Resistance: Fall Of Man
PS3
SCEE / Insomniac



Many are claiming this game as the best early release for the Playstation 3 and on the weight of evidence alone it is an extremely just claim. With all the hype and delays the collective gaming community were unsure if Sony's next generation console could possibly be worth "it."

'Resistance: Fall Of Man' issues a resounding defense of the beleaguered company. The in-play animation of this first person shooter is as good as most CGI cut-scenes on the previous console.

The game opens with an air transport being shot down overhead and I actually could not comprehend for a few minutes that these were actually game-play graphics. Before you know it you are running through the heavily destroyed streets of York, England, trying to fight back the invasion of the deadly alien Chimera. The year is 1951 and in this alternative timeline game the Second World War never occurred. Instead the whole continent of Europe was seized by the Chimera in 1949. After the overrun of England the Americans decide to try and prevent the destruction of humanity. That's where you come in. You play the role of Sergeant Nathan Hale, named after the famous spy during the American Revolution who supposedly uttered the words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

The highlights of this game are the animation and gun development, but then, the boffins at Insomniac have always been known for the excellent weapon designs from the Ratchet & Clank series. The detailed texturing in the background and surfaces is simply incredible. You don't really realize just how great an achievement this is until you put a PS2 game back in and see the blockiness of the previous generation. For me now I would declare most PS2 games to be unplayable in contrast to the new PS3 masterpieces.

Some of the highlights in weaponry include the deadly Chimeran Bull's Eye which allows you to track target an enemy if you successfully land a target tag on them and the Auger gun which allows you to shoot through physical objects.

In short this is not just a great early flagship for the PS3, but it is actually a truly impressive first player shooter. Not only is the game addictive and engaging; the enemy even try to counter your tactics. The multiplayer and online aspects are excellent. An experienced FPS player may find some of the levels to be a little on the easy side, even on the hardest level, but in all respects this game has nothing to complain about. Overall I have been completely impressed with this awesome initial foray into the world of the PS3.

Anthony Paxton