Resistance 2 Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Insomniac Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: SONY	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 4, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2 (60 online)	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Mature	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

As good as single and online co-op play is, you will likely blow through both within a couple of weeks. What will keep you coming back to Resistance 2 is the robust competitive multiplayer. There are only four conventional multiplayer modes to choose from, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Core Control (Team CTF), and Skirmish (War or Confrontation). However, the multiplayer experience stands apart from other competitive shooters in size and scope. First, Resistance 2 allows for up to 60 players to duke it out with each other in compelling squad-based play. Second, the mix of familiar human weaponry and Gray Tech (alien goodies) make for a feel that is all its own. Finally, the massive maps are outstanding. They are extremely well-designed and quite attractive (expect more from subsequent DLC).

Resistance 2 screenshot

The best of all is that Resistance 2 looks, sounds, and plays great! The crew at Insomniac nailed the presentation. You really can tell this game was made explicitly for the PS3. The character animations, majority of textures, vistas, and technical stability are all second to none. The stability factor is especially impressive considering just how much action is onscreen at one time; I never noticed even a minor quiver or glitch! The only talking point I can muster is that fire and explosions are decidedly poor when compared to everything else; don't expect to be wowed by particle effects and lifelike flames.

Sound effects are every bit as good as they were in Resistance: Fall of Men, from weapon rapport to the bloodcurdling screams of oncoming Chimera. However, background music and voice work is very sparse. I suppose this is either a boon or a bust depending on your own inclinations. For me, Resistance 2 seems to have lost a bit of its epic, cinematic feel due to the lack of resounding musical themes and narration; music is almost never heard and the engaging voiceover work from Resistance's Captain Rachel Parker is missing. It's a shame there wasn't a bit more music to get the blood pumping, but I can see how the near voice work-free presentation does accentuate the action without getting too bogged down in a story you're not that concerned about.

Regardless of thin sound work, the gameplay controls are outstanding. Did I mention they're fully customizable? In addition to the various premade control builds, players can map button layouts to four distinct Custom control save slots. That means original Resistance players can hop right into a familiar scheme or, for instance, Call of Duty fans like myself can tailor controls almost identically to what they're used to. The inch-perfect accuracy that results translates to a run-and-gun experience that is highly rewarding!

Resistance 2 screenshot

There's a lot more I could say about Resistance 2, but to get too in-depth into story tropes about the Cloven and ramble on about just how great this game is would do the title a disservice. It's something you'll simply have to experience for yourself. This is a must-buy in every sense of the phrase; entertainment that truly sets the bar for the FPS genre both on the PS3 and for gaming in general.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Editor / News Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.8

Graphics
About as good of graphics as I've ever seen on a gaming console. The game is visually stunning in every regard, except for the stupid fire and explosion effects. However, the overall technical stability of the game is worth the low-res effects!

5.0

Control
The controls are ideal - perfectly responsive! You'll be mowing through Chimera like a pro.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The background music is sparse (bluesy riffs in Chicago were cool, though). The sound effects were spot on. However, I did miss resounding musical themes and Captain Parker's narration.

4.8

Play Value
The single-player campaign is short (time flies when you're having fun), but the online multiplayer options, both co-op and competitive, will keep you playing for a good long while.

4.8

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Take on the role of Nathan Hale as he battles the Chimeran virus raging within. Fight for humanity's survival against new swarms of vicious Chimera equipped with new weapons along with re-designed favorites from Resistance: Fall of Man such as the Bullseye and Auger.

Set in an alternate reality 1953 America, explore highly-detailed and interactive environments where the familiar meshes with the alien, resulting in an American landscape both beautiful and haunting.

Experience online co-op in a completely new way. Choose between three distinctive character classes and join seven other players to battle through a unique story that parallels the main campaign Players will also enhance their characters' attributes as they unlock new armor sets and equipment along the way.

Online competitive multiplayer: a cornerstone to Resistance: Fall of Man's global appeal - just got better. Engage in massive 60-player competitive combat with an entirely new squad-based focus designed to balance progression, firefights, and rivalries.

Join MyResistance.net, an unrivaled FPS community complete with skill-based match-ups, dedicated gaming/community/stats servers, social networking tools, and an open invite system.