Resistance 3 Review (PS3)

By Neal "NeoMahi" Evans 

When I look back to the beginning of the year and to the months ahead as we go into the fall months and the holiday season, its abundantly clear that its been quite the year for Sony, the PlayStation brand and more directly the PlayStation 3. Sony continues to build momentum and have set out to prove to the world that if you want the absolute best, most versatile entertainment experience, you need PlayStation and no matter how far and how hard Sony and Sony Computer Entertainment have worked to carry PlayStation to the point at which it is today, they're not slowing down but are in fact actually picking up the pace. This year we've seen Killzone 3, we've seen Sony work to bring Mass Effect to the PlayStation hardware, we seen the acquisition of Sucker Punch to further expand the PlayStation family, we've seen Sony fight for their hardware and the gaming experience of gamers throughout the gaming universe to keep the online gaming experience secure, we've seen the addition of PlayStation's newest member to the family set to change the handheld gaming world with the announced PlayStation Vita, and we're only at the month of September.

Had it been five years ago, gamers were complaining and the cost and performance of the hardware and Sony were struggling to keep a fanbase and the same momentum they once had with the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2 having the same awakening Nintendo once had with their Nintendo 64 and Gamecube coming to a realization that you can't always depend on third-party developers to bail you out and move units but that you have to really work hard and bring results through your own hard work and get results from your first-party developers. It was then in the year 2009, not more than two years ago that Sony finally pulled out all the stops and strapped up the laces, dawned the pads and their weapons of fury and charged out onto the ice to step up their game and deliver. We've seen integration of motion control support through the PlayStation Move, integration of 3D support, more exclusively developed PlayStation 3 games, content and developers, and two price drops to the console making the PlayStation 3 the most affordable gaming console and entertainment box filling all the needs of today's home entertainment. One could also joke the PS3 can do everything except make breakfast but, that's no joke. If they deliver, your PS3 can in fact have a pizza, Jimmy Johns or just about any restaurant deliver to your door ordering through the PS3's internet browser. I would know, but at the consoles first days and weeks of breathing the sweet air of life, one title of the consoles launch will never be forgotten and that title is Resistance.

With the way things are going with Insomniac Games these days, its impossible to see what the future of the PlayStation 3 as well as the Resistance franchise holds in store for the console and developers loyal fans and gamers. With Insomniac Games going multiplatform, its likely Resistance will take its place on the Insomniac Games shelf and its fate lying in the hands of Sony and whichever developer Sony may chose to continue the franchise assuming Sony choses to do so. The fact of the matter is that Resistance 3 could be the last Resistance game to see the PS3. Its causes to wonder what the future may hold for Ratchet & Clank as well. Leaving a game in the hands of 'foster parents' just doesn't seem to do it. Look what happened when Crash Bandicoot was sold off to Activision? Sometimes I guess, you just have to know when to quit. That being said, with all the games we've seen from Sony this year and its towering list of console exclusives over the competition and a wave of games coming at you throughout the remainder of the year and well into the next, do you really have the time to play through Resistance 3? Does it meet the expectations of its fans and does it bring a close to the likely inevitable end of the Resistance franchise?

Well, in short, I've never been a huge Resistance fan and I asked myself those same questions and figured, ah what the heck. I can cram it into my gaming schedule and things just took of. Sometime later, the game was over and I asked myself "wow, already?" It was the fastest I'd ever finished a Resistance game.

STORY & PRESENTATION

At first glimpse,  Resistance 3 is very simple. Its packaging very orange with a four-eyed alien skull on it with teeth that look the shape of tall city skyscrapers that clearly depict the notion that you'll be roaming the streets of New York City at some point. SURPRISE! Its a game that takes place in New York! But, what surprises me, is that somehow, that simplicity sucked me right in and carried me well throughout the game keeping me coming back for more and more. What's also different with Resistance from most other games is that even though you walk the streets of the clichéd New York City surroundings, Resistance as a series has always taken gamers to the most interesting locations throughout the world that really make you scratch your head. For example, Resistance 2 takes gamers through Twin Falls, Idaho and was even promoted by Insomniac Games at E3. Have you ever been to Idaho, let alone Twin Falls? Where's that?

Well, Resistance 3 once again takes you to interesting locations. Actual locations. Resistance 3 opens up in Haven, Oklahoma where humanity has taken refuge. Humanity has lost to the Chimera (not the hockey player), whom have taken over the earth and mankind are simply just trying to survive and hold their own against smaller attacks maintaining their cover and what's left. Those whom are still alive are losing loved ones still to sickness. You're Joseph Capelli. You've killed Nathan Hale whom had basically become one of those mutants above and whom had had a very important role in the human Resistance whom died a hero at the barrel of your gun and even remains a hero through death as the Hale Vaccine is used to treat those whom have been infected. You meet up with an old friend leaving your family behind on a mission to reach your objective, New York City, and bring down the Chimera before they find the survivors and decimate what's left of the human race. Pretty simple right?

I couldn't help but notice throughout the game how much it felt like I was playing Steven Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds.' The setting, the traversal, many of the enemies in how they were designed just felt a lot like 'War of the Worlds: The Video Game.' Don't get me wrong though, because it feels like its based on a movie, doesn't mean its like such licensed games based on movies. Resistance 3 definitely remains its own, but carries that 'War of the Worlds' film feel. A buddy of mine whom I'd shown the game to felt much the same way.

GRAPHICS

Let's get real here. At the launch of the PlayStation 3, Resistance: Fall of Man may have been one of the greatest looking games at the time. But, that was then and this is now. When you look at Resistance 3, its easily the best looking Resistance game to date and its physics engine was pretty impressive but, when you put it up against other first-party developed games like Killzone 3, Uncharted 2, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and others, it just doesn't have that PlayStation caliber about it. I've heard several complain that the game's just too brown but, at the end of the day, I was impressed and surprised. Sure it doesn't utilize the PlayStation 3 color pallet sprouting beautiful colors but, lets face it, this is war. Buildings have been ripped down, he dust is still trying to settle and things are looking grim. Its simply working to set the mood. But, later on in the game, environments will change to fit the mood landing on metal and other structures being continually blown to bits and snow-filled environments with the occasional splash of water to the face making you want to take your shirt sleeve and wipe the screen of your HDTV, suck it up and keep moving. This could be the fight to destroy the Chimera and repopulate the earth. Learn from humanities mistakes and move grow.

As far as character design and enemy development, it was rather impressed. You really get that zombie feel at some points but, call me crazy but I was most impressed or most interested in those grasshoppers. It could have been that they were the biggest pests. Don't forget of course those larger scale enemies that Resistance is practically about. Scale. Big boss fights leaving you scrambling for ammo and fighting to stay alive. Its all good. Not the best we've seen, but not bad.

GAMEPLAY

Resistance 3 still feels very much like Resistance with a few revisions. I felt that stealth played a little bigger role as gamers will find one area forcing them to use stealth to stay alive. As I played through this particular stage, I had absolutely no ammo for my Auger and it was pitch dark outside. The only light was moonlight and search lights from Chimeran ships. I pretty much to track the enemy with the Auger, find them and then equip my sniper rifle to take them out. It reminded me a little bit of the good days playing Metal Gear Solid 4 a few years ago. Stealth has definitely played a bigger role in games as has taking cover which you'll find you're doing more in first-person shooters. Its not quite like Killzone 3 was and definitely not like Uncharted or Gears of War but, taking cover definitely helps.

Another revision made for Resistance 3 was totally different from the previous two games. Resistance: Fall of Man had players picking up health jars to restore three, maybe it was four, sections of health. These sections would restore over time. When that section was depleted, a health jar would restore that section enabling the gamer more regenerative health. Resistance 2 entirely did away with the health jars, and that fashion, and gamers would take cover or find a safe haven until their health was fully restored. I went into Resistance 3 thinking regenerative health would be there and within the first five minutes was blown to bits and restarting. Resistance 3 does away with regenerative health and brings back the health jars you'll find throughout maps or after killing enemies. This definitely upped the difficulty level.

Another change made to the game was the return of the 'Weapon Wheel.' While this allows you to carry a plethora of more weapons, it caused me a lot of problems in the most stressful situations when you need to equip your weapon fast. I found I would select the wrong weapon and end up dead. The triangle button and some careful stratagem can help fix this concern allowing to to jump to specific weapons of your choosing for easier access but, if you don't have a solid understanding of this system well, it can be hell sometimes to learn it.

As usual weapons in Resistance and the diversity of such is the name of the game. Lock, cock and load and raise hell. One weapon I quickly found as my favorite of the game is called the Atomizer. While the primary function isn't a solid rock, the secondary weapon lets you rock the frick on. Pressing the L2 trigger launches a orb that fires a mass of electric beams that lasso groups of enemies sucking them in like a vacuum cleaner and appeared to spin them around in circles until the exploded like being trapped in a blender. Easily my favorite weapon. Insomniac loves and takes pride in their weapon design be it Resistance or Ratchet & Clank and still are the best at it and it really helps the experience.

Where I think the gameplay really struggled, was toward the end of the game. For as many hours, I was really getting drawn into this story, this world and its characters but, when the end came, I found myself rather disappointed. Final boss battles just aren't what they used to be. Resistance 3 felt week. I didn't really even realize I had reached the final boss and before I knew it, it was all over. At least in Resistance 2 when you face off with Daedalus, you know where you're at and its the final showdown. Resistance 3, I reached the end, the trophy ding sounded and I thought to myself, "What? Really, its over?" It felt like I was just dropped off the side of the cliff and wondered if it was the end. Will Resistance continue, or is this it sort of thing? It felt really open ended like, as was mentioned before, if Insomniac Games was going to continue with Resistance or its the end of time for the series and Insomniac will become more invested in multiplatform development and exclusive development for the PS3 will become a thing of the past. The game just didn't feel complete. It felt sudden or abrupt and lacking. Really makes you wonder if boss battles have become more difficult as are less thought out.

The multiplayer is definitely an extension of the singleplayer and will likely have a lot of DLC support. The Co-op gameplay will give you something more to tinker with but, isn't anything to really emphasize and there are a lot of trophies to get. There's still a lot to do to really keep gamers entertained for a while until more of the fall and holiday games hit but, I was in it more for the singleplayer experience.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Sony, and PlayStation, have really been pushing their new technology with their games mostly showing up in first-party developed titles helping to change up the experience and give gamers a little something more. Its becoming more about that sense of immersion and Resistance 3 definitely gives that change of gameplay. Though it didn't work the best for me, others may slaughter the competition.

I was able to play through the experience using the integrated 3D support and PlayStation Move. The PlayStation Move support with the Sharpshooter I found rather difficult to get around. While I had used it in Killzone 3 and played through the singleplayer campaign and did very well, I didn't have the same luck with Resistance 3 and will have to go back and try it again. I used the Sharpshooter through the tutorial and made it out the door and into the action and after about five minutes of gameplay and several deaths, I put down the Sharpshooter and picked up the Dualshock 3 and played through the remainder of the game. Its not that the Sharpshooter wasn't responsive, as it was, there was just too much going on and I was swarmed with enemies and couldn't keep up. As I played through the game, I was constantly asking myself with the difficulty ramped up and stressful waves of enemies, how could I have ever done it with the Sharpshooter?

3D support on the other hand was quite the opposite. I dawned the glasses and cranked the 3D depth to its maximum and played through the game loving every bit of it. Again, I constantly hear so many saying, the 3D is there, but doesn't having me rushing out to pick up a 3DTV. As far as blu-ray go, there aren't a lot of Hollywood movies out that support the technology but, Sony have really been pushing the format and there are a lot of 3D games out there with still more to go, if your PS3 gamer. As well, 3D must be making some kind of a major dent as Microsoft have chosen to finally invest more heavily in 3D and are even working with their development kits to do more with 3D on Xbox 360 than they have been. In my opinion, Microsoft sit back and watch what others do and watch them burn through resources to test the waters and when Microsoft find it a comfortable entry, they invest and weez off the success of others and then claim the innovation as their own. What can you say, their master marketers like their founder. Steel the idea and then market it like crazy and others will follow you and believe you when you tell them its your own. Microsoft after having watched Sony, and Sony having announced very affordable 3DTV with some really impressive tech, Microsoft have now given Epic the green light, likely they were the ones suggesting the 3D to Epic Games rather than Epic taking the initiative to integrate 3D into Gears of War 3, but Microsoft have seen something with Sony's strategy and want to duplicate that and not feel left out or their gamers. I think 3D will continue to grow and will be marketed much more be it by Sony or maybe Microsoft will start pitching in. All the same, the 3D in Resistance 3 is impressive and definitely holds it benefits in determining depth and just gives that feel of immersion even more.

THE VERDICT

Resistance 3 has a lot of good things about it and does a lot of things right. It definitely kept my attention and my time felt more worthwhile than the previous two games. The story, though not all that deep, was good enough to hold my interest. The integration and good use of 3D definitely helped the game along with impressive scenes. I think the development crew did a good job at setting the mood, though again, nothing deep but, the story just doesn't take you anywhere near the end and leaves you wondering. Final bosses I suppose are becoming extinct as it was all over before I knew it. The resolution was just lacking. You reach the climax and everything else just feels weak and, even though the game looks much better than the previous two and 3D effect is great, there are better looking PS3 games. Insomniac were developing exclusively for the PS3 and drawing on that power shouldn't have been to difficult but, it all just felt like it ran short. The gameplay though fun, doesn't merrit the excuse that "Graphics aren't everything and we chose to focus on the gameplay." True, the game runs well and there's polish on the gameplay, the weapon wheel still had its issues I'd noticed and caused some frustration.

At the end of the day, Resistance 3 is definitely a game for fans of the series and they should give it a run through though, don't expect a ravishing mind blowing ending and it just isn't there. I was expecting to get in a ship and pilot the thing blowing up Chimeran ships left and right similar to Killzone 3, but was dropped off on a Chimeran ship to again, wipe out the large wave of Chimera. That didn't do it for me. The multiplayer will obviously extend the life of the game but, at the same time, the way they did the beta and pressed the disc before it was even complete and give you a day one update just felt well, lazy. I wasn't impressed. So, Resistance will impress but won't shock but is still a valuable game and experience to the PlayStation family and is still a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. Just don't expect it to blow your mind.