Resistance 2 Review
- Posted November 13th, 2008 at 06:35 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 18,710 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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rodwever1 |
rodwever1- 6:44am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 1
I've only played the beta, so i don't know about the network issues. That being said it's only fair to factor in the network issues in the review seeing as this affects the gameplay in a big way. Just as Socom received a lower score because of its network issues. Hopefully they patch quickly so the score can be adjusted.
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coveted |
coveted- 6:57am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 2
i dont no if this is worth mentioning but resistance 2 doesnt realy have a name. ( that i have herd). BUT. in australia there is a cover with the title resistance 2 Rise Of Man. this just shocked me after never really hearing a name for it. you can veiw this here. the review is good and i think fair and will be looking forward to playing it
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a_stray_bullet10
- 7:01am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 3
hope this is better than cod5. i put off buying cod5 because i wanted Resistance 2.
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funItalian
- 7:21am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 4
@3
I think COD5 got a higher score than this game. I've seen on other gaming sites that it recieved 5/5 and 9.0.
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hitman8062 |
hitman8062- 7:39am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 5
@3
Same but i think we made the right choice
I agree with the review but im only getting it on christmas so by then it will probably be patched and get a 9.0/9.5
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Beast_Of_Sparta |
Beast_Of_Sparta- 7:41am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 6
@ 4 ive seen plenty sites giving Restistance 2 9.0 and 9.5, this is the first i see giving it 8.5.
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tanner1 |
OB1K- 7:54am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 7
Surely the campaign alone deserves a 9 doesnt it? As 4 the network lowering the score but by how much?, 1 whole point? They have improved every aspect of this game 10 fold from the original & i loved the 1st one. Out of curiosity what score did the 1st one get?
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 7:59am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 8
And again. I'm impressed with PSU's review of this game, as I saw it as an 8.5ish game as well (and that's a darn good score, by the way). Again, they didn't just fall in-line with other sites and just give the game a 9-9.5 because it was in 1st person and you fired guns off. This is easliy my favorite review site. Actually, it's my only review site. I'll say it yet again, PLEASE do not sell-out, PSU.
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GunTeng
- 8:12am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 10
I would agree with the factors mentioned in thr pro's and con's mean a lot to the game.
Looking back, R:FOM was rightly praised for its weaponry but nothing is mentioned on the pro's/con's here. Does that mean that any new additions do nothing to really boost the game? Or are we just so use to the weapon design now that it doesn't reflect on what we would experience in the game?
I would love to get this game asap, but unfortunately for me ( and others Im sure), money is not that easy to come by these days. So, this one rolls on to next year for me as a definite buy. I hate the old traditional FPS character movements, but I have to admit that R:FOM weapons and Story sold me on the franchise.
Im just thinking that maybe there is a reason the Chimera ignore the humans AI. Would it be possible that they are drawn to HALE ( not the player) because of his infection? Of course without a story-line to back that up, that would be pure wishful thinking. Or maybe it is left for the gamer to figure that out, which leaves the problem of peoples initial reaction of poor AI design. Who knows?...a short cut? Forgetfulness?
No matter...it should still be decent enough to play the next chapter in the story.
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Guamdude 671 |
bblas- 8:14am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 11
What an 8.5 u can't be serious. I'll admit thats still a good score but this game deserves nothing less than a 9 in my opinion. Pretty much everything about R2 is top notch. The singleplayer, graphics, multiplayer, & CoOp all great. PSU why?? R2 is an amazing game & even though 8.5 is a great score god its unacceptable in my opinion. Why PSU Why??? Just because the enemies don't attack ur allies thats a valid reason why. And besides they do especially the chameleons. And I don't even come across networking issues.
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jean20056352
- 8:20am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 12
this game deserve a 9.0 is resistance 2!!! don't resist on give upa 8.5 cmon !1
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Mana Knight
- 8:46am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 14
I'll admit I had the occassional problem online, but my problems are far from being severe.
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SOLWAY
- 8:48am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 15
if it sucks as much as motorstorm im gonna give up on the ps3!!!!! promise after promise and let down after let down, xbox only games i.e gears and fable 2= gears good but not the great game that was promised, fable best game ever, so sorry for all the ps3 only owners that will never be able to play this game at lenth, a real tragedy for true gamers but not for fanboys of either console who just make me wanna poo
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TdR-7 |
TdR7- 9:19am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 19
Very good review, well done!
I enjoyed very much playing "Resistance: Fall of Man", and, of course, for me the sequel is a must buy game.
The competitive mode is a splendid idea and the online action, with 60 players(!), is a challenge -specially if you have a good team.
About the rate: I believe its hight enough, if you think that sometimes we give very easily big grades. In our days its not like the first time of circulation of PS3. In the market we can find a lot of good games and as gamers we may have requirements.
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nominal266 |
nominal266- 9:40am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 23
I find it amazing that a playstation website wouldnt be bias and give it a really high score (like some others). I really think i can start to trust these reviews more often now. I would have given it a 9.0, but playin' it hardball keeps the reviews fresh. :)
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pulga
- 10:29am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 27
well i dont agree that much with the score, this game easily gets a 9.0 even up to a 9.5 as seen other sites. About the network issues i dont really know, other sites say its great and the multiplayer modes are really good too; i havent gone online tho i got bunch of other games that i am playing XD. The game is really great and jaw dropping, amazing graphics and gameplay and the AI is quite really good. Yep i agree somewhat slow storyline but o well at least it has a somewhat good storyline XD.
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darthrazorback
- 11:13am GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 29
NETWORK ISSUES? I have been playing this since release and have so few problems with multiplayer sessions that I FELL OFF MY CHAIR reading this review. So, let me get this straight, you gushed about the horrid FAR CRY 2 and ignored all of its networking design issues, but you knock this game down a few points because YOU didn't figure out how to properly set up your network sessions? For your friends list to work, simply click on the OPTIONS setting ON THE LIST. So many people miss this part... and then set the option to let anyone join your sessions. There you go. Simple.
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SonyJunkie |
Bender6191- 12:08pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 31
I think this should have gotten a higher score. There were bairly any cons in this game even according to you guys. Everything was top notch. The gameplay, the story was amazing. It is a little sluggish, but that doesn't mean the story was bad. An 8.5, baseball games get that score, not something like this. At least a 9. It has co-op. 8 players at that. 60 player online that is LAG FREE!!! Most devs can't do that. This game deserves a higher score and I think most people will agree with me.
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Merovingian
- 12:39pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 33
I bought R2 last tuesday played coop for a couple hours and faced only a couple Network problems. However... yesterday... I was COMPLETELY UNABLE to join Multiplayer online games (either co-op and competitive). Only Network Errors (00180007, 00170000, 00170007, etc, etc, etc), no matter what I got these errors over and over and over.
As my office is in my own home I have two ISP, I've tried with them both and it didn't change a bit. It's just frustrating. Yeah... the co-op is marvelous and the 60 player compet is awsome but no matter how wondeful they are if beeing able to play is a question of luck. Reliability ZERO.
The campaing is great but it's just a part of the game. So at this point a 8,5 is way higher than it trully deserves. If they fix that, something that I don't believe they'll be doing in a while, I'll have to agree with a 9,0... So far, I'll call for a 7,0.
Ps.: I don't believe they'll fix that shortly because there're absolutely no news from MyResistance/PSUnderground forums, even with several posts complaining about this very same thing.
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Denali2 |
NEJI64- 1:14pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 34
@solway shut the '' F '' if people wanna play Fable and Gears 2 they will go out and buy a 360 so cut the crap about never going to play that crap. its simple as that and what promise was dalivered Resistance 2 great storyline like they said we was going to get 8 player co-op and a 60 multiplayer. Motorstorm everything they said was put into split screen offline 16 online 16 tracks mostertruck and overall a great game. Solway - Sony still have the best first party dev. and note Epic is a third party dev. company.
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edward_moffet |
edd- 3:03pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 36
even with network issues this game deserves a 9, it really pisses me off that a mediocre game like gta4 gets 10s when amazing games like resistance 2 get 8's i know it's not a bad score but the bottom line is that it deserves alot better, this game is a 9 at least even with the network issues because the single player campaing alone is amazing this title is not getting the credit it deserves
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Hiemy |
hiemy- 3:12pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 37
I don't get it... this is a great game but I was SO pissed when I played it. They removed 4 players. WHY THE FUCING HEL? Have developers forgot the essense of gaming? To have fun with friends??? Why is it only 2 player now? And why can't you play the main campaign storyline with coop? Like the orignal resistance. This is why I won't buy the game. This pisses me off so much
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MiamiHurricaneFanatic
- 5:37pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 41
this is a very good game i already beat it on difficult.
hardly if any cons maybe that there seems to be a very minute bug in joining online games but it will be fixed for sure
overall score 9,5 out of 10.
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Punisher99
- 7:48pm GMT - November 13th, 2008
- 44
This game is defintely better than cod4 and cod5 in my opinion. G4TV gives Resistance 2 a 5 out of 5. And I agree with them.
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BlueDragoon0 |
Lionheart0- 2:16am GMT - November 14th, 2008
- 46
Theres an edited note saying that they may review the game if there is a patch to fix some stuff for the multiplayer. Can you guys not read or something? It means that the score could possibly go up if those problems are fixed.
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PROTOTYPE
- 3:24am GMT - November 14th, 2008
- 47
I think it is a pretty fair score. Personally I would give it a 9.0 but whatever. I must say I was dissappointed to find out there was no split screen campaign (the normal campaign like in R1) but besides that the game was improved in pretty much every way.
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regissreg |
Zapp- 7:45am GMT - November 14th, 2008
- 48
I have a Gamefly account, so I wont be wasting my money on buying games that i thought was going to be good plus if i choose to buy it i get a discount on the game. I agree with the rating. I like Resistance 1 better. Is it me or do the graphics looks better on Resistance 1 than 2. They took out the 4 player split screen which my freinds were very dissapointed. Online i had small issues like trying to connect to a game that states not full but end of being full anyway just like the first one. Anyway I wont be buying this game but I will be buying COD5. It has 4 player split screen which is a big plus for me and it plays like COD4. Every hardcore gamer knows that it only takes 15 minutes to know if you like the game sometimes only 5 minutes. With Resistance 2, the feeling of excitement or the wow factor was not there.
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DantheMan_69
- 1:43pm GMT - November 14th, 2008
- 49
another cr@p review the game is like a 9 or even 9.5 and those pros and cons still need work on.
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