If you’ve played Resistance 2, and were blown away by it, this review may compel you to brace yourselves for more of the same with Resistance 3. Joseph Capelli is the new protagonist who is yet to get over his disturbing past which involved him killing Nathan Hale, the daredevil from the previous two games. The narrative of this sci-fi title has a poignant angle to it, which is a routine for high-profile games these days. With Resistance 3, Insomniac has looked to provide you with everything that the first two titles in the series couldn’t. And boy, have they done it in style. Never during the game is there a moment when you can sit back and chill out. From boat rides to train rides, from deadly weapons to enthralling battles, this title packs it all without ever making you realize that these elements are a common sight in almost every other shooter these days.
The game begins with a spectacularly designed animated flashback about what transpired in the previous titles. From there on, we transcend into an underground settlement in Oklahoma which is inhabited by the Capelli’s and some other families. These people live there in secrecy so as to avoid irking the Chimeras in any way. But as one would expect, the beasts have nonetheless entered the town and evacuation is the only measure. A certain Dr. Malikov, (can be known from the earlier two titles) plants an idea in Joseph’s head. He asserts that going to New York and destroying a Chimeran wormhole, which threatens to freeze the planet, can avoid the earth from being frozen and ultimately help bring the situation back under control. After being compelled by his wife, he sets out on the horrific journey from Oklahoma to New York City. This establishes the game’s prodigal plot that has been crafted with the slightest of detail.
Towards the beginning, you obviously require some time to get a hold of the shooting business. That’s probably why the initial battles are a bit bland in nature, but before you know it, a grim gorilla-like Chimera is out to throw you all over the place. Speaking about the Chimera, another breed is introduced by this title in the form of Long Legs. Equipped with weapons, these creatures have a tendency to evade your cross hairs by flying in random patterns. And then there’s the customary Widowmakers and Ravagers who pop up in the form of boss fights. What’s exciting is the fact that they all die with huge roars to give you that feeling of really having done something. This brings us to the audio side of the game. A sci-fi shooter featuring scary creatures is indubitably expected to have topnotch SFX and spine chilling music. Resistance 3 epitomizes our claim with utmost effortlessness. It never looks to fright you or shock you in any way. And it isn’t even supposed to. Don’t forget that this is a shooter, not a survival horror.
The HD visuals rendered by this game are fascinating, to say the least. The high frame rate will forevermore keep reminding you that you really are playing a game that is worth every sparkling penny you’ve paid for it. Environments and characters in Resistance 3 brilliantly capture the central theme of this title. Looking at the homes of people and the fear in which they live, might remind you of the holocaust, and they act as catalysts to engross you further into the plot. During the well-directed cut-scenes, don’t be surprised if some non-gamer comes up from behind and asks, ‘Which movie?’ Yes, they’re that good! All throughout the game, there is a sepia tone to the visuals to keep you reminded that everything is actually happening in 1957. This need arises because of the array of ahead of its time weapons that are featured in the game. All through the battles, the Chimeras have a pleasing tendency of exploding into blood-spattered masses. And we do love stuff like that, don’t we?
After an unappreciated hiatus in the second title, gameplay elements like the health bar and the weapon wheel make a comeback into the franchise with Resistance 3, allowing you to plan your battles wisely. Ammo and health are lying around at certain places and if you find large chunks of them at one certain location, you better expect some long Chimeran ambushes. The press of a button pops up a buffet of weapons which you keep collecting through the game. Using a particular gun long enough, levels it up, making it all the more destructible. Even if you like sticking to particular guns no matter what, this game forces you to explore every weapon available. As you move towards Capelli’s ultimate destination of New York City, you are encountered with varied situations and are guided towards objectives with a small dot-like navigation device. We are not exactly all praise for this feature. Firstly, it sometimes suffers delays and crops up when you’re all lost. Secondly, it is too small. Anyways, the point here is that a better navigation device would have been a nice addition to an otherwise stellar game.
Resistance 3 marks the commencement of the PSN Pass program that provides buyers with a unique code which is required to access the multiplayer features of the game. This mode is no different from what we got to see in the game’s beta. The maps are spread around the world and include both deathmatch and objective based matches. All you co-op fans out there would be glad to know that the entire campaign can be played by two players either online or split-screen.
Final Word: If you’re one of those gamers who love their single-player campaigns, you’ll be surprised to know that this game doesn’t pack in much of that. Barring Uncharted 2, we can’t remember a single PS3 exclusive giving us total single-player satisfaction. The game moves at a nice pace, but you suddenly realize that you’ve reached New York City and its soon going to end. To compensate for that, Insomniac looks to take the aid of menu additions like journals, audio logs and difficulty levels. Even the final sequence seems as if it has been rushed to meet a deadline or something. But, taken as a whole, Resistance 3 really is a fantastic effort which combines extravagant visuals with an ornate gameplay experience.
Graphics: 9.5/10
Sounds: 9/10
Environments: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Replay Value: 8/10
Overall (not an average): 9/10