IGN: Resistance 3 Review

Perhaps more than any other shooter series this console generation, Insomniac's PS3-exclusive Resistance games have best captured the desperation of war. The series has never been about jingoistic glorification of patriotism. It's never really been interested in pumping you up for a battle. This war has always been about the fate of the entire world and the brave men and women that will stop at nothing to try and save it. Most shooters overlook the human element of the story but Resistance puts these characters front and center. There is something deeply moving about a game where that kind of responsibility is in the main character's hands. This is particularly true of the latest entry in the series, Resistance 3.

War is horrifying in any context but it's particularly bleak here; it's safe to say that things are looking pretty dire for the human race when the third game kicks off. It's been four years since the events of Resistance 2 and the once thriving human war effort has dwindled down to almost nothing, with pockets of humanity still struggling to fend off the Chimera. This alien menace has begun terraforming the planet to be more like their icy homeworld and, with the appearance of an ominous worm-hole opening up in the skies over New York City, it's starting to look like Earth is well and truly lost.

Enter Joseph Capelli. He's a family man living in Haven, Oklahoma, who is propositioned by series stalwart Dr. Malikov to escort him to New York in a last-ditch effort to close the worm-hole before it's too late. Capelli doesn't want to leave his wife and infant son and at first refuses Dr. Malikov's request, but eventually changes his mind when he realizes this may be the only shot his son has at living a normal life. It's a surprisingly touching moment when Capelli is forced to say goodbye to his loved ones and, as he clings to his son's little mitten for the rest of the campaign, you really do feel his sadness.

Right off the bat, Resistance 3 controls wonderfully. There's a quick and powerful feel to the guns; each one is sharp and accurate and packs a hell of a wallop. The shooting mechanics are tight and responsive, ensuring you're equipped to deal with the many moments you'll be outnumbered by dozens-upon-dozens of feral Chimera, just itching to rip you apart. And yes, this happens a lot.




Move functionality has also been included for Resistance 3, though this control method isn't quite as finely tuned. Firing from the hip is effective but the noticeable lag between your motions and the actions on screen make aiming down the crosshairs incredibly sluggish, even with the sensitivity all the way up. It just doesn't cut it in the heat of an intense battle where you'll want every advantage you can get.

Luckily, you're never without an arsenal of awesome weapons and, in keeping with the high standard set by the previous games, Resistance 3's guns give you free rein to kill creatively. Old favorites like the Auger and Bullseye are back, only now each weapon automatically levels up the more you use it, unlocking upgrades like incendiary ammo on the fly. There are also a few new weapons, such as the 'Mutator', which causes enemies to rapidly grow boils that swell up and explode. You can even get your hands on the Chimera's own 'Deadeye' sniper rifle.

Every kill in Resistance 3 is exceedingly satisfying - not only because of the first class arsenal and tight controls, but also because each time you take a Chimera down, it lets out an explosive death growl that tells you it's expired.




In terms of tone, Insomniac has really amped up the gut-wrenching terror for Resistance 3. This is the darkest and most violent game in the series, and almost the entire second act of the game will have you on the edge of your seat. The Chimera are meaner than ever here. One particular scene shows a screaming man having his head ripped-off by one of the ruthless alien invaders, upping the ante when it comes to gore in the franchise. Creepy environments like mines, caves, sewers and even a prison are also not for the faint-hearted. It's a spine-chilling experience, and if you play this game alone at night, you'll likely go from explosive growls to explosive bowels.


Resistance 3 has plenty of large-scale battles and towering bosses but it's the game's ability to continually change things up that keeps the experience fresh. While boat levels, train levels and escort missions aren't uncommon in modern action games, Insomniac has placed them perfectly throughout the campaign in order to diversify the action.

At no point over the course of the 10-hour story does the narrative's surging momentum ever waver. One moment you might be in an all-out skirmish, the next you're creeping through a field of long grass, stealthily stabbing Chimera in the back. While the action might slow down from time to time, the intensity never does. Insomniac knows that without valleys you can't have peaks and its pacing in Resistance 3 is exceptional in this regard.



Insomniac's focus on character and story also helps set Resistance 3's campaign apart from its shooter contemporaries. The studio's team of writers have crafted a storyline that continually gut-punches you with its emotional resonance and unexpected moments, particularly in its second act. Without spoiling anything, the story takes a surprising detour through some dark territory before returning to the mission at hand. It's nice to see a shooter in this day and age that never loses sight of the importance of story.

Even with such a strong single player campaign, Resistance 3's multiplayer continues to be one of the series' strong points; it's very well-implemented. Some fans may be disappointed that the player count has been scaled down from 60 players in the last game to just 16 players in Resistance 3, but ultimately this down-sizing merely makes the multiplayer combat more personal and less chaotic. Plus, when you consider how different the world in the game is since the events of Resistance 2, it only makes sense that multiplayer matches would also reflect this change.



The other big change to the series' multiplayer is the introduction of Abilities. Having a perk system is quickly becoming de rigueur for online shooters but it's a necessary staple Insomniac has embraced well. Resistance 3's Abilities work in much the same way as the perk systems in most of the current crop of competitive shooters. You can spawn a holographic version of yourself, Total Recall-style, or get the radar to show you the locations of all the ammo in the area.

Kill-streaks also unlock some equally handy actions in the heat of battle, like the ability to deploy a shield that floats in front of you, or camouflage yourself like a Predator (someone at Insomniac has been watching a lot of Schwarzenegger movies). Leveling up your character will reward you with some really cool stuff, which is obviously a boon for loyal players.

Weapon upgrades also keep you coming back for more, and the more you level up, the more weapons you start to unlock. New players will start off with the M5A2 Folsom Carbine or Bullseye, though after a few rounds you'll quickly start to acquire more tactical options, like the Rossmore shotgun and Marksman (which lays down an automatic turret as its secondary-fire mode). Eventually, you'll have the entire arsenal to pick and choose from. The Auger, with its ability to see and shoot through walls, is particularly useful for killing enemies that like to camp inside buildings.

The usual Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes make an appearance, as well as a Deathmatch Small mode, for people after a more intimate kill-fest. War Games mode allows for objective-based matches, much like the ones that made Killzone's multiplayer so compelling. Breach mode has a group of attackers trying to destroy the defending team's reactors and Chain Reaction has players attempting to gain control over multiple areas throughout a map in order to open or stop a worm-hole. This mode in particular can lead to some especially epic battles.



Co-operative mode is back in Resistance 3 too, although much like the competitive multiplayer component, the number of players has also been scaled back. It's down from eight players in the last game to just two players in this one. This makes for a more intimate co-op experience that's better suited to the nature of the story being told here. Insomniac has also included an option to play the co-op mode in split-screen, which is a blast if you have a buddy to hang out on the couch and kill aliens with.

The combination of a stellar single player campaign and multiplayer modes that are full of superbly-executed additions adds up to an overall package that has earned its place in the upper echelons of not just first party exclusives, but console shooters in general. If this truly is Insomniac's last Resistance game for the foreseeable future, then the developer certainly went out with a bang... or perhaps more appropriately, an explosive growl.

CLOSING COMMENTS

Resistance 3 offers the same polished experience as the last two games in the series, only this time the action is more focused and tightly structured. Insomniac clearly wanted to make this game a more harrowing and personal experience, and by focusing its attention on a smaller, more personal story within the invasion, it has succeeded without question. While the big military operations have been replaced by more intimate battles, the sense of scale is as intimidating as ever. This is a surprisingly emotional cinematic roller-coaster of a campaign that never lets up.

Likewise, multiplayer in the game remains of the same high caliber as before. The number of players in its multiplayer modes may have been reduced, but fans should rest assured that the quality of the experience remains first-class. Resistance 3 is a must-buy for PS3 shooter fans.

RATINGS (Out of 10)

Presentation - 9.0
The visual style is consistent from its menus, right through to the actual game. Layouts of Abilities and matchmaking options are clear and concise.

Graphics - 8.5
While the game isn't quite the technical marvel that Killzone 3 is, it's still as pretty as this kind of bleak and grimy experience can be.

Sound - 9.5
Stunning sound effects and music help create one hell of an unnerving atmosphere. Voice acting is also top-notch.

Gameplay - 9.0
Resistance 3 feels and controls wonderfully. The campaign is always exciting and the game's weapons are more awesome than ever.

Lasting Appeal - 9.0
A decent-sized campaign is complemented by a fun co-operative mode, and excellent multiplayer. Unlocks in multiplayer will keep players coming back for more.

OVERALL - 9.0