Resistance 3 has plenty of large-scale battles and towering bosses but it's the game's ability to continually change things up that keeps the experience fresh. While boat levels, train levels and escort missions aren't uncommon in modern action games, Insomniac has placed them perfectly throughout the campaign in order to diversify the action.
At no point over the course of the 10-hour story does the narrative's surging momentum ever waver. One moment you might be in an all-out skirmish, the next you're creeping through a field of long grass, stealthily stabbing Chimera in the back. While the action might slow down from time to time, the intensity never does. Insomniac knows that without valleys you can't have peaks and its pacing in Resistance 3 is exceptional in this regard.
Where's Johnny Rico when you need him?
Insomniac's focus on character and story also helps set Resistance 3's campaign apart from its shooter contemporaries. The studio's team of writers have crafted a storyline that continually gut-punches you with its emotional resonance and unexpected moments, particularly in its second act. Without spoiling anything, the story takes a surprising detour through some dark territory before returning to the mission at hand. It's nice to see a shooter in this day and age that never loses sight of the importance of story.
Even with such a strong single player campaign, Resistance 3's multiplayer continues to be one of the series' strong points; it's very well-implemented. Some fans may be disappointed that the player count has been scaled down from 60 players in the last game to just 16 players in Resistance 3, but ultimately this down-sizing merely makes the multiplayer combat more personal and less chaotic. Plus, when you consider how different the world in the game is since the events of Resistance 2, it only makes sense that multiplayer matches would also reflect this change.
"Come at me bro."
The other big change to the series' multiplayer is the introduction of Abilities. Having a perk system is quickly becoming de rigueur for online shooters but it's a necessary staple Insomniac has embraced well. Resistance 3's Abilities work in much the same way as the perk systems in most of the current crop of competitive shooters. You can spawn a holographic version of yourself, Total Recall-style, or get the radar to show you the locations of all the ammo in the area.
Kill-streaks also unlock some equally handy actions in the heat of battle, like the ability to deploy a shield that floats in front of you, or camouflage yourself like a Predator (someone at Insomniac has been watching a lot of Schwarzenegger movies). Leveling up your character will reward you with some really cool stuff, which is obviously a boon for loyal players.
Weapon upgrades also keep you coming back for more, and the more you level up, the more weapons you start to unlock. New players will start off with the M5A2 Folsom Carbine or Bullseye, though after a few rounds you'll quickly start to acquire more tactical options, like the Rossmore shotgun and Marksman (which lays down an automatic turret as its secondary-fire mode). Eventually, you'll have the entire arsenal to pick and choose from. The Auger, with its ability to see and shoot through walls, is particularly useful for killing enemies that like to camp inside buildings.
The usual Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes make an appearance, as well as a Deathmatch Small mode, for people after a more intimate kill-fest. War Games mode allows for objective-based matches, much like the ones that made Killzone's multiplayer so compelling. Breach mode has a group of attackers trying to destroy the defending team's reactors and Chain Reaction has players attempting to gain control over multiple areas throughout a map in order to open or stop a worm-hole. This mode in particular can lead to some especially epic battles.
"Haha! You think this is the real Quaid? It is."
Co-operative mode is back in Resistance 3 too, although much like the competitive multiplayer component, the number of players has also been scaled back. It's down from eight players in the last game to just two players in this one. This makes for a more intimate co-op experience that's better suited to the nature of the story being told here. Insomniac has also included an option to play the co-op mode in split-screen, which is a blast if you have a buddy to hang out on the couch and kill aliens with.
The combination of a stellar single player campaign and multiplayer modes that are full of superbly-executed additions adds up to an overall package that has earned its place in the upper echelons of not just first party exclusives, but console shooters in general. If this truly is Insomniac's last Resistance game for the foreseeable future, then the developer certainly went out with a bang... or perhaps more appropriately, an explosive growl.
Closing Comments
Resistance 3 offers the same polished experience as the last two games in the series, only this time the action is more focused and tightly structured. Insomniac clearly wanted to make this game a more harrowing and personal experience, and by focusing its attention on a smaller, more personal story within the invasion, it has succeeded without question. While the big military operations have been replaced by more intimate battles, the sense of scale is as intimidating as ever. This is a surprisingly emotional cinematic roller-coaster of a campaign that never lets up.
Likewise, multiplayer in the game remains of the same high caliber as before. The number of players in its multiplayer modes may have been reduced, but fans should rest assured that the quality of the experience remains first-class. Resistance 3 is a must-buy for PS3 shooter fans.
Presentation 9.0
The visual style is consistent from its menus, right through to the actual game. Layouts of Abilities and matchmaking options are clear and concise.
Graphics 8.5
While the game isn't quite the technical marvel that Killzone 3 is, it's still as pretty as this kind of bleak and grimy experience can be.
Sound 9.5
Stunning sound effects and music help create one hell of an unnerving atmosphere. Voice acting is also top-notch.
Gameplay 9.0
Resistance 3 feels and controls wonderfully. The campaign is always exciting and the game's weapons are more awesome than ever.
Lasting Appeal 9.0
A decent-sized campaign is complemented by a fun co-operative mode, and excellent multiplayer. Unlocks in multiplayer will keep players coming back for more.
OVERALL 9.0 (Amazing)
At no point over the course of the 10-hour story does the narrative's surging momentum ever waver. One moment you might be in an all-out skirmish, the next you're creeping through a field of long grass, stealthily stabbing Chimera in the back. While the action might slow down from time to time, the intensity never does. Insomniac knows that without valleys you can't have peaks and its pacing in Resistance 3 is exceptional in this regard.
Insomniac's focus on character and story also helps set Resistance 3's campaign apart from its shooter contemporaries. The studio's team of writers have crafted a storyline that continually gut-punches you with its emotional resonance and unexpected moments, particularly in its second act. Without spoiling anything, the story takes a surprising detour through some dark territory before returning to the mission at hand. It's nice to see a shooter in this day and age that never loses sight of the importance of story.
Even with such a strong single player campaign, Resistance 3's multiplayer continues to be one of the series' strong points; it's very well-implemented. Some fans may be disappointed that the player count has been scaled down from 60 players in the last game to just 16 players in Resistance 3, but ultimately this down-sizing merely makes the multiplayer combat more personal and less chaotic. Plus, when you consider how different the world in the game is since the events of Resistance 2, it only makes sense that multiplayer matches would also reflect this change.
"Come at me bro."
The other big change to the series' multiplayer is the introduction of Abilities. Having a perk system is quickly becoming de rigueur for online shooters but it's a necessary staple Insomniac has embraced well. Resistance 3's Abilities work in much the same way as the perk systems in most of the current crop of competitive shooters. You can spawn a holographic version of yourself, Total Recall-style, or get the radar to show you the locations of all the ammo in the area.
Kill-streaks also unlock some equally handy actions in the heat of battle, like the ability to deploy a shield that floats in front of you, or camouflage yourself like a Predator (someone at Insomniac has been watching a lot of Schwarzenegger movies). Leveling up your character will reward you with some really cool stuff, which is obviously a boon for loyal players.
Weapon upgrades also keep you coming back for more, and the more you level up, the more weapons you start to unlock. New players will start off with the M5A2 Folsom Carbine or Bullseye, though after a few rounds you'll quickly start to acquire more tactical options, like the Rossmore shotgun and Marksman (which lays down an automatic turret as its secondary-fire mode). Eventually, you'll have the entire arsenal to pick and choose from. The Auger, with its ability to see and shoot through walls, is particularly useful for killing enemies that like to camp inside buildings.
The usual Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes make an appearance, as well as a Deathmatch Small mode, for people after a more intimate kill-fest. War Games mode allows for objective-based matches, much like the ones that made Killzone's multiplayer so compelling. Breach mode has a group of attackers trying to destroy the defending team's reactors and Chain Reaction has players attempting to gain control over multiple areas throughout a map in order to open or stop a worm-hole. This mode in particular can lead to some especially epic battles.
"Haha! You think this is the real Quaid? It is."
Co-operative mode is back in Resistance 3 too, although much like the competitive multiplayer component, the number of players has also been scaled back. It's down from eight players in the last game to just two players in this one. This makes for a more intimate co-op experience that's better suited to the nature of the story being told here. Insomniac has also included an option to play the co-op mode in split-screen, which is a blast if you have a buddy to hang out on the couch and kill aliens with.
The combination of a stellar single player campaign and multiplayer modes that are full of superbly-executed additions adds up to an overall package that has earned its place in the upper echelons of not just first party exclusives, but console shooters in general. If this truly is Insomniac's last Resistance game for the foreseeable future, then the developer certainly went out with a bang... or perhaps more appropriately, an explosive growl.
Closing Comments
Resistance 3 offers the same polished experience as the last two games in the series, only this time the action is more focused and tightly structured. Insomniac clearly wanted to make this game a more harrowing and personal experience, and by focusing its attention on a smaller, more personal story within the invasion, it has succeeded without question. While the big military operations have been replaced by more intimate battles, the sense of scale is as intimidating as ever. This is a surprisingly emotional cinematic roller-coaster of a campaign that never lets up.
Likewise, multiplayer in the game remains of the same high caliber as before. The number of players in its multiplayer modes may have been reduced, but fans should rest assured that the quality of the experience remains first-class. Resistance 3 is a must-buy for PS3 shooter fans.
Presentation 9.0
The visual style is consistent from its menus, right through to the actual game. Layouts of Abilities and matchmaking options are clear and concise.
Graphics 8.5
While the game isn't quite the technical marvel that Killzone 3 is, it's still as pretty as this kind of bleak and grimy experience can be.
Sound 9.5
Stunning sound effects and music help create one hell of an unnerving atmosphere. Voice acting is also top-notch.
Gameplay 9.0
Resistance 3 feels and controls wonderfully. The campaign is always exciting and the game's weapons are more awesome than ever.
Lasting Appeal 9.0
A decent-sized campaign is complemented by a fun co-operative mode, and excellent multiplayer. Unlocks in multiplayer will keep players coming back for more.
OVERALL 9.0 (Amazing)
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