Resistance 3
The game I speak of is none other than Resistance 3! After selling Tomb Raider due to the ridiculous amount of blur and unrefined controls, feeling rather disappointed I was looking for another game to become engrossed in. Now, R3 was the last game I would have expected to purchase. This game totally flew over my head and I don't recall it receiving much attention at launch. For some reason, this series has always been somewhat ignored since the first, perhaps due to the appeal of Uncharted. I personally preferred Ratchet to Jak last gen, but nobody can deny that Naughty Dog stole the thunder this gen.
How then did I stumble across this hidden gem? Whilst playing Trine 2, I suddenly recalled a time when first person shooters were actually fun to play, when they were challenging. I enjoyed the last two Killzone's immensely, but elsewhere I have seen little to impress save for some exceptions. Far too many shooters nowadays rely on gimmicks and modern adjustments to the formula which take away the suspense and difficulty, the most obvious being regenerative health. Boss battles seem almost a thing of the past and checkpoints are far too frequent to pose any sort of challege. The combat itself is far too similar in most games and the guns are just... well, boring. I've simply had enough of red dot sights and drone strikes.
What I craved was something old school, something clunky but in a good sense. Something with good old health packs, and honest boss battles. I want something that doesn't take itself too seriously, that doesn't need superb hollywood style voice acting and a detailed script with characterisation. All I want is a good old fashioned action game, where it's fun to simply shoot things in the face, and I found it in Resistance 3!
Where this game shines, is in remembering that it is first and foremost a game. This game, unlike many others, puts gameplay before everything else. You won't find an amazing story here, nor superbly detailed graphics. What you will find, are shooting mechanics that are refined and accurate. There is variety within the weapons which gives you multiple options in combat. The environments are expansive and the enemies are a challenge, so you have to actually think before firing. Ammo and health are still a little too abundant for my liking, but it's still miles better than most games. You simply cannot run into enemy fire and then cower whilst the game holds your hand, strategy is necessary.
We also get treated to.... boss battles! Oh how I miss boss battles, they are awesome in this game. Whilst there are less than R2, they are a fun challenge and mini bosses are plentiful to build up suspense. The weapons upgrade with use, unlocking more powerful attributes, oh and you can carry as many as you like! I bet some of you remember those days, before we were limited to two guns. They sound fantastic too, which is also rare. The objectives are largely the same and most of the game involves blasting away hords of vicious enemies, but it's so darn fun that you won't complain!
I could rant on, but my message is this.. Anyone who wants a an old school FPS that is fun and challening, buy this game! It's like a hidden gem in a stale genre. I could go on but I suspect you get the message.
Sidenote: Everybody go and buy Trine 2, that is also immensely awesome.
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