Product Description

In this post-WWII epic, British and American forces are fighting a last-ditch battle against a parasitic species known as the Chimera. Resistance: Fall Of Man creates a post-apocalyptic Britain in which you must defend the west from complete obliteration!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #712 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2007-03-23
• Rating: To Be Announced
• ESRB Rating: Mature
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
In the end it will probably be to the benefit of European gamers that the PS3 was delayed, since it will give Sony the chance to put together a much more impressive line-up of launch games than greeted the console in America and Japan. Resistance was easily the best of the U.S. launch games – a first person shoot ‘em-up from the creators of Ratchet & Clank. The game’s story is based around an alternate version of World War II where instead of Nazis you’re facing off against the insect-like Chimera in a war torn Britain (naturally you’re playing an American though). It’s basically Call Of Duty meets Doom.

The game doesn’t use the tilt sensors of the Sixaxis controller for movement but it does demonstrate the improved build quality of the analogue sticks, which previously made first person shooters difficult on the PS2. The tilt sensors are used in a variety of secondary roles though, such as when you have to shake off a monster or if you get set on fire. Despite the faux WWII setting, most of the game’s weapons are fantastical and, as with Ratchet & Clank, are probably the highlight of the whole game. All have secondary fire modes, from grenade launchers to homing bullets. The armour piercing Auger for example, also doubles as a shield. There are also vehicle based sections, including a particularly fun ride in an almost indestructible tank.

Although the single player game is well above average, the criticism about the sometimes generic art and design are not entirely without foundation. Thankfully this is compensated by an excellent forty person online mode – a huge achievement for a launch game and a very good sign for future online PS3 games.
HARRISON DENT

Edge
Resistance proves itself to be a crisp and powerful piece of software

Manufacturer's Description
Resistance: Fall of Man is a first-person action game developed exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Set in a frightening alternate 20th century reality, it delivers a unique blend of harrowing military action and unnerving horror, with smart enemies, a variety of horrifying creatures, physics-based weaponry, playable vehicles, and highly detailed, diverse environments. Battle both on and offline, as the game delivers an engaging single player campaign, a cooperative mode, and one of the most complete multiplayer offerings on any console.

Customer Reviews

Fairly Short Campaign, but very fun overall
Resistance - Fall of Man is a first person shooter that combines World War II era environments with Doom-like horrific enemies to fight. It also offers great online multiplayer gameplay.

The plot is that, around the time of World War II, enemies attacked the world, starting with Russia and moving westward through Europe and England. In the 50s, the US launched a counter-attack, landing in England. You're fighting, at least to start with, with WWII era weapons and outfits through the streets of England.

Let's start with the graphics. The game goes for a very Call of Duty style of look - not quite realistic, more "cartooney" or stylized. Textures are smoothed out, some objects are simplified. That's not to say this is a Disney kiddie look. The monsters are grimey and nasty looking, the war-torn streets are very gritty. If anything, because this is set in a WWII type atmosphere, much of the game is brown, grimy and shell-shocked.

The HUD is reasonably well done and not intrusive. A small series of bars on the left indicates your health. An equally small but useful display on the right tracks your ammo, magazines and grenades.

The sound leans towards epic thundering scores, a la Gladiator or Conan. Players who love heavy rock music might not enjoy this, but I actually love this kind of music. I own both of the soundtracks I mentioned :). So to me, this really draws you into the atmosphere. The yells, gun noises and so on seem relatively realistic to help you feel you're really in the middle of a fight. I also like that, during gameplay, it's usually done without music. If I'm trying to sneak somewhere and listen for enemy movement, I don't want that objective made difficult by a soundtrack.

Gameplay itself is typical FPS fare. You can crouch, jump over things, zoom in on your enemy, throw grenades, strafe, and so on. Your friends and enemies are rather good about taking cover and not just rushing an enemy head-on. There are a few situations which seem quite scripted - if your pals are meant to die, you could play perfectly and take out every enemy quickly and your friends will still be killed by mysterious off-screen snipers. Still, the game needs to keep you on course for the plot so this is to be expected.

Checkpointing is reasonably good, although sometimes it sends you further back then you might like to start again. Healing is done via canisters you find, but depending on your skill you might wish there were more canisters scattered around :). That's why they have 3 levels of difficulty here.

The interactivity with your environment is pretty impressive. Say your enemy is hiding behind a car. You can shoot out the car's windows and then shoot the enemy through the open space. Or you can shoot the car to damage it, and have it explode a la the infamous 'red exploding barrels' found in most shooting games. If you shoot at a window a few times, it will first crack, then pieces will fall out.

Not only is the game great in single player mode, but you can play co-op with a friend at your home, or online in larger groups with friends or strangers from around the world. This helps turn the game from a play-for-a-few-months-at-home style game to a play-eternally-with-friends-online game.

Well recommended!

Simple Pleasures
Despite some disparaging comments that Resistance is a poor man's Gears of War, this is a great game.

The UK WW2 setting is quite original and well produced.

Each level has a simple main objective - get through it alive, but there are enough ambushes, sniping opportunities and all out firefights to keep it entertaining, even if there are no truly terrifying moments for horror fans and some sections go from relatively simple to frustratingly hard in moments (you'll know when you try the first level what I'm talking about).

The addition of skill point winning actions, such as avoiding being hit by any laser mines on a given level or killing certain creatures only with certain weapons allows you to add a level of challenge if you want, but isn't necessary for the first time through and in fact you need to finish the game once to unlock some of the more amusing weapons.

The story line is nothing new and you don't have to collect the intel along the way to make sense of it, but as a FPS it's good entertainment and certain moments, like firing a hedgehog grenade into a room of enemies and watching them get impaled, are a riot.

You do need a decent TV for the best results (i.e. 1080i/1080p) in which case the atmospheric graphics really pull you in and you can properly experience "lost hour" syndrome.

Of the four launch titles I have, this is the best of the lot and I'd thoroughly recommend it as an early example of PS3's potential.

Two eyes - good, four eyes - bad
I'm not a big fan of FPS games. I get disorientated, lose my way and miss the funcionality that 3rd person games tend to have. I think that I am lacking the necessary gene that allows me to function in a FPS environment. As such, I tend to stay away from them.

Having said that, I really liked this game. The storyline and gameplay are involving and keep you moving forward, there are some beautiful set piece battles in Manchester and a snow-bound London which make you think strategically about your attack and I have never come across such a brilliantly bizarre array of weapons before. There is nothing better than watching a hoard of Chimera who are all intent on exposing your soft, red inside bits to the air getting decimated by a niftily thrown hedgehog grenade (which is a posh nail bomb), or firing a Hailstorm turret into a room of the swine, beating a hasty retreat and then returning to a pile of gently steaming alien bits and innards.

The graphics are a hit and miss affair. The colours, or perhaps I should say the lack of colour looks amazing and is totally in keeping with the 1940s feel of the game. The environments are servicable enough with wood looking very woody and bricks looking very bricky but it lacks the 'WOW!' factor. The Chimera themselves, being genetically altered humans, all look the pretty much the same, even the bigger ones are just cut from a slightly altered template of big slimy things with many eyes and even more teeth, and while this sameness can be a little boring after a while it doesn't detract from the adrenaline edged fun when you have a dozen of them firing at your face.

Apart from the single player campaign there is also the option to play it split screen with a friend in collaborative mode, or to play in an online environment. I have yet to try these modes of play so will save comment until I do.

Although this game might have its faults, these are not enough to detract from the gameplay. A solid FPS with some great little touches. If you have thought about buying it I would definitely give it a try.

And lastly, to all the Xbox-lovers and Xbox-haters. It doesn't matter a fig what console you choose as long as you choose one and keep on gaming. Feel the love and hug your brother, um, unless he has four eyes and tons of sharp teeth.