The question
is not so much whether Resistance: Fall of Man is an exquisitely crafted
first-person shooter video game, or even if it is an amazing launch title for
the PlayStation 3 console system. Both of those statements warrant an
unqualified ‘yes.’ Is the title a benchmark for the genre in the video-game
industry. Hmm, tough call. On many levels the answer is that it certain achieves
the benchmark, but in other ways, it excels and moves the bar slightly.
Insomniac
Games, long renowned for the Ratchet and Clank franchise, and the company that
started the franchise centered on a little purple dragon called Spyro, has gone
back to its roots in many ways in revisiting the shooter genre.
Resistance
sports some of the best and more intelligent game design for the FPS. It has an
incredible weapons package, highly entertaining vehicle elements, wave after
wave of monsters, a tight and accessible control scheme, dynamic video combined
with a stellar soundtrack – in short, everything there is to love about the
genre. And then there is the multiplayer aspect. It is easily the most robust
multiplayer available in any console game.
Resistance
takes place in an alternate story line. Biological experiments – well rumors of
them – yield a race known as the Chimera. These mutated, multi-eyed and fanged
monstrosities broke out of a containment area in Russia and quickly spread
across the nation. It was thought they were contained but that was erroneous.
The Chimera spread across Europe, converting humans into Chimera (as well as
other forms of life into Chimera hybrid monsters). England thought it was safe,
but before long, the Chimera legions attack and England quickly fell. The United
States was hiding away, not involving itself, but finally agreed to supply the
British Resistance to the Chimera. However, as the Rangers were inbound, the
British team assigned to meet them was ambushed. The U.S. arrived in a battle
zone against creatures it had no concept of.
Ranger Sgt.
Nathan Hale is the focal point of this game. It is his story. After working
through the landing zone, Hale makes his way to a valley, teams up with other
soldiers and is overwhelmed by a swarm of Chimera bugs. The bugs enter his body,
a precursor (implied) to the introduction of the Chimera virus that mutates
humans.
The game
takes place over a four-day period, narrated by a British officer that tells the
story about Nathan Hale, and she does mark some of the progression of his
mutation – like the changing color of his eyes … and other things (no spoilers
here).
The
single-player campaign lasts approximately 12 hours. As players replay the game,
new weapons become available, not only in the single-player game, but for some
multiplayer loadouts as well. Speaking of loadouts, the game does have some of
the arcade elements that are expected – like finding weapons and ammunition and
health pots scattered throughout the levels. When the player wishes to change
their weapon, a quick punch of the R2 button on the PS3 controller brings up the
weapon options. The game pauses while a new weapon is selected. This is
important as there are different kinds of Chimera and different weapons can be
used to dispatch their mutant hides faster.
The level
maps can play through fast but are actually rather big. Players will be required
to uncover the mysteries of the Chimera (as Hale scrambles to find out what is
happening to him) and to traverse the maps vehicles do come into play – such as
tanks and jeeps mounted with machine guns (co-op – which is not online – has a
very nice feel when it comes to the vehicle combat).
Insomniac’s
weaponry is imaginative. The Bullseye allows you to tag a target, then send a
barrage of bullets toward the target, wherever it may run. And that is just the
tip of the weapons cache. From the auger (which has the secondary ability to
drop a shield in front of the user) that fires through walls and other solid
objects to the air-gas grenades that create a nice little inferno. Insomniac is
long known for its creative weapons and the toys that are in this game feel
appropriate for the game, the alien-type technology and enhance the
entertainment value.
Cutscenes
advance the story in a terrific way. They are totally in line with the in-game
graphics. The physics used in the game are remarkable (easy, or the superlatives
will run dry). This is fully three dimensional with grenades like the hedgehog
demonstrating that the game considers not only monsters that run along the
ground, but those that may leap or traverse the ceilings. The grenade lands,
then pops up in the air and spikes pop out of the sides, covering all angles of
the sphere. When the grenade explodes, the spikes take off in a 360-degree
pattern, hitting anything below, around or above.
Graphically
the game is first rate. You can run over the enemy when in a vehicle, the
texturing does blur a little when you get up close, but generally the animations
are very well done. The game does use rag-doll physics, which can yield a very
satisfying result when you toss a grenade into a grouping of Chimera infantry.
Resistance transitions nicely from wide-open terrain to creepy underground
areas. The voice narrative is top-notch and the sound of the environments, along
with the soundtrack can provide just the right feel. There are not many
jump-out-of-your-seat moments, but there are many “oh no!” moments when the
feeling of dread creeps over you. The game does ramp up the challenge as you
move through it.
Multiplayer
has that feeling of the familiar with nice little twists. There is a great array
of maps, and there is also the typical capture the flag and deathmatch modes.
But the game also throws variations into the mix. Conversion gives the player
six lives – half as a human, half as a Chimera (the different races have
different abilities). Once you expend your lives, you are done. You can earn
rewards (medals and badges) and new player skins. Breach is a capture-the-flag
style game with several areas that must be taken over by blowing out the rods in
nodes. Not only can you earn points for capturing the nodes, but you can also
earn points for defending the nodes as well. And the game allows 40 players
simultaneously. Played at a review event, the multiplayer – even when loaded to
the max – did not show signs of slowdown.
Co-op allows
two players to team up through the missions. Not available online, co-op does
ramp up the difficulty and creates another very entertaining feature to a game
that already has solid modes.
While
Resistance does not really advance the FPS genre, the feature packages are what
will make this game soar. As a launch title, this is a benchmark game – that
much is certain. As an FPS title, this game is a blast to play – pun intended.
It also has some of the best multiplayer available out of the box.
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Gameplay:
8.6
There are a fair
amount of cutscenes and load times for each level, but the control scheme is not
only relatively intuitive but smart. The sixaxis controller is only used
marginally in this game. You can use it to shake off a monster trying to devour
your face, but it really only comes into play for quick references in the
multiplayer. The flow of the game is very good though, and the action is intense
and consistent.
Graphics:
9.3
Rag-doll physics
and great schemes for the weapons, coupled with varied environments make this
game a visual treat. If you get too close to walls and other static objects, you
may see some dithering, and there are a few instances (minor at the most) of
clipping problems. The rag-doll animations can also leave a few instances of
awkward death positions.
Sound:
9.1
You will want to
turn this up. The musical score, the Chimera sounds and the effects are all
wonderfully supportive of the visuals – often driving home the mood.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
There are several
difficulty settings and you are encouraged to play through the game several
times at different levels to get more weapons and skins to unlock. Monsters
attack from the ground and air, and you will have to stay on your toes.
Concept:
9.5
Great story,
great weapons, great action … sensing a theme here yet?
Multiplayer: 9.4
Some of the modes
are familiar, but the fact that this has 40-player game modes is amazing. Co-op
play is just icing on the cake.
Overall:
9.5
Resistance: Fall
of Man is an amazing shooter that displays the capabilities of this new system.
It would have been a remarkable title a year into the life of the PS3, but as it
is a launch title, it is even more remarkable. With incredible graphics, an
evolving story, great action and weapons, Insomniac and Sony have nailed the
launch of the game and system seamlessly.
