Resistance

Overview

The Resistance franchise currently includes 4 games; Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2 and Resistance 3 for the PlayStation 3. There was also Resistance: Retribution for the PlayStation Portable. These were all developed by Insomniac Games and Bend Game Studio respectively. Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, and the upcoming Resistance 3 are First-Person shooters with Resistance: Retribution being a third-person shooter. All games include elements of horror, action and adventure.

The series is set in an alternative World War II era time-line, in which a mysterious race of presumably alien creatures are taking over the world. As a soldier fighting on the front-lines of the war to save humanity you will use and visit a variety of period and futuristic weapons and locations; this intermingling of old and sci-fi is one of the series most notable traits.

Setting

The Resistance franchise's alternate time-line begins at the end of World War I. In this universe the Russian Empire initiates a communications blackout with the rest of the world and begins building a wall against it's European borders known as the 'Red Curtain'. A strange cold front develops over Russia and spreads across Europe and rumors spread throughout the continent of towns and cities in Russia that are destroyed overnight. British intelligence agencies tried to make radio contact with the nation but were met with the same message on repeat:

Brotherhood, Strength and Fortitude "Brotherhood, Strength and Fortitude... in the face of the angry night."

On December 1st 1949 the Red Curtain is breached by an alien species with all manner of powerful weaponry, and by February the entire European landmass is overrun.

The games' storylines begin from this point.

Chimera

The Chimeran race arrive on Earth with an asteroid that struck northern Russia. Their direct origin is still unconfirmed but they are definitely extraterrestrial, wielding highly advanced weapons and all manner of war machine. The chimeran army expands by infecting humans with a virus that will, under the correct condition, convert the human DNA. This allows the Chimera to essentially produce soldiers in conversion centers. The Chimera have a very advanced command structure and as their army grows their movement seems to become more tactical.

Games

Resistance: Fall of Man

Resistance: Fall of Man was released on Novermber 16, 2006 as a launch title for Sony's PlayStation 3. The game was a new direction for developers Insomniac who had only worked of Ratchet and Clank titles in the past. However, this gritty, dark FPS is widely regarded as the best PlayStation 3 launch title and was the first game to sell over 1 million copies on the console. The game features single-player, multi-player and both online and offline co-operative modes; the inclusion of all these modes was another hurdle that the developers successfully crossed.

The game takes place in Europe as Nathan Hale attempts to defend the continent against the Chimera.

Resistance 2

The sequel was released on November 4, 2008. The game this time boast sheer size over is predecessor; featuring enormous boss fights, a larger single-player campaign and 60 player multi-player (which was the highest player count for any console game at the time). This time the story focuses on the United States rather than Europe and as such players will see several icons, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, throughout the story missions.

The game received generally positive reviews, earning itself a 87 on Metacritic. Critics said the game's enormous set-pieces were it's strongest moments.

Resistance: Retribution

Retribution is a spin-off title developed for the PlayStation Portable by Bend Game Studio and released March 17, 2009. The game is set between Fall of Man and R2, but players take control of a new main protagonist, James Grayson.

The game was very well received for a PSP game, earning an 84 on Metacritic. It was universally praised for it's unique aiming system that was designed specifically for the handheld console.

Resistance 3

The end of the trilogy was released on September 6, 2011. This time you play as Joseph Capelli, comrade of the previous protagonist Nathan Hale, as he journeys across the Chimera-controlled United States. The game takes place in 1957, four years after the events of Resistance 2. In that time the Chimera have become the world's dominant inhabitants, with some human survivors resorting to cannibalism due to a lack of food. The former United States is the game's main setting, traveling across numerous states throughout the game.

The game has received generally positive reviews, having earned an 83 on Metacritic. Critics considered a worthy end to the trilogy, as good as the other games in the series.

Resistance: Burning Skies

The second portable entry in the Resistance franchise, this time on the PlayStation Vita. This time the story follows a new protagonist by the name of Tom Riley. The story takes place in August 1951, and follows Tom as he tries to rescue his family in the middle of the Chimera invasion.

The game has received mixed reviews, currently holding a 58 on Metacritic, the lowest scored game in the series.