Looks can be deceiving when it comes to the PS3's launch "killer app."
At first glance, Resistance looks like a fairly run-of-the-mill space
marine shooter with lackluster graphics and a forgettable story. But
what emerges (quickly) is an extremely challenging FPS that keeps you
engaged not through pretty environments or a riveting plot, but tough
fights that often require multiple attempts and different methods of
attack to figure out how to survive.
The "easy" difficulty is no safe haven -- this setting is more like
"normal" or "hard" in other games. While this may occasionally
aggravate players who want a less-intense playthrough just to
experience the storyline, it does force you to appreciate the pitched
battles and makes you earn (and value) your progress all that much
more. Ultimately, it's a more rewarding experience. I've been guilty of
using "god" mode or easy settings to get through less-than-spectacular
shooters just to see the campaign through, but what happens is you're
basically cheating yourself of what makes a shooter worth playing. So a
tip of the hat is in order to Insomniac for sticking to their guns and
not wimping out too much with the difficulty settings at the risk of
watering down their gameplay.
And the gameplay really is the main attraction here. Enemy AI and
attack design is generally strong throughout. While the game is a
little long in the campaign, enemy variety never feels too repetitive
or like you're just slogging through yet another battle.
What ultimately keeps Resistance from rising higher is the extremely
bland storyline and forgettable characters. There will be no plot
motivation to move forward in the campaign, so you better like shooting
stuff. Graphics are also fairly dated. If you've been playing any PC
shooters recently, you'll feel like it's 2002 all over again. Level
design is fairly compact and Insomniac does an admirable job crafting
realistic levels that flow naturally. There's hints of exploration with
multiple paths through a level and lots of hidden items and
incentivized rewards (concept art, new weapons after multiple
playthroughs), so there is some replay value here if you're so enamored
with the game.
Resistance is a solid if unspectacular shooter and a worthwhile
playthrough for any PS3 owner. Just don't expect anything too
mind-blowing and enjoy the game for what it does well, instead of
tearing it apart for its flaws.
