While I don't consider Resistance to be groundbreaking, it is a very solid and enjoyable shooter.
GAMEPLAY (9.0) - Resistance takes place in an alternate history where World War II never occurred (which leaves some interesting questions about what happened to Nazi Germany) but instead has an even worse scenario of first Russia and then Europe being overrun by an alien race known as the Chimera. The game takes players through the events of an American liberation attempt of Britain through the eyes of Nathan Hale. The game does not waste anytime in tossing players directly into the action. In fact there will be very few times that players will not be in combat. While some might want more out of their shooters such as interactions with NPCs, puzzle-solving etc. developer Insomniac Games instead put just about all of their focus on the actual fighting and fortunately it paid off. One of the nicer features is the weaponry, an area that Insomniac (developer of the Ratchet and Clank games) does particularly well. There are plenty of weapons on offer, both "standard" as well as alien. The weapons keep coming at a regular pace throughout the game and a wide variety of them as well. Alternate firing works as expected and the various grenades also help mix things up a bit. A good balance is struck. While players will probably have one or two weapons they'll use more than the others, the entire arsenal is useful at different times. The enemy artificial intelligence is impressive as the aliens will use cover and attempt flanking maneuvers. The friendly AI leaves a bit to be desired but most of the time Nathan is on his own so it's not too much of an issue. There are a few driving sequences involving a tank and a jeep that aren't too memorable but offer a little break from the FPS action. The game follows a very linear path. Some may be disappointed at the lack of exploration but at least there's almost no chance of becoming lost or confused as to which direction to head to next.
GRAPHICS (8.0) - While Resistance is overall a decent looking game it does have some issues. Everything has a monochromatic look that tends to dull the environments. Understandably there is the attempt to make the world look dreary under the Chimera rule but it seems as though too much color was taken out. There are also times when the textures will look rather simple and almost on a PS2 level, though people have to keep in mind that this was a launch title so they should keep an open mind as developers were just beginning to understand what the PS3 was capable of and how to program for it. Character models are very well done. From the enemy Chimera to the giant metallic spiders, all are well modelled and animated. Overall the graphics seemed to get better and better as the game progressed as each level was more visually stunning then the last and the game becomes more interesting because of this.
AUDIO (8.0) - The soundtrack in Resistance is pretty impressive with its symphonic score. While it is not the most memorable score I have ever heard the soundtrack fits with the atmosphere. During play the music will change at key moments in the game, which helps to pull players further into the story. There's also a nice collection of sound effects. The weapons will give sound systems a nice workout while the explosions will shake sub-woofers. Surround sound effects are plentiful and rear speakers will be quite active during the crazy battles with bullets whizzing all around. The Chimeras have an intimidating alien voice with their low growls, similar to Gears of War though they are not heard as often. Overall the audio in Resistance is very well done and worthy of a home theatre set-up if possible.
VALUE (9.0) - While the game didn't show how many hours were used to complete the SP campaign I'm estimating it took somewhere in the 15 hour range, pretty impressive for a FPS. There are some unlockables and bonus items to be found, mostly by performing various achievements in the game to collect points which unlock things such as concept art. There is some replayability as even more types of guns are unlocked on a second playthrough. Resistance also offers a split-screen cooperative mode. The cooperative play changes the game somewhat as the AI ramps it up and there are more enemies to kill, making it a slightly different game. I have not attempted any of the MP modes but Resistance has built a great reputation with its huge selection of MP games, some of which offer battles that involve up to 40 players at once.
SUMMARY - Anyone looking for a deep story or an adventure-themed game that would involve non-combat sequences won't find much to love here. Resistance is made for people that enjoy non-stop shooting action. Insomniac Games did a great job with the weapon selection and the gameplay, not to mention a top-notch selection of MP offerings. Recommended for FPS fans.