Resistance 2 Review
- Posted November 13th, 2008 at 06:35 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 18,695 views
- 80 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 8.5
- Avg. user review score:
- 9.4
Summary
Resistance 2 is a worthy successor to Resistance: Fall of Man. Do not resist the urge to pick this one up.
We like
- The thrilling campaign that ends with a bang
- The outstanding co-op and competitive modes
- The standout visuals
We dislike
- The network issues
- That the storyline chugs at the beginning of the game
- That the enemies ignore your allies
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
[Editor’s Note: The final score was slightly influenced by the game’s network issues. As these could be remedied at any point, an update to the score is not out of the question in the future.]
Resistance: Fall of Man was the pinnacle of the PlayStation 3 launch line-up. While clearly a first generation title, Resistance featured polished gameplay and concurrently hinted at the technical prowess of the PS3. Two years down the road, Insomniac Games has finished work on the sequel. Though it’s not flawless, Resistance 2 maintains Insomniac’s extremely high quality standard.
Resistance 2 picks up right where Fall of Man left off. Nathan Hale walks wearily up a snowy hillside, head hanging, about to collapse. A helicopter descends. Several men step out and forcefully escort Hale back to the copter. Cue Resistance 2. The game literally begins with the final cinematic from Resistance: Fall of Man, which then seamlessly transitions into the Resistance 2 intro sequence. You'll immediately notice a few distinct differences – the narrator is gone, and Hale seems to have acquired vocal chords. Additionally, the use of motion capture and the InterSense camera creates a vast improvement in cinematic direction; the real-time cutscenes look like segments straight out of a CG movie.
Despite the pretty presentation, the plot slogs a bit for a series that initially had gamers so entranced. Hale hops from location to location – primarily throughout the U.S. – with little rhyme or reason. It feels like Insomniac decided to have chapters set in particular locations, then crafted the rationale for why Hale and crew had to go there. The diamonds in the rough here are the various ‘intel’ documents scattered about the stages. It’s a bit ironic how in the days of such advanced technology, sometimes plain, old-fashioned text can tell a story best. Throughout the later chapters, the narrative admittedly picks up a great deal, and ultimately ends with a bang.
Resistance 2 may take you across the pond, but you can be sure to encounter familiar foes. The Chimera are back and stronger than ever. As Hale continues to resist their torment, new enemy types will find increasingly more effective ways of dispatching him. Grims overpower you with their sheer numbers, charging repeatedly in tireless packs. Chameleons, as their name implies, cloak themselves and catch you unaware. Ravagers take cover behind their shields, and then proceed to charge and smack you senseless. In total, 12 new Chimeran enemies make their debut in Resistance 2, and it’s a blast to shoot every one of them to shreds.
That is, if they don’t get you first, which they will. A lot. Resistance 2 is a hard game, which is generally quite refreshing. Even on Normal, you must be on your toes if you want to make it to the next checkpoint. Enemy A.I. is excellent, with one aggravating exception; the Chimera will constantly ignore your allies and attack you and only you. Not only does this make some portions of unfairly difficult, it draws you out of the experience when eight Grims dash past your four comrades, all firing powerful automatic weapons, and maul you while you’re simply strolling about enjoying the view.
Once the Grims are there, odd A.I. or not, you have to eliminate them, and that requires a powerful arsenal. Luckily, the folks at Insomniac are renowned for their brilliant weapon design, and Resistance 2 is an opportunity for them to display their creative prowess. While old favorites like the Carbine, Bullseye, and L23 Fareye sniper rifle returns, some new tech is uncovered as you trudge through wave after wave of Chimeran foe. Making their debut are a semi-automatic rifle dubbed the Marksman, a .44 Magnum revolver with an explosive secondary fire, a massive chain-gun which tears through Chimeran flesh, and a blade-flinging weapon called the Splicer. In a notable difference from the first game, you're only able to carry two firearms at once, rather than the game's entire weapon set. While this design decision surely spawned some intense firefights that wouldn’t have been experienced otherwise, it’s irritating to die and respawn with an altered weapon set (though that only happens occasionally).
The defining difference between the campaign in Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 are the boss battles. The ... (continued on next page)
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Comments
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rexdeath |
rexdeath- 2:23pm GMT - November 15th, 2008
- 51
I think the reason why they gave the game a 8.5 instead of a 9+ isbecause of the online, looking from the top of the first page it sounds like that they may want to change the score if a patch fixes it. The only serious issue that is apparent is the network issue and with 60players online and 8player co-op online not functioning aswell as they should 8.5 is very solid score considering it's aiming to be a primary online/multiplayer game really.
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davin_g
- 4:27pm GMT - November 15th, 2008
- 53
The reviewer pegged this game perfectly. PERFECTLY!!! I loved this game. The visuals, the way you can only carry two guns, the boss battles make this game awesome. HOWEVER....it has problems...online yes...offline definately. While the game played better and looked better the story was terrible! TERRIBLE!! I was very dissappointed just as the reviewer was. Anyone that played resistance fall of man and thought this story was as good or better should be ashamed of themselves. This game loses 1 pt right there. I have played games that were not even close to AAA with lots better story telling. This game had great locals...but like the reviewer said they weren't tied together...it just didn't work. It felt forced. AAA graphics and gameplay with a poorly written story does not give you a 10 in my book. 8.5-9 at best. I loved the first and the second's coop is unrivaled....but the story was lacking....I hope they get someone else to write the third one because I can't wait...but I don't want to be let down again.......and people that are whinning..please....comparing the story to the first...or even to another game such as metal gear (which we all can concede is a 10) this game doesn't measure up to that.....is absolutely a blast to play...you betcha...but if you want a deep immersive story....sorry...R2 doesn't deliver.
oh.....and are people that dense that they don't understand why they removed the 4 player coop offline???hmm as a business man what would you do...let 4 people share 1 game for $60 or would you rather 4 people buy $60 games and make $240?? its a business...we all know how fun it is to play together...they just see the business side in it and say..hey..get your own copy and play online together with coop. face it...money matters. even to those that make games for the love of it....they still have to pay their staff and feed their families.
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CSUPSU
- 6:29pm GMT - November 15th, 2008
- 54
It's utter bull that this game didn't have multiplayer vs. offline...that alone is enough to take off 1.5 points in my book...and I already sold Resistance 1...so now I can't merk my family members anymore...lol...that was a VERY poor decision on Insomniac's part...but, other than that, this games was the SHIZNYTE!!!!!...and whoever says the story wasn't as good obviously never played the first one, because the locals/tie-ins were just as sporadic in that one...
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I_AM_LEGEND246 |
Cilldealga + IAMLEGEND2468- 6:04am GMT - November 16th, 2008
- 56
should be 8.0. In my own opinion I think COD W@W is better. =)
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Mana Knight
- 8:58am GMT - November 16th, 2008
- 57
Hey, I just wanted to say the network issues are pretty much solved for me, but here's the situation. I initially had issues connecting to games, disconnections, and I kept getting network errors over and over again when pressing triangle to bring up my buddy list. Since Insomniac said themselves the game is working mostly (but there are some issues, no doubt) and it's on the person loging on end, I found somewhere on the MyResistance forums that SCEA servers use certain UDP and TCP ports. Once I opened them (one was slightly different from the previous ports I opened, and I realized I screwed up my local IP previously assigning it to the wrong device), I have NOT had a single network issue or disconnection again. Even if people open up the DMZ on their PS3, ports NEED to be opened because that allows for a particular port to no longer have a firewall and work (so the SCEA servers can access it).
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Billy_Bob_Joe |
Nicker600- 12:14pm GMT - November 16th, 2008
- 58
Some of us have REAL friends and want to play REAL 4 player split-screen
@NICKKELANIUS
Hii! :) It's Nicker600! :D
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ANIALATOR136 |
ANIALATOR136- 5:15am GMT - November 17th, 2008
- 62
looks pretty exciting hope to get this exclusive
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GunsOfLiberty |
GunsOfLiberty- 1:10pm GMT - November 17th, 2008
- 64
8.5 is a bit harsh man.... my cos got it and has no network issues so far :S mine is preordered, (eu version) at least i have a chance to finish farcry2 and mirror's edge :P
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MTCdueler
- 6:19pm GMT - November 17th, 2008
- 65
I will personally have to disagree with the sites raiting. The game has few Network issues for me, except the first day i got it. Now it runs beautifully. The games beggining, in my oppinion, was very fast. It slowed down at the center and speeded up near the end. The bosses were epic and the gus were creative, as usualy from Insomniac Games. The characters had much more debth than the last game, giving it a movie like feel. Graphics were astounding, and glitchless. The movie cut scenes were amazing. You are right though the enemies go mainly for you, but that only made the game harder. The coop is great and fun but the graphics on there are more like RFOM graphics. The online was creative and resembled COD4. IT needs more maps, but they are big, and i can expect map packs probably. The ending is still freaking me out though! It was unbelievable. Besides for a 2 year game its pretty dang good. A personal favorite. Id give it a 9.0 or higher. Though i can see why you gave it what you did, i dont agree but its reasonble.
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woodcock_ps3 |
WALL-MARTshinobi- 12:20pm GMT - November 18th, 2008
- 67
yeah i bet u guys think this game should deserve a 9. or 9.5 but i dont think so... 2 me it feels so week and un-fun i dont know bout u guys but the online tried to be like cod4 but couldint pull it off.. i realy hate how long it takes to kill an enamy, why do u need to waist a hole clip on someone..lol i dont think there using jugernout so the fun factor gets pulled in the cheap factor..but thats my opinion, and i do think its a 9.0 for evey1 else its still a great game that ppl. should experiance, just like gears2 and cod4. there must play games.. also for the ppl. who think cod5 is better. no its not just the online is, so if ur looking for a good online game get cod5
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supamariobrotha |
supamariobrotha- 12:28am GMT - November 25th, 2008
- 69
i just hate when im kicking ass in the custom 60 player orick california game and the servers error message comes up
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madrox |
Zbish- 10:31pm GMT - November 26th, 2008
- 70
@68 wow, learn to spell man.
Got it on pre-order from EB games here in Australia, pick it up today or this weekend. If no good, I will just return it. I was really looking forward to it, dont care about the Single player, just want to get the multi. If the network is crep, i will just return it.
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mad_mac
- 10:38pm GMT - November 26th, 2008
- 71
Visually appealing, but agreed that the AI is a bit off as the enemies tend to only focus on you! You will die a lot in this game, but it's a great challenge. The story is okay, but a bit befuddled.
I also found it a little annoying that there isn't much chance to venture the great scenery. You are pretty much on one path that is pre-determined at teh start of each level, no chance for venturing! The weaponss are great, and the splicer that fires blades is a great addition. Review is pretty spot on for me
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I_AM_LEGEND246 |
Cilldealga + IAMLEGEND2468- 12:39pm GMT - November 27th, 2008
- 72
@ 71
its called txt talk
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SonyNut
- 9:07am GMT - December 17th, 2008
- 75
@75 are you sure? I've just finished it and i must say that it didn't look 'blurred or that the edges are rough' to me and i have a 40" I would say invest in a decent TV, throw away your aldi supersave one and get a sony.
Awsome game, awsome graphics and sound, story a little woblly in the middle but not bad enough to justify -1.5 points, online is great, i havn't experianced any lag problems at all, once again reviewer change to a better broadband suplier.
Well done insomniac, good job, I would give the game 9.5, looking forward to R3.
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dc08011
- 10:21pm GMT - February 11th, 2009
- 76
This review is written brillantly. It hits every issue in the game, and every thing that you would want to know about Resistance 2. Very in depth and written in such a way it was fun to read. I don't read much and i find it very painful, but reading this was like spreading warm butter on toasted bread. The art of writing has diminished these days, and this writer is taking his chisel and painstakingly carving what writing should be like into the brains of everyone who reads this. As you may be able to tell I suck at writing, but that is because I grew us reading crap. If I had read articles like this my whole life I would be able to write like Shakespere. Brillant.
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Nayr_Ikoljah |
Nayr_Ikoljah- 9:18am GMT - February 15th, 2009
- 77
This game is very bad ass, i love it, online or offline the game plays like no other, 10/10 for this PS3 only FPS... Come get at me in an online brawl would yah.....Bring it..PSN STYLE..
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Dougifresh |
Leciant_Cruz- 7:18pm GMT - February 28th, 2009
- 79
Resistance does everything better except online play. That is really all that is needed to say about this game. Though I enjoy playing in America, the lack of Co-Op Campaign made me feel like I should have saved the money for Killzone 2, but I love it none the less. Its not worth paying used or new prices currently, get it for 45$ and consider it sold, otherwise much more and you should be getting a BJ for that price.
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TGGOD123
- 7:50am GMT - November 4th, 2009
- 80
I think if your a person with a big appetite for games with hordes of aliens and a wide variety of monsters this is the game for you. There are many different types of FPS's and this is one that is pretty damn awesome, in some stages the game will get you sitting on the edge of your seat. The first Resistance fall of man lacked some things and this is where the 2nd Resistance picked up. There is a online mode where you can gain levels with all the kills that you get, and as you gain an progress through the levels, you get better armor and different abilites like going invisible or you get a shield around you, or you are a ticking bomb and when some on shoots you........BOOM! and anyone who is standing close is blown up aswell.
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