Drilling through was not just a gimmick but actually part of the game, e.g instead of finding a key à la Doom/Descent, you'd have to detonate a rocket, a mine, or a grenade at walls near locked doors to create holes big enough to go around them (took me a surprisingly long time the first time to figure I was supposed to do that, especially as the level is intentionally deceptive as you have door with buttons/keys before).
There were also actual boring machines to help you drill through big time. You could make bridges fall into a chasm by blasting both ends. In enemy-crowded open areas you'd have to create your own cover by carving holes in walls or in the ground.
Trivia: Red Faction was initially due to be Descent 4 (as a prequel to Descent), but turned into a on-foot FPS in a different universe.