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Resistance 3 review: Always outnumbered, never outgunned
In the opening moments of Resistance 3, you're informed of a fairly unfortunate development that dictates the tone of the campaign which follows: In the war for the fate of humanity, the home team has lost. Despite your valiant efforts during the series' first two installments (or perhaps, troublingly, because of them), the invading Chimera have taken over large swaths of our mid-20th Century Earth, pushing humanity – our protagonist included – deep underground. No matter how powerful leading hero Joseph Capelli and his bottomless knapsack of devastating ordinances become, that feeling of defeat never quite dissipates. Whether you're being overrun by a flood of savage troops or watching your traveling companions be butchered by an agent of insensate evil, you can't help but feel like you're losing ground; even though the passage of chapters indicates that you're moving forward. Put simply, Resistance 3 exchanges the genre's all-too-familiar bravado for a pervasive and relentless air of desperation. It's a subtle substitution, but it's singlehandedly responsible for making Resistance 3 one of the most compelling shooters I've ever played. %Gallery-132738%
Freddie Wong and Insomniac show us the future of motion control
We're not entirely sure, but Freddie Wong's alleyway may be the most interesting, exciting, and down-right dangerous place on planet Earth. The intrepid YouTube star been Crossfired to death and rolled up by a Katamari along the same narrow stretch of road, and now the asphalt backlot has become a testing ground for the future of motion control gaming. If the holographic baddies in the Wong's concept video look familiar, they should; Insomniac actually halted production of Resistance 3 for an entire day in order to animate custom Chimera soldiers for the production. Wong claims that the majority of the technology required to build a motion gaming rig like this already exists, albeit in not-quite-so-advanced forms. Much like the angular, massively-wheeled concept cars we have all over our walls oogled as children, Wong's video gives us a glimpse into a future just barely more awesome than the one we'll actually get. [Thanks, Ashitaka!]
PSA: Resistance 3 multiplayer beta level cap increasing, adding mysterious 'new stuff'
Insomniac is raising the Resistance 3 multiplayer beta level cap from 20 to 30 this weekend, and promises some "new stuff" to play with, Senior Community Manager James Stevenson tweeted. Stevenson hasn't offered any details about what "stuff" is coming for us, so if a roller-skating grizzly bear spawns next to you on Seaside this weekend, don't say we didn't warn you.
Resistance: Burning Skies preview: One axe, two sticks
Resistance: Burning Skies protagonist Tom Riley is having a rough day. He awakes at Ellis Island to find himself alone in a stretcher, an IV still embedded in his forearm, while a massive alien attack wages on all around him. Other than his handy fire axe and helmet, Riley's ill-equipped to take on enemies, nonetheless a swarm of Chimera who are hellbent on recovering their stolen technology from the human resistance. But this is a game, after all, so I pilot Tom towards the nearest exit -- a planked up doorway which looks ripe for the axing. Success! I couldn't help but notice in my exploration of Resistance: Burning Skies' opening room that the game looks much improved over the series' previous portable spinoff on PSP. Textures are more detailed, colors are more varied, and environmental effects actually exist. While the game is certainly early (Chimeran faces resemble little more than goofy flat paper masks at the moment), it showed a lot of promise. And maybe more importantly, it demonstrated to me that the PlayStation Vita's twin analog sticks are more than sufficient at delivering shooters on the portable.%Gallery-130818%
Spoiler zone: The complete Resistance 3 trophy list
We were as surprised as anyone to learn that Resistance 3's single-player campaign is compelling and well done, and that its multiplayer is engaging and fairly enjoyable as well, but so far that certainly seems to be the case. No one will know for sure until the xenophobic shooter's September 6 release, of course, but for now we'd go so far as to say that we're actually excited for the release of a Resistance game. Targeting the completionist lobe of our perfectionism cortex, Insomniac has released the title's official trophy list, concealed after the break. It gives some spoilerific hints as to which bugs we'll be killing and where, so those of you looking to start the game with a mind as pure as the driven snow should take heed.
Resistance 3 heads to the Outback in 'Alice Springs' multiplayer map
What's more important than getting a look at the just revealed "Alice Springs" map for Resistance 3 set in Northern Australia? To us, that answer is clearly "learning how to kill, like, a million chimera in a row." Luckily, this latest gameplay clip does both.
Sony replaces Resistance 3 with MotorStorm: Apocalypse in 3DTV bundle
If you live in a dorm room, or an efficiency in Manhattan, or a tiny Harry Potter staircase closet, you were probably chuffed to bits when Sony announced their 24-inch PlayStation-branded 3DTV/Resistance 3 bundle during this year's E3. Now though, it looks like denizens of diminished domiciles will be doing a lot more wicked jumps, and lot less alien shooting. Responding to inquiries regarding this Amazon listing, which shows Sony's PlayStation 3DTV bundled with MotorStorm: Apocalypse instead of Resistance 3, Insomniac Games confirmed the switch in a tweet, apologizing for any inconvenience. According to a statement made to Gamespot, MotorStorm: Apcalypse will also support the full-screen-but-also-split-screen functionality touted by Resistance 3, however no information about why the games were switched has been given as of yet.
Resistance 3 multiplayer beta coming 'first week in August,' watch videos until then
During an interview (coming soon!) with Drew Murray, lead designer of the "spectacular" Resistance 3, we learned that the planned multiplayer beta is just around the corner. "We're doing a friends and family beta right now," Murray said. "And I think we kick off the public beta sometime in August." That "sometime" has now been narrowed down to "the first week in August" according to IGN, reporting from the Resistance 3 panel at Comic-Con. The beta features multiplayer modes Team Deathmatch and Chain Reaction, both shown on video here, and an undisclosed number of maps. It's still not clear if owning the less-than-spectacular SOCOM 4 is the only way to access the beta. These videos both take place on Seaside, so that's ostensibly one map we know about. And the first week in August is really a great time to spend by the sea; one last beach run before the game's September 6 release.
Resistance 3 welcomes weapon wheel and upgrades
If you thought that being just two months away from the Resistance 3 launch (September 6) meant there was nothing left to learn about the game, think again! In this dev diary, Insomniac talks about a not-so-obvious influence for the gritty alien shooter: the cartoonish Ratchet and Clank series.
Resistance 3 'Doomsday Edition' pack launching on September 6 for $150, includes PS Move Sharp Shooter
Worried you won't be ready to blast Chimera with a white and orange PlayStation Move when Resistance 3 launches this September? Worry no more, as Sony today announced the Resistance 3 "Doomsday Edition," which retails for $150 and comes packed with a copy of the game (naturally), a PlayStation Move/Navigation Controller, a Sharp Shooter peripheral, and a PlayStation Eye. As you might expect, it launches alongside the regular retail pack on September 6 in North America, though no international details were revealed.
Insomniac revealing new IP at EA press conference
When Insomniac revealed plans to develop a multiplatform original IP with EA Partners last year, the company discussed some of its plans, but kept us mostly in the dark. It seems that the covers will be ripped asunder tomorrow during EA's E3 press conference, as Insomniac noted on its official Twitter feed. "In case you missed it -- we are announcing our new universe and multiplatform game at EA's press conference," the feed announced yesterday. And in case you've already forgotten after reading our detailed list of E3 2011's biggest events, the EA presser starts tomorrow at 3:30ET/12:30PT.
Resistance 'Dual Pack' coming July 5, bonus content revealed
Clearly you're enthusiastic about the Resistance series if you don't own either of the first two games, so it goes without saying that you're all about dressing up as a generic-looking soldier in the third game's multiplayer. Insomniac apparently knows this, as the studio took to the US PlayStation blog today to announce said multiplayer "Capelli" skin as part of the bonuses included in the Resistance "Dual Pack," launching on July 5. He's ... uh ... got a beanie? Awesome? As previously revealed by an insert in the Battle: Los Angeles Blu-ray, the two-pack of Resistance titles will also include "$10 worth of bonus content," detailed as the "Aftermath" map, a skin bundle, and the "wraith skin" multiplayer weapons for Resistance 2. When the pack arrives on July 5, it comes with an asking price of $39.99.
Resistance 3's chimeric pre-order options
Resistance 3's retail pre-order incentives are as varied as the human fertilizer used on a Chimeran garden. GameStop is the only one with a tangible bonus, offering an "authentic replica" of a Chimeran teeth trophy necklace, along with a multiplayer boost that allows players to start online warfare at level 5. Walmart has "a special set of five custom name titles, including Sentinel." The name tags ... Sorry, that's just way too boring, we can't bring ourselves to finish explaining. Amazon will have the "No. 60 Air Fuel Grenade" available in the single-player campaign while Best Buy has a special multiplayer skin (pictured) featuring Hale as if he hadn't received the viral inhibitor. Best Buy also has an "exclusive ability in multiplayer to taunt your fallen enemies." Finally, Canadians and other US retailers will receive a multiplayer skin to be one of the "Black Ops troops" featured in Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. A final option is just waiting until Insomniac inevitably releases all of it as DLC at some point in the future.
Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One arrives on Oct. 18, pre-order bonuses detailed
Four friends, armed to the teeth with an enormous arsenal of weapons, may be sufficient to overcome Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One's menagerie of levels, but wouldn't it be helpful to have an extra Mr. Zurkon hovering overhead? The trailer we've dropped after the break answers that question with a resounding "YES," showing off Mr. Zurkon and the other three pre-order bonuses that folks will pick up at various (sigh) retailers. Alongside the pre-order news, Sony announced that Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One will launch on October 18, living up to its previously noted "Fall 2011" launch window. That leaves just five months to decide where to pre-order -- but let's not kid ourselves, you're gonna go with Zurkon. It's just the right thing to do.%Gallery-124103%
New info, footage of Resistance 3's campaign and multiplayer
In a lot of ways, Resistance 3 is like that movie Road Trip -- just without Tom Green. And the van. And the comedy. Actually, it's really only like Road Trip in one specific way: the titular trip. See, in Resistance 3 players assume the role of Joseph Capelli as he makes his way from Oklahoma to New York City in a desperate attempt to finally thwart the occupying Chimera. The PlayStation Blog has posted some details about the campaign, including some specifics on locales -- even an eight-minute video walkthrough of some campaign action, some of it sections we have already previewed. Hit the jump for that video. As for multiplayer, the post talks about class freedom (you can be a sniper medic, for example) and some of the unique unlockable abilities, though what each one does isn't specifically detailed. Expect a multiplayer beta to go live "later this year" -- nothing more specific than that, though. If you picked up SOCOM 4, you can just sit back, relax and ... wait.
Resistance 3 box art by Olly Moss rules
Insomniac partnered with artist Olly Moss for Resistance 3's box design and came up with a memorable bit of art -- unfortunately prodded by the obligatory logos (particularly on the North American box, ew!). Check out more on PlayStation Blog.
Resistance 3 demo to be included with Battle: LA Blu-ray
Remember when a billboard on the set of Battle: Los Angeles spilled the beans about Resistance 3 long before it was officially announced? It seems the film's creators have found a way to make up for the leak -- according to G4, the Blu-ray edition of the film will include a 30-minute demo from Insomniac's upcoming shooter; the same riverboat sequence we previewed back in March. We think the Blu-ray, which is due out June 14, is kind of a killer combo. You start by watching a big blockbuster about a military struggle against invading extraterrestrial aggressors, and then you actively play a big blockbuster about a military struggle against invading extraterrestrial aggressors. It's like peanut butter and ... more peanut butter.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One preview: Making teamwork work
In theory, it sounds like a great idea: Sit down with three other people and play Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One together. But in practice, four-player co-op can be chaotic and downright nasty: "Just hit the switch, dumbass! Gawd you suck at this game." Cordial coordination is challenging enough when all four of you are on the couch together. But how often does that happen? A lot of players will be teaming up online -- with strangers, no less -- and that can often mean complete radio silence. Insomniac is trying to design All 4 One to work in both cases, on the couch and online. "Certainly we think that both are extremely important," says gameplay programmer Mike McManus. "We don't want either to not work." %Gallery-121057%
SOCOM 4 comes with Resistance 3 beta access
It's always healthy to take frequent breaks while playing through a first-person shooter to indulge in other, distinctly different kinds of shooting. If you purchase a specially-marked copy (or Full Deployment Edition) of SOCOM 4, then you should be all set -- Sony has announced that the game will include a voucher that will net you access to the public beta for Resistance 3. The bundle's announcement on PlayStation Blog doesn't mention when said beta will kick off, but mentions that the voucher itself includes further details. We'll make sure we'll let you know when we get our hands on one of these golden tickets! At least, we assume that they're golden. If not ... well, then, what's the point?
Resistance 3 multiplayer gameplay leaked from Insomniac Community Day
Direct feed footage? That stuff's more boring than level six of The TurboTax Chronicles. We prefer off-screen multiplayer footage, filled to the brim with authentic crowd noises and the grunts of battle. Check out one such video for Insomniac's Resistance 3 right here.
