Resistance 2 [PS3]

The huge battles that erupt across the various levels will definitely give you an adrenaline rush. While the scale of the battles in the first game was large, the numbers present on screen at one point in time is simply incredible. You'll find yourself and a dozen or more soldiers squaring off against twenty or more drones, a number of Chimera, and a couple of turrets, all firing bullets at you. Facing down these incoming attacks can be daunting, but when you throw in the fact that the frame rate is rock solid without a hiccup, it's a pretty impressive feat that brings you into the action of the firefight. What also stands out is the fact that there are sections where you'll feel as though you've been through a massive battle – after you and your squad have blasted hordes and hordes of monsters that descend on your position, you'll wade through the bodies of the fallen enemies that litter your path. Details like this help to convey the situation that this is a larger cataclysmic battle in humanity's last days. Fall of Man was eye-catching in its battle sequences, but Resistance 2 blows it out of the water.

Part of this is due to the AI, which is solid for both enemy and NPC soldiers alike. In Resistance 2, the kinds of Chimera that you'll face off against will force you to approach a fight with different tactics, because they will attack you in different ways. Once again, Hybrids will team up with other soldiers, toss grenades or attempt to flank your position. Spinners, on the other hand, will charge forward and try to overwhelm you with large numbers and powerful melee attacks. Additionally, the game will frequently throw thirty or more of these beasts at you at one time, forcing you to quickly react and adjust to incoming strikes. Luckily, you're not forced to find a corner and face this threat alone. The NPCs in Resistance 2 are just as smart, returning fire at enemies and frequently eliminating some enemies for you, including some creatures that you hadn't seen coming for you until it would be too late. Your Sentinel squad in particular is extremely skilled in this manner, targeting some creatures and blasting many of them that try to surround your position as you focus on the beasts charging directly at you.

Of course, helping you eliminate the Chimera that foolishly stand in your way is the considerable weaponry at your disposal. Insomniac has always provided creative weaponry in their games, and Resistance 2 is no different. While you'll find a number of old favorites, such as the Carbine, Bullseye and Augur, there are a number of new weaponry that are just as effective at eliminating Chimera. For instance, the Magnum is a great weapon that packs a significant punch with each round fired, but its true strength lies in the alternate fire, which explodes the bullet and injures nearby enemies. The Marksman is a rifle that can be used as an effective sniper rifle, although it fires off three rounds in quick succession. However, it's also effective by sending out an electrified orb that shocks nearby Chimera, allowing you to fire a few rounds into them. There are even new grenades, like the Spider Grenade which emits tendrils along a surface that explode into flame, allowing you to destroy large groups of enemies. Needless to say, you'll probably find a new favorite weapon or two in this arsenal, and you'll wind up unlocking more as you beat the game.

While the single player experience is a great tale with an epic scope, it is equaled, and perhaps surpassed, by the multiplayer modes, which are perhaps some of the best I've ever played, and I'm particularly picky about my multiplayer. The first mode that's included is a cooperative mode, which allows up to 8 players to leap into a game and explore the world of Resistance 2. However, you're not playing as Nathan Hale or as one of his Sentinels. Instead, you're part of the Spectres, a separate military faction tasked with tracking down and finding Gray Tech, items held by the Chimera around the world. The co-op mode missions run parallel to the action of the single player campaign, and helps to point out that Nathan isn't the only one that's fighting this war against the Chimera; other humans are risking their lives trying to defeat the invaders as well. (Incidentally, Gray Tech is also vital because you'll be able to use these items to unlock additional missions as well as gear that can be used to outfit your characters.)

Players are given a choice between three different classes, each with their own abilities and traits. However, players aren't restricted to a particular class, and can switch at any time they wish, including during a match. The Soldier is the tank of the squad, equipped with a chain gun that projects an energy shield and packs more health than any other class. Spec Ops are the damage dealers of the group, and while they have less health than others, their Marksman is particularly effective in wiping enemies out. They are also the only class that can resupply soldiers by throwing out ammo packs. Medics are the final class, using their Phoenix weapons to drain the health from enemies and convert it to healing blasts from their weapon. They can also resuscitate party members faster than any other squad. Based on the class chosen, players receive experience points depending on how well they perform the functions of their class. This means that while everyone can receive XP for damaging enemies, soldiers will gain more for protecting troops, spec ops will gain more for resupplying troops and medics will gain more for reviving fallen troops. These points are important, because points will eventually translate to higher rankings as well as unlocking new weapons and Berserk powers.

Berserks are specialized abilities that are tied to a particular class, and can be triggered when a player has gained enough experience points to fill a meter, which will slowly drain when the power is active. For instance, Soldiers can trigger Ironheart, which will reduce the amount of damage taken as long as the Berserk is active. The Ring of Life, by contrast, allows Medics to set down an area that will constantly regenerate health of any allies in its proximity. If a player frequently performs their job, they'll continually refill this meter, allowing them to try to swing the tide of the battle in their favor. That is an extremely important factor when it comes to the Co-op mode, because the game takes a dynamic approach to play. Initially, you'll be given an objective and based on how you're doing, the levels of each class in your party and the number of players in a match, the game will scale the action accordingly.