Game developer Insomniac is at it again. The same company responsible, for the hit series "Ratchet and Clank" worked diligently on a new intellectual property (or 'IP') for the PS3. Resistance: Fall of Man is Insomniac’s take on the First Person Shooter genre, being the most hyped game at launch for the PS3. So how does it play? Does it live up to the hype? Well stick around because all of your questions and concerns are about to be answered.

World War What?

The year is 1951 and the world is at war. Not within their respective countries. Nor are they fighting against neighboring countries. The world is at war with the Chimera, a lethal breed of creatures with unknown origins, hell bent on the destruction of humans. Whether they are from another planet, or genetically crafted is currently unknown. The only thing clear is that if something isn’t done soon, humanity as we know it will perish. The Chimera themselves look very humanoid in stature, having very humanlike mannerisms. Chimera also have metabolism’s 12x faster than humans, so to prevent their bodies from over heating they have cooling units attached to their backs. For these reasons, Chimera overall have a very grotesque and intimidating appearance.

Now that you’ve been briefed, you are in control of 1st Sergeant Nathan Hale. Hale is an American Army ranger, charged with kicking Chimera tail and taking names. The entire single player campaign (split screen Co-op play is also available) revolves around Hale, and the events that take place surrounding him. Locales, through out the campaign take place all over war ravaged Europe. From city streets, Chimera conversion centers and excavation sites, each mission takes you through the gauntlet disposing Chimera at every turn. Playing the single player campaign provided a nice challenge. The Chimera effectively takes cover, flank, and move into either offensive or defensive positions with lethal results; often creating countless frustrating encounters (I came inches from having to buy a new controller 20 times throughout the entire game.) Within the Chimera there are many different breeds within their race. Any type of creature fathomable to the imagination, all make up the Chimera species. Workers, grunts, brute muscle, four-legged beast, rocket wielding monstrosities, and telepathic nightmares, are all thrown in your way to take you down.

I have to admit for sole FPS gaming purposes, I have never been too fond of Sony’s controllers. I strongly feel, the analog sticks are way too close, in order to comfortably aim, strafe, duck, and shoot. It could coincide, with how buttons are mapped for each game. Most developers (on the PS2,) have always used clunky button schemes for their FPS’ creating a very uncomfortable experience. Insomniac manages once again to ease my worries, using a button scheme that feels more like second nature (a feature of FPS’ that’s A MUST.) R1 fires the guns primary function, and L1 fires secondary. Tapping R2 cycles through all the weapons you acquired, and holding it pauses the game (except when online) to select the specific weapon you want. The face buttons (square, circle, triangle, X) handle reloading, grenade throwing, melees and jumping. One gripe is that L2 allows you to crouch, which feels out of place considering crouching is done normally using the left stick. Despite that one complaint the control scheme, feels very comfortable and a good start to turning around the FPS scene on Sony’s new toy.

The Next-Gen Standard…

Resistance is a game thankfully, not plagued with the whole "next-gen launch game with last-gen visuals." Insomniac utilizes a solid graphics engine, (one I hope continues to see use in other games.) Everything about this game graphically is aesthetically pleasing. When it comes to next-gen graphics, textures are the name of the game, and this game has it in spades. Guns, helmets on soldiers, buildings, and vehicles all have a high texture count treating the eyes to next-gen ecstasy. The graphics engine also animates facial expressions extremely well, creating a very lifelike interaction. No…no…NO! it’s not prettier than the Unreal 3 Engine (I’m tired of reading about this issue on forums.) However, PS3 owners should be VERY proud of this game and what it brings to the table as a whole (and it brings A LOT).

BOOM!

Now allow me to touch base on the phenomenal sound of this game. For once while lounging in my cozy apartment, I decided to crank up my tower speakers and sub woofer to see what kind of treat I’d be in for. Good lord….I seriously need to invest in a 6.1 receiver (to the dismay of my girlfriend obviously.) With the meager set up I use, it still managed to sound like a full scale war had set off in my living room. The Call of Duty series has made sound a hallmark of their games. Gun fire, planes flying over head and explosions are done so well you will want to hit the trenches in order to protect yourself. These battles are done in COD with convincing results, and now Insomniac comes along and nails this aspect perfectly.

Um…Online Single Player?!?!?!

As you would expect with any console FPS, Resistance incorporates online multiplayer. Deathmatch, team deathmatch, and CTF (capture the flag), make up your run of the mill modes. Insomniac went the extra mile, coming up with some interesting twist giving you the additional modes: Breach, conversion, team conversion, and meltdown. Meltdown and Breach have you on offense or defense vying for control over nodes. These nodes act as spawn points that can be controlled by either side. Matches end, when the team on offense reaches and destroys the other teams’ reactor. Conversion (and the team variety) start, you off as a human soldier. Upon dying you become a Chimera soldier, die again and you cannot respawn, until one man (or Chimera) is left standing. Though this modes sound fun, I unfortunately have yet to find anyone playing these match types. All joinable games are DM, TDM, and CTF, making your options limited (unless you’re hosting). Each game mode allows you a ton of options, to tweak and tune the experience to your taste. One shot kills, weapon damage modifiers, infinite ammo (not as fun as it seems,) and many more create countless and different experiences each time.

Annoyances with online are despite having a ton of options for match modifications, about 80% of the matches you join will all use the same options (I really think PS3 gamers believe these match types take skill, and are extremely fun.) One hit kills, while enjoyable with eight to twelve people are NOT with 39 others vying to frag you. Literally, you take 4 steps and POW someone kills you in one shot with the friggin Carbine (the starting weapon of the game, you can practically frag someone from the other end of the map with this gun.) Not to mention, (and these are doozies) my biggest complaints about multiplayer are no recoil for weapons. I also have yet, out of 20 games, heard anyone on a headset. No recoil on the guns is one thing. (No recoil plus FPS plus infinite ammo equals easy head shots, and tons of mindless kills.) But no one using a headset is a completely different story. The whole point of online play to me, is being able to sit back relax and COMMUNICATE with the people your playing with. Do you agree? Ah, maybe not if you stick to the solo modes. If you’re looking for strategy, and communication amongst peers you have to find another game.

Hell On Earth…

Kudos, accolades, high fives, awards, props, gold stars, keys to the city, cookies, dap, or what ever you need to give Insomniac praise should be divvied NOW. Two of the most incredible aspects of this game, is something Insomniac has made their niche through out all their games. Level design, and weapons, two parts of a FPS, that although are very crucial, still do not receive the recognition they deserve. Now aside from one other game….never…and I stress NEVER, have I ever taken the time while playing to stop and admire my surroundings (not during a gun fight of course, I made sure to obliterate all threats before gawking.) Insomniac has done a hell of a job, designing the levels for this game. The parts in particular I love most, are all the rubble and destruction strewn throughout each locale. Buildings and bridges half collapsed, vehicles scorched from fire, this is what I saw constantly throughout the game. Big deal you say? You have to see it to truly appreciate, and this is the scene through…..oh…., 80 percent of the levels (with the exception of the conversion center level, which didn’t convey any destruction yet still had an awesome look, and style that will please all sci-fi fans). In the various check points you reach through out most levels, you can see first hand at how much the Chimera have decimated Europe.

As for weapons, Resistance features some of the best weapons for an FPS console bar none (rivaled only by the original Perfect Dark for the N64.) Weapons range from human and Chimera tech. As I stated above, each weapon features primary and secondary functions. Some weapons (Carbine) have been there done that tech. Primary fire is rapid fire machine gun, secondary being a grenade launcher. Other weapons incorporate lightning, plasma, and the generic rocket launcher. The two best weapons in this game are the Auger, and the Bullseye gun. The Auger is a nasty beast, firing radiation provides more then enough stopping power. What makes this gun stand out is: 1. secondary fire shoots a standalone shield that allows you to fire through the shield, but prevents enemy fire from entering. 2. Auger bullets go through ALL solid objects, and with each object it passes the bullets get stronger. The Bullseye fires plasma bolts, and is the Chimera’s main weapon of choice. Secondary fire uses a tag that locks on the target, and no matter the direction you aim your gun, all bullets fired will home in on the tagged target. These two guns alone have bailed me out of some tight situations, in single player and I’m positive it will bail you out when you get a chance to play. We also get a nice variety of grenades as well. Standard frag grenades show up for the party, but we also have hedgehog and air fuel grenades. Hedgehog grenades basically spread needles in all directions (very useful for chucking in confined spaces.) Air fuel grenades release flammable vapor in the surrounding vicinity. Seconds later it ignites the gas, engulfing everything in flames (jaw dropping stuff when you actually see it in motion).

Resistance is Futile…

Simply put. Resistance is one of the few games, keeping PS3 owners from kicking themselves in the rear. This game is exactly why; thousands camped out for a PS3 on launch day. For a first try, Insomniac created a competent, highly enjoyable FPS that supplants itself as a bona fide franchise. Special thanks goes to my close friend Fred Saunders, for his assistance in reviewing this game.