When Insomniac's "Resistance: Fall of Man" was released as a launch title for the Playstation 3 (PS3) two years ago, it was hailed as the only game worth owning for the console's first nine months of availability. It is currently a "Greatest Hits" title. The second entry in the franchise, "Resistance 2," will be available on tomorrow.
Unlike its previous entry, this time the game won't have the benefit of being the only title worth having for the PS3. The game hasn't been promoted as heavily as "LittleBigPlanet" (LBP), which Sony was hoping would be its holiday success story this year. After LBP's botched launch however, some of the onus is shifting onto "Resistance 2" to give Sony a successful holiday season. The online multiplayer beta for the game was extended until today, Nov. 3 at midnight. How did the title fare?
"Resistance 2" continues the control schemes set forth in "Resistance," which are standard-fare first-person shooter controls. This time around, there are multiple control schemes (up to four) and the option to create custom ones. During battle, when a player accrues enough experience, a gauge fills up that allows the player to turn on "Berserk" mode, which is like the "Perks" mode in "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." Initially, turning this on halves the damage dealt by enemies, though other options can be unlocked as experience is gained. A "Community" tab in the main menu allows players to track their progress as well of those of any friends. The retail version will also allow players to form clans.
Though options were limited for the online beta with only portions of three levels being playable, it is clear that "Resistance 2" is concerned with delivering more content than its predecessor. Whereas the first "Resistance" allowed up to 40 player deathmatches, "Resistance 2" plans to allow up to 60 people to play at the same time. At the time of the beta, 60 was not an option for Team Deathmatch or Skirmish options.
The beta offered two multiplayer options: cooperative and competitive multiplayer. Cooperative allows players to band together and complete the single-player campaign with up to eight other people online. Competitive included four modes: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Skirmish, and Core Control. Deathmatch is the standard every man for himself fragfest, while Team Deathmatch is the same, but with partners. In Skirmish, teams are given objectives to complete, from capturing the opposing team's beacon to protecting a fellow teammate. The first team to complete a certain amount of objectives wins. Core Control was like a Capture the Flag mode.
The bulk of the multiplayer beta came in the form of the cooperative mode. Though only one level was offered, players began by choosing one of three available classes. These included: the Soldier, the Medic, and the Special Op. Each had varying abilities essential for success on the battlefield. The Soldier is capable of shielding himself from enemy fire, the Medic converts damage done to enemies into health for allies, and the special ops converts damage done into ammunition for team members. Online matches fall apart when someone isn't pulling their weight, which makes each cooperative experience vary greatly. When teams do come together and communicate, the matches are much more enjoyable.
In cooperative mode, each class begins with level one. Throughout the level, experience points are doled out for completing objectives and damaging enemies. When someone dies, the respawn or revival process can be quickened by running over to the person and holding the triangle button. As more experience is gained, players unlock new weapons for their class as well as alternatives for their berserk status like advanced radar or increased damage. Players can also customize their starting equipment and how their character looks as more experience is acquired.
While the cooperative mode is a great addition, the game suffers from the same thing its predecessor did: a lack of identity. "Resistance" had many parallels to "Half-Life 2," and the multiplayer for "Resistance 2" is similar to Valve's class-oriented "Team Fortress 2." Rather, it takes first-person shooter conventions and polishes them, much like the "Halo" series did before it. The game doesn't have any defining features though, admittedly, the cooperative mode was fun if a little repetitive, but this was more because only one level was available for the beta. The cooperative multiplayer mode will be the main selling point for this game. Fans of the first "Resistance" will most likely see no qualms in this entry of the series, though newcomers might wonder what the entire hubbub is about. "Resistance 2" focuses on bulking the experience it first offered two years ago, but what the series really needs to do is set itself apart from its competition. This time around, being the only good game available for the PS3 just won't cut it.
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