What is Rage?

Rage is an upcoming first-person shooter (FPS), mixed with some role-playing game (RPG) elements. It comes from id Software, the developer that gave the world Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake. So when id comes out with a new game, the world takes notice. When id comes out with a new franchise like Rage, the world pays even closer attention (especially because it's running on a brand-new engine).

In premise, Rage plays like just about any FPS you might be familiar with, though it has plenty of RPG elements as well. Where Rage gets a one-up over just about any other FPS on the market is in terms of its technical fidelity. Running at a high framerate with beautiful graphics, Rage is a technological marvel. But just because so much attention was paid to the visuals doesn't mean id overlooked gameplay. We've gotten our hands on Rage multiple times, and we're left totally impressed each time we play.

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What do we know about the story?

Rage's setting is post-apocalyptic, meaning that, like Borderlands and Fallout 3, your surroundings are very somber and dangerous. As a member of the Ark Program, your character emerges from a Vault-like chamber into this frightening landscape, and sets out into an unknown world thereafter (much like Fallout 3).

There are forces at work in this unknown world, including the friendly Resistance and the nefarious Authority. Towns and cities that we know about so far include Wellspring and Subway Town. We know that there's a main quest and plenty of side quests. There are guns to find, items to collect and more. But apart from that, specifics are scarce. We're very excited to see, hear and play more between now and the game's release, but it looks like everything combines to give what id Software itself has described as a "meaty" single-player campaign.

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Of course it will. The thing is, while developer id Software essentially invented the FPS genre, as well as online play in such games (coining ubiquitous terms such as "deathmatch" in the process), Rage's online play isn't what you'd expect. That is to say, there are no traditional on-foot multiplayer modes. Instead, multiplayer takes place entirely within the realm of Rage Combat Rally, a Twisted Metal-like vehicular combat mode.

There's also cooperative play, both online and locally. As you progress through the main campaign on your own, you'll be able to unlock certain in-game missions that you can go back through with a friend. These slightly-altered missions should expand upon the story and give you a different perspective of events you already dealt with on your own.

Prepare for Rage

When does Rage come out? How does it look so far?

Rage is set for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on September 13, 2011.

We've have quite a few opportunities to get hands-on time with the game over the past year, and from what we've seen, Rage looks great. It plays smoothly, it runs extremely well, and its graphical fidelity is amongst the best the FPS genre has ever seen before. But this is a game from id Software, so did you really expect anything else?

What should I play to prepare for Rage's release?

As Rage is a new game from a new franchise, there's nothing you have to play to get caught up. But if you're looking for an FPS-meets-RPG, there are a couple you can get into in the meantime. The two most obvious games that are associated with Rage are Fallout 3 (which is more RPG than shooter) and Borderlands (which is more shooter than RPG). Both should effectively whet your appetite while you're waiting for Rage. But of course, going back and playing one of id Software's many classics -- from Wolfenstein to Doom to Quake -- couldn't hurt either.