Better than the original...
Resistance 2 is the follow up sequel to the Playstation 3's exclusive launch title Resistance: Fall of Man. It's a first person shooter created by Insomniac Games, who's known for their Ratchet and Clank installments. You play as the infected soldier Nathan Hale in his continued saga to save humanity from the Chimeran invasion which has now come to the home front of the United States (specifically California, Illinois and Louisiana). Despite what the many has described as a generic story plot, I found the single player to be comparable to a very good gory, action-packed war movie that takes place in an alternative 1950s reality. The sequel delivers more action with a greater sense of scale in terms of the environments as well as the bosses. In the spirit of Insomniac's Ratchet and Clank series and the original Resistance: Fall of Man, the game delivers a plethora of unique and satisfying weaponry, which (in my opinion) helps to distinguish this game from your everyday run of the mill WWII first person shooters.
The gameplay is top notch as the controls are very responsive and can be altered to suit all hardcore COD4 fans. The graphics have been drastically improved to a point that although they emulate the original, the environment textures and colors have a distinct "POP" that help to immerse the player in the experience. The audio is satisfying and delivers a very eerie and atmospheric vibe. This point is hugely first noticed after your convoy is ambushed in the Californian forest and you have to fight through multiple waves of Chimeran foes, especially the Chameleons. They make an unforgettable noise that is a good indication that they are in close proximity yet emits a chill up your spine, which is quite exhilarating.
Due to modern gaming circumstances, the game features not one, but two online gameplay experiences. The first is a unique 2-8 players cooperative mode which places you and your squad mate(s) up against Chimeran AI. Your goal in this mode is to complete numerous sub-tasks, ultimately achieving your end objective (if successful). The key goal in this co-op mode is to stick together and for each team member to perform their class specific tasks. You receive experience points (XP) for each kill, but optimize your XP when performing your duties (i.e. medic heals/revives fallen comrades, soldier kills enemies, special ops delivers munition packs to teammates, etc.). It's a very satisfying and refreshing mode that is helps to complete such a unique and well-rounded game such as this.
Completing the trio of gameplay (single player campaign and cooperative mode) is the competitive online mode. Here you can find your traditional deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag modes in 2-60 player battles. These modes can prove to be a bit chaotic, especially during the 60 players settings and can sometimes make an individual feel as if they are not impacting the overall war (or goal) that your team is engaged in. If this is the case, Resistance 2's competitive mode may offer players a more focused online experience in the form of their Skirmish mode. Here, players are divided up into squads, and each squad receives on-the-fly objectives to complete. Objectives are updated often and can change the flow of battle drastically, so each match has a unique, frantic feel. Unlike in the cooperative mode, you have all the abilities and weapons in the single-player campaign readily available to you, so everyone is more or less evenly matched. This mode is great and in pursuit of completing your objectives you can pass members of the rival team without no knowledge due to your willingness to complete your assigned task at hand.
In conclusion, Resistance 2 is a superb game that offers three modes that will suit any fan of the first person genre. If you're a fan of the original Resistance game, first person shooters or love games with a sci-fi twist, Resistance 2 will provide hours of enjoyment and is a must buy (in my opinion) for owners of the PS3.
Final Score: 9.1
