Resistance: Fall of Man - Irredeemably Stylish (Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3))

Member Name: smooth_criminal_

Product:	Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
Date:	20/08/07 (185 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stylish visuals, brilliant AI, and thoroughly addictive gameplay

Disadvantages: Borrows from other shooters a lot

Reminiscent of other shooters in this first-person action sci-fi genre, particularly Quake 4, Half Life 2, and, inevitably, the Halo franchise, Resistance: Fall of Man delves into counterfactualism with its alternative take on the events of the mid-twentieth century. Just as Europe is about to plunge into WW2, an unfriendly alien invasion alters the course of history, forcing the great world powers to fend off the invading hordes.

This kind of thing, has, of course, been done before, but Insomniac takes a fresh slant on the basic premise by placing the action before the present day. This interesting new perspective, combined with state of the art visuals, impressive AI, and a notably stylish presentation, makes for a polished and addictive next-generation title.

Graphics

As one would expect, the PS3 has, arguably, an unparalleled capacity to deliver outstanding graphics. While Fall of Man undoubtedly fails to push the platform to its full potential (and this is unlikely to happen for some time), it boasts some stunning visuals that really distinguishes it from rivals, even on the PC.

Particularly impressive are the characters and environments. Insomniac, the developers, clearly invested a great deal of time and energy into designing the fearsome alien foes, the Chimera, who are far more visually convincing and genuinely frightening than, for example, the Strogg in Quake 4. Everything, from their body suits to their faces, has been intricately designed and add to the game not only aesthetically but atmospherically. The same can be said for the environments, with Fall of Man set in an England that remains both convincing and highly detailed throughout.

The lighting effects are also noteworthy and particularly effective in making the game-world both believable and vaguely sinister.

19/20 - Very impressive all-round although future titles will undoubtedly offer even more

Sound

While the main character in Fall of Man, a US Ranger named Nathan Hale, is not as verbally challenged as Half Life's Gordon Freeman, he does not speak as extensively as one would hope, and, as a result, coupled with the generic and monotonous cries delivered by British troops throughout the game, Fall of Man rarely shows off any serious voice acting talent.

This, however, is not a problem for such a strong title, and the game has other sound effects to boast. The weapon sounds, particularly, are probably the most powerful I have heard in a game of this kind, and vehicle sounds are equally as impressive as the player moves through the different stages. In terms of sound, Fall of Man, on the whole, compares favourably with similar titles.

17/20 - Sounds great, but a little more talk would have been nice

Gameplay

This is where Resistance: Fall of Man really delivers. Unashamedly stylish, the game mixes fast paced and intense shooting sequences with the vehicle-based action that has now become a must in this increasingly competitive genre. Fall of Man is at its best during the most intense shoot-outs, particularly when groups of your own troops join you to clash with the invading Chimera, making for some extremely satisfying and addictive gameplay.

Boasting an impressive range of weaponry, Fall of Man combines the traditional shotgun and assault rifle collection with experimental alien technology. I particularly enjoyed using a powerful alien blaster which allows the player to select enemies using a homing beacon, take shelter and then let loose in any direction of choice and wait for the projectiles to home in on their target. Aside from being a satisfying method of shooting the enemy hordes, the weapon in question makes for an inventive tactical mechanism that spices up the traditional run-and-shoot first-person gameplay in rival titles. This, of course, pales in comparison to the infinitely more impressive gravity-gun in Half Life 2, but it would be a little pedantic to make too much of this.

Fall of Man's AI also stands out from the crowd, with the Chimera being particularly adaptable in a variety of situations. This not only makes the game more challenging, it also draws the player into the combat and prevents the action from becoming too repetitive. The alien foes are particularly effective at encircling the player at every opportunity, encouraging the intelligent gamer to keep fire-fights long to medium range, although Hale's considerable firepower makes it entirely possible to go in close as well. It is in such situations that one thanks Insomniac for making the player's health rechargeable, but, even with this useful addition, survival is not guaranteed.

This makes the later levels particularly difficult, and the saving mechanism does little to help here. Not allowing the player to save at will, the game employs a system of checkpoints, which can occasionally become quite sparse. This certainly makes for a challenge as Fall of Man progresses, and dying and starting from the previous checkpoint continuously did irritate me at times. Fortunately, this is perhaps the only downfall of the game; it is, I should note, an unnecessary one, however. Moving away from the basic combat, the vehicle sequences, which see the player hopping into a tank among other things, certainly make up for this minor shortcoming, and are a welcome addition to the straightforward shoot-outs, helping to break up the action a little.

Should the player utilise the PS3's internet capability, one can also enjoy a vicious and engaging multiplayer mode that delivers all the usual capture the flag and death-match modes, combined with base assault and others, with a forty player total capacity. While some PC games can now admittedly boast up to sixty-four players, forty is perfectly adequate for this type of title. Even without an internet connection, coop and split screen modes could undoubtedly grab the player's attention for some weeks.

24/25 - Fast paced action sequences and killer AI set Fall of Man firmly apart from its rivals

Lifespan

Fall of Man does not boast an excessively long singleplayer campaign. I managed to complete it in under a week, and more seasoned players could probably finish it off within three or four days if they felt a need to do so. Having said this, the game's AI and stylish sequences give Fall of Man significant replay value. Adding to this, of course, is the extensive multiplayer mode, which could immerse a keen player indefinitely with its variety of different matches.

24/25 - Considerable longevity and excellent replay value

Originality

If Resistance: Fall of Man falls down anywhere, it is, perhaps, here. This sci-fi shooter has clearly borrowed from a range of other titles of a similar nature, most notably Halo, Quake 4, and Half Life 2. However, it would be unfair to crucify Fall of Man too much on this account, especially given that its counterfactualism adds a new twist to the genre.

7/10 - This type of thing has been done before, but Fall of Man is good enough for it not to matter

Overall

Fall of Man delivered on its promise as a powerful and immersive launch title, and has set the standard for PS3 shooters in the future. With a doubt, this is the one to beat, and, although it certainly takes inspiration from similar projects, this fast paced blaster is both imaginative and entertaining.

Thoroughly deserved of critical acclaim, Fall of Man combines impressive visuals with addictive gameplay, and a considerable lifespan to boot. This is a must for both fans of the genre and ordinary gamers alike.

91%

Key Facts:

Price: £49.99 (Amazon, upon release March 07)

Certificate: Mature (17+)

Summary: A must for both fans of the genre and ordinary gamers alike