Hype Check - Resistance 2

'Hype Check' is a new feature wherein we will call to question the current hype for an upcoming game release. This is not to say that we are not excited about the particular game in question, but when a big game is coming out and the hype is getting crazy, some people stop focusing on some of the smaller details. It is these details that often slip under the radar, but could effect how the final product turns out.

So I played through and enjoyed Resistance: Fall of Man on the PlayStation 3. The game is fun and I love the weapons, but I had a hard time warming up to it at first. I have talked to several people about this game, including Nick on the show, and the majority of people who started Resistance and stopped playing early on -- simply don't like the game. There is a reason for this.

The first few levels of Resistance: Fall of Man suck hard. Early levels are reminiscent of Call of Duty, and the weapons are awfully generic -- more like Medal of Honor even. Later in the game, as you obtain cooler weapons, as the levels open up, and as you use new vehicles, the game becomes immensely more enjoyable.

This is a good level from Resistance 1:


And this is an early/bad one:


See how the good level gives you open reign over a huge area? You can approach the bases how you want and navigate the terrain quickly in the vehicle. When I played this level I had to use all my weaponry (and their alternate uses) to single handily take down these bases packed full of enemies. It reminded me of the best Halo series moments. The second clip is a shitty Medal of Honoresque level. There is only one way to go and the level is very flat and boring. This is probably why so many people like Nick didn't enjoy this game early on.

So here are my worries for Resistance 2. At E3 2008 Ted Price of Insomniac said there will be no vehicles in the game. None in multiplayer, and none in single player. I saw this in the Gamespot stage demo of the game. I'd link to it, but I'm lazy. I also saw several gameplay demonstrations of the game prior to and since E3, and everything I have seen of Resistance 2 reminds me of the early(shitty) levels of the first game. The weapons seemed pretty generic again, and there are "no vehicles".

I don't care how much prettier the game is or how much bigger the enemies are. If Insomniac removes the only components that made the first game enjoyable, then consider the hype I had for Resistance 2...

...resisted.

PUNishingly honest,

Brad