Red Faction
GeoMod on your cell phone? Not quite?
The biggest problem with Red Faction for the N-Gage is the control scheme?the N-Gage?s num-pad scheme is simply not conducive to first-person shooting as movements like strafing or looking up and down aren?t as easily accessible as they should be (and oh, how the N-Gage needs shoulder buttons!). The 3D is definitely better than the GBA 3D (rough polygons instead of giant pixels), but don?t expect anything resembling GeoMod. The textures are grainy and frequently repeated, turning even the tiniest level into a nightmarish labyrinth of confusion. There?s also a two-player deathmatch via Bluetooth, but the super-simple level design and utter lack of speed means it simply isn?t fun.
To be honest, the levels (small and right-angle-filled as they are) are fairly well-balanced in terms of weapon and enemy placement; the music generates atmosphere; and there are good vocal and audio cues. But first-person shooters weren?t a good idea on the Game Boy Advance. Turns out they?re not really the best idea on a cell phone, either.
