A symphony of destruction. I was a big fan of the first two Red Faction titles, as a kid I remember thinking the idea of blowing up a wall or a floor to get through a level was the coolest idea in the world.

is just over a month away from release. Based on a few hours I spent playing Armageddon's single-player component, my recent of the game's multiplayer components were just the tip of the iceberg.

Last month, I had an opportunity to check out Red Faction: Armageddon at a preview event in San Francisco. At the time, I was impressed with what the game had to offer. The single player campaign was engaging, the Ruin mode offered up some mindless carnage, and the Infestation mode was a hoot.

Volition takes a gamble and loses by returning this destructive series to its linear roots

RFA is basically one great moment-dest­roying buildings with a powerful weapon-repeated for a whole game.

So, hey. Welcome to Red Faction: Armageddon Halfway House. It's great to have you here. We like to say, "Nobody's a loser… when everyone's a winner," and… we hope you'll join us. Really, it's just great to have you. Really. Let me introduce you to the neighbors.

Environmental destruction always enjoyable; Multiplayer modes return in solid form

A banal sci-fi narrative told through abrupt cutscenes; Taking the fight underground depletes the open-world excitement of Guerrilla; Linear levels and man-to-alien combat are not this series' strengths

When word came around that Red Faction Armageddon was going to trade in the wide open dunes of Mars' surface for the underground tunnels of the first game reactions were mixed. Some thought that the loss of the open world environment would harm the gameplay or that it would make the game bland to...

Great weapon variety; fun environments to destroy; special abilities are a blast to use; fights can be wonderfully chaotic; vehicle segments are awesome

Environment can be a bit too dark at times; lack of enemy variety; some plot holes; minor control quibbles

Armageddon is at its best when you can destroy everything around you, and is at its worst when you are required to simply dispatch hordes of aliens with your pistols. Yes, the story is a bit bland and the dialogue is downright odd at times, but the core action is pretty fun.

Using the environment as a weapon; The massive weapons; Online Ruin mode is a blast

The main campaign and story are a bit dull; Too many linear sections; The limited online modes

Red Faction: Armageddon is composed of two very distinct games. One is an extension of Red Faction: Guerrilla; in this game, you destroy buildings and structures with reckless abandon, and new weapons allow you to wreak ridiculous amounts of carnage.

Despite its forgettable story and pacing issues with the campaign, Red Faction: Armageddon is good fun for letting out your inner destructive child. They ability to tear apart and repair the environments at will is a hook that keeps working, and when the campaign gives you plenty of stuff to tear...