Resistance: Fall of Man Review

This page references a News Article from KSI.

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Resistance: Fall of Man is the premier game to own for the PlayStation 3. Game developer Insomniac, better known for their Ratchet and Clank series on the PS2, have delved into the world of Mature Rated Games and came out with something extraordinary. Resistance is a brilliant First Person Shooter that combines all the classic elements of the genre along with some new and inventive game elements that altogether create a surreal gaming experience. Here’s a review for Resistance: Fall of Man.

The year is 1951. You play American Solider Sergeant Nathan Hale as you try to help the British Army from fending off an alien virus known as the Chimera Virus. The virus infects humans and transforms them into creatures called Chimera. They have laid waste to all of Asia and Europe and have burrowed their way under the English Channel to invade the island. They are a vicious species that shows no mercy for any form of life other then its own. Their metabolism is around 10 times that of humans requiring them to where a cooling apparatus on their back (This comes into play in multiplayer much more then in the single player). Your task, as Nathan Hale, is to invade enemy territory and eliminate the Chimera threat. No easier said then done, but at least you will have an extensive arsenal at your hands.

Visually, the game is rather good when compared to other next-gen titles. Fire effects look fairly realistic. Dynamic lighting is used to create a very dark and surreal world around you. Sometimes the scenery around you does look eerily real. The game does have some very nice particle effects. One in particular is created by a gun called the L-112 Dragon (Flamethrower). You can create a gaseous haze in front of you that looks quite amazing and creates a remarkable visual effect.

The games AI works alright in most parts. Chimera will attack you in groups and try to move from cover to cover, but more often then not, they will stand out in the open allowing for you to easily move in and out of cover to get a shot on them. Do not expect much help from you fellow allies that sometimes run along your side. They are dumber then the Chimera and are really only good for drawing fire when you try to flank then enemy.

If you have played any iteration of the Ratchet and Clank series for the PS2, then you know that Insomniac Games puts a great deal of time into weapon design. This game is no exception. You begin the game with the WWII classic, M1 Carbine, with some slight modifications of course. A 50-round clip and a built in grenade launcher help to get you on your way into the world of Resistance. You will also encounter other FPS standards as you progress through the game; Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, Rocket Launcher.

Each weapon has two distinct firing modes. Pressing the R1 button engages the primary fire, while L1 engages the secondary fire. This is where the brilliance in the weapon design comes into play. The secondary fire modes make for some truly interesting a groundbreaking gameplay. A Chimera weapon, known as the bullseye, has a fire mode called Tag. You send out a bolt of energy that sticks to the enemy, then no matter where you shoot from, the bullets will be attracted to that point, essentially allowing you to fire from behind cover and kill your enemy. Another Chimera weapon, called the Auger, is arguably the most innovative weapon in the game. While pressing R1, you shoot out bolts of energy that can not only pass through solid objects, but also gain strength as they do. No amount of cover can save you from the weapon if used properly, making killing pesky Chimera a bit easier.

Multiplayer is the key to a good game, and thankfully, Resistance has this covered. While online, you can play as a Human or a Chimera. The differences between the two are slight but do impact gameplay a great deal. Humans start of in matches with a M1 Carbine and a Frag Grenade, while the Chimera start off with a Bullseye and no grenade. Each player can enter into a Sprint Mode by tapping the L2 Trigger, while the Chimera is in this mode; he gains the ability to see body heat signatures. At the same time though, while in this Rage Mode, the Chimera can overheat causing you to lose up to 50% of your health. To compliment this ability, Humans have access to a higher quality radar system.

There are six main gametypes. Three you will be familiar with; Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag. The other three, Meltdown, Breach, and Conversion, are a bit different. Conversion is a FFA gametype with a twist. You only get two lives and the last man standing wins. It is called conversion because everyone starts off as a human and after their first death, converts to a Chimera. Team games can be played as Human vs. Human, Human vs. Chimera, and Chimera vs. Chimera. Meltdown and Breach make use of reactor nodes that are strewn across the map. By capturing nodes, you cause you enemy’s reactor to overheat and eventually meltdown. In breach, the same concept applies with capturing nodes, only you must enter your enemy’s base and destroy their reactor to win. Capturing nodes allows for more respawn points for your team.

Games themselves run on a point system. Kills and Flag/Node Captures are worth 10 points and Assists are worth 2. Therefore, there is a way of determining a winner in if the time limit on the round runs out. Therefore, technically you could win a Deathmatch without actually killing someone.

As with most games these days, there is a ranking system built into Resistance. You gain experience points (XP) by playing in Ranked or Unranked Matches, and use this to advance in rank. You begin as a Private and advance up to Supreme General. As you progress in rank, you unlock various items (helmets, skin colors, and clothing color) which can be applied to your character layout. Resistance also allows for Clans. You can create a Clan and enable a Clan Tag option so everyone in the Clan has the same Tag bracketed in front of their actual Gamertags.

There is also a Ribbon/Medal system built into Multiplayer. You get ribbons for lesser achievements such as, 5 kills in a row or capturing a Flag, where as you get medals for overall achievements, like 100 Carbine Kills or 1000 Total Kills. At the end of each game, you can view what ribbons you have earned and every stat gets tracked in your own personal profile, which can be accessed at any time from the menu. There you can view how many times you have earned a specific ribbon, you kill to death ratio, and you accuracy according to weapon.

Insomniac also makes use of the PS3’s SIXAXIS controller as well. When in gameplay, if you yourself become tagged by a bullseye, catch on fire, or get caught in the clutches of a Chimera, you can rid yourself from these threats to your health by tilting the controller up and down rapidly. While in online or offline multiplayer, tilting the controller to the left will bring up a full map display, showing objective points as well as allies and enemies. Tilting the controller to the right will bring up an in game scoreboard, showing you your kills, deaths, assists and overall score.

Overall the game is very solid. Sound is used very well to help create a dark and disturbing ambiance around you. Allies will call out enemy locations sometimes, although not with a great deal of clarity. You will be treated to Chimera grunts more often then you would like too. The story has enough of a plot to keep you interested in what is going on. Some multiplayer bugs, but what game does not. Offline Co-op also adds to the replay value. Resistance: Fall of Man is the killer app right now for the PS3. It combines everything that is great with the FPS genre, along with some new and fresh elements. If you were lucky enough to get a PS3 this holiday season, the Resistance is a most have.

Gameplay: 9 Visual/Sound: 8.5 Online Play: 9.5 Replay Online: 9

Overall Score: 9 out of 10

Additional Info

Written by: KSI J Pice 7

Posted By: KSI R3X 7

Publish Date: Thursday 04 January 2007

Featured Pages: Twisted Kaos