While Red Faction did take something of a step back with this entry of the series by moving away from the open-world destruction of Guerilla in favor of more traditional and linear 3rd-person shooting action, Armageddon still has a lot to offer thanks to strong action and some of the coolest weapons a video game has to offer. You won't find yourself part of rebellion to liberate Mars this time around. Instead you're humanities best hope as a mysterious alien menace rises up from underground, making it more like Gears of War than a typical Red Faction game. The tone is much lighter than it's predecessors and the writing can be quite funny. The franchise really does go in an entirely new direction here. However longtime fans will notice returning features.

While the destruction has been toned down to fit the more confined corridors of Mars you'll find yourself exploring, it still plays a key role in the experience. It's as satisfying as ever to shred through the environment. Especially since that's how you get most of the needed salvage. The ability to rebuild anything you destroy right before you eyes is just as impressive and fun as the destruction itself. It can also get you out of a jam should you accidentally blow up a bridge you needed to cross or restore cover during a firefight. It proves to be an integral part of the experience and is something no other game has done before.

The action itself feels great. The weapons are powerful and each one of them is unique and exciting to use. A powerful upgrade system genuinely makes it feel like you're getting stronger and doles out helpful new abilities and boosts in exchange for your hard earned salvage. Armageddon could have used some more enemy variety and there are those who will find the repetition of fighting through wave after wave to be monotonous even with the vehicular sections there to break up the pace. Especially since it is structured in a way that offers you few chances to get off the beaten path to search for salvage. I, for one, still found it to be a lot of fun. The enticing new game plus mode that unlocks after you beat it as well as some other new features should prove incentive enough to dive right back in after the credits have rolled.

Once the campaign has been completed, Armageddon offers a four player survival mode reminiscent of Gears of War's classic Hoard Mode for you and some buddies. There's also the "Ruin" mode, although that requires a special code that came with new copies of the game. That is where it really gets in touch with its destructive roots as it's all about amassing as many points as you can in the time limit by destroying everything in sight. It's good, cathartic fun.

Ditching the open-world and bringing aliens to the red planet did cause the series to loose a little something. I can see why it disappointed longtime Red Faction fans, especially after the incredible Guerilla. Despite taking a more traditional approach in terms of the core gameplay, Armageddon still manages to stand out thanks to rock solid, if repetitive, action and several innovative supporting features. Plus there's enough content to keep you coming back should you find things as satisfying as I did. It might not be Red Faction as we remember it, but it's got enough of the old magic to keep things going.

8.9/10