resistance fighter he bombs government installations and kills hundreds of soldiers. However, he does none of this lightly; he feels his actions are warranted because they are in the name of freedom and justice.

Positive role models: While the protagonist is portrayed as an honorable family man pushed to the brink by circumstances beyond his control, he is a terrorist. He's a man fighting an unjust, corrupt government and resorts to violence only because he feels it's vital to secure life and liberty. He's not ignorant of the consequences it carries.

Ease of play: The controls are straight forward and intuitive, but the combat can be unforgiving—especially for those who prefer a head-on fight to tactical confrontations.

Violence: Primary weapons at the player’s disposal include rifles, handguns, demolition charges, and a sledgehammer. The violence isn’t particularly gory or brutal -- objectives involve the destruction of infrastructure more often than the killing of enemy personnel -- but it is constant. Wounded characters leave small splotches of blood on the ground. Players can kill civilians, but they generally have to go out of their way to do so, and there are strong incentives not to harm innocents (citizen morale drops, making it more difficult to achieve long-term goals).

Sex: Not applicable.

Language: Profanity is frequent but not shocking. Words like “piss” and “bastard” come up regularly in voice conversation, while stronger language is used more sparingly.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters can occasionally be seen smoking cigarettes.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the differences between terrorism, insurgency, resistance fighting, and freedom fighting. Is it merely a matter of semantics? Many of the game’s characters are labeled terrorists by the military. Do you believe that’s what they are? Is bombing a building, regardless of perpetrator’s motive, automatically an act of terrorism? Do you think this is a topic that can be adequately addressed within the context of a video game?
Did playing this game changed the way you look at the world? At terrorism?

What's the story?

Part Total Recall part Far Cry 2, RED FACTION: GUERILLA is an open-world sci-fi shooter set on Mars with a lead character best described as a resistance fighter. The governing powers are sending death squads out on the streets and crushing anyone who resists their authoritarian rule, including our hero’s brother. This forces our otherwise peaceful protagonist, a demolitions expert by trade, to hook up with the Red Faction, a resistance group intent on forcibly removing the Earth Defense Force -- Mars’ current rulers -- by destroying key installations and helping citizens whenever they come under attack. Players freely explore six separate sectors of the Red Planet, choosing missions as they like with an aim to raise the morale of civilians and eventually get them to help fight for their freedom.

Is it any good?

There’s plenty to like about Red Faction: Guerilla, not least of which is the intelligent way in which it handles the always touchy topic of terrorism. Our hero is a hesitant insurgent who only takes action against the EDF once his brother is killed and he looks to be next. And while the conflict in the game’s story is black and white, painting one side as purely malicious and the other as noble and good, it’s not unrealistic to think that stepping into the shoes of a virtual terrorist could make players think about insurgents in real-world wars and consider their potential motives.

Beyond politics and philosophy, the game is quite a bit of fun to play. Virtually everything in the world can be destroyed in satisfying fashion by smashing into it with vehicles, blowing it up with explosives, or simply pounding it with our hero’s trusty sledgehammer. Alas, all of the over-the-top destruction can and does grow a bit repetitive after a while. Still, it's recommended for older players looking for a bit of narrative substance.

Online interaction: Several online modes facilitate competitive action for up to 16 players. The game supports open voice communication with all players, which carries with it the potential for personal information to be exchanged and distasteful language to be overheard. Common Sense Media does not recommend this sort of online play for pre-teens.

Game themes & details

Game Details

Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
Available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: THQ
Released on: June 3, 2009
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood, Strong Language, Violence

Screenshots

This review was written by Chad Sapieha

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:

30% say there are positive messages

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Ghost Rider Sky
kid, 12 years old

This game is not M! it is just violent there are no bad words except h--l is said once

What other families should know

Game Details

Price

Available on

Genre

Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Red Faction: Guerrilla

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Game themes & details

Game Details

Screenshots

Review It

Review Red Faction: Guerrilla

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

absolutely

Just Okay...

for older teens

"Not for kids" !!! What is this website on about !!!

VERY FLIPPING FUNDAMENTAL!!!!

good game

No Kids... are you kidding me

good for 10+

i hate this site sometimes

perfect for those who like a mix of gta 4 and crysis(kinda)

perfect for kids 11 and up in the themes

Great fun game!

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families

Age-appropriate reviews

Advice on the big issues

vote now

Will you play Red Faction: Guerrilla?

Already played it? What do you think?

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Alternatives to shooters

Browse more games

About our rating system

Browse our library of reviews

See what our editors recommend