Resistance 2 Review
- Posted November 13th, 2008 at 06:35 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 80 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 8.5
- Avg. user review score:
- 9.3
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
- 1:44am EST - 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
- 1:57am EST - 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
- 2:01am EST - 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
- 2:21am EST - 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
- 2:39am EST - 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
- 2:41am EST - 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
- 2:54am EST - 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
- 2:59am EST - 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
- 3:12am EST - 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
- 3:14am EST - 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
- 3:20am EST - 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 |
ManaKnight- 3:46am EST - 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
- 3:48am EST - 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
- 4:19am EST - 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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