Somewhere along the way whilst developing Red Faction: Guerrilla it seems developer Volition have got themselves somewhat confused and mixed this game up with their other, newer franchise, Saints Row. While from an outsider’s perspective the connection between the two does not seem particularly obvious, a few moments play of Guerrilla reveals a very similar game structure with a freeform open-world design and a fair collection of vehicles ripe for hijacking.

Taking place back on Mars after the second game’s departure to Earth, you play the role of a freedom fighter tackling an oppressive Martian regime by taking missions for the resistance. Like the last couple of games, it’s probably a safe bet that the plot will be relatively inconsequential, acting as little more than an excuse to drive the game along and deliver your objectives and reasoning to level more or less every structure to be found on the Red Planet.

What is apparent from the outset is that the Geo-Mod is vastly advanced on its predecessors, to the point where the environmental destruction competes with and in ways easily surpasses the likes of Crysis and Battlefield: Bad Company. Your character comes equipped with a huge hammer which you quickly find can smash up buildings and walls of pretty much any size - gamers with a penchant for elaborate destruction are very much encouraged to apply.

Unlike its forerunners, Guerrilla is a third-person shooter with as much focus on melee combat and driving vehicles as guns and grenades. You have access to a considerable stockpile of explosives, including huge rocket launchers and grenades, and at any time you can zoom the camera in for a close over-the-shoulder viewpoint a la just about every third person shooter of the past six years. Your foes are numerous and - certainly in the early stages - pleasingly act as little more than fodder for your relentless attacks. Taking down entire buildings in order to destroy foes housed within is hugely satisfying, and something which right now other games can’t really match.

There are a collection of huge trucks and buggies left vacant and being driven around this distant Martian landscape. Upon ‘borrowing’ one, you can drive it around the landscape and - if it is big enough - often drive through many of the structures. The handling is sufficient for what you might expect and these gaseous monsters chug over the terrain, soaking up gunshots and crushing anyone foolish enough to be in your path.

Graphically, it’s not a particularly impressive showing, but then Volition’s work has never been notable for its visual accomplishments. The draw distance is decent enough and the amount of stuff happening at any time can be impressive (particularly when it comes to destruction), but the detail is lacking and the horizon distance seems surprisingly close, so if you’re looking for graphical accomplishments then you won’t find them here. However, the physics are excellent and as far as we saw the frame rate is solid. It’s hard to tell how the game sounds exactly, as a noisy, busy exhibition show is never really an appropriate place to gauge such an element.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is shaping up to be an enjoyable if seemingly shallow third-person shooter. It looks as though it may suffer from genericism in such a crowded field as well as a lack of variety, however if initial impressions are a good indication then it will deliver a sincerely enjoyable affair which is arguably the most explosive on any console.