Resistance 2 Beta blows!

October 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am · 36 Comments

by Yamster

No way, PacMan. You’re completely wrong. Granted, you do know your gaming onions; you’ve had loads of spot on points on the PlayStation Podcast (despite not having your own console online for months) and I couldn’t agree more with the hugely capitalized comment about LittleBigPlanet on your Gmail chat profile. This time though? I can’t let your latest post on Resistance 2 pass me by. No way, buddy.

After spending as long as I could (polar) bear with the beta, I sure had a lotta things to say about Resistance 2. Read about ‘em after the jump and see whether you’re siding with me, or our boy in Canada.

I was stoked when I got into the Resistance 2 beta. I loved Resistance: Fall of Man; it was the second game I picked up for my PS3, a couple of weeks after the launch, when I was sick of Blast Factor and had aced MotorStorm. It wasn’t just any old sci-fi shooter because it was set in England, in the mid 1940s, and I dug the whole ‘alternative timeline’ story. I hadn’t seen anything like it and despite the gameplay being a little average (the Chimera took about 20 shots to the head to kill) the entire design felt just right and I was convinced Insomniac were onto something with this whole ‘aliens in Britain’ thing.

Unfortunately, since the storyline jumped to the other side of the Atlantic, it’s all gone a bit wrong. First off, that color scheme: for a bleak ‘last stand of mankind’ sorta game, Resistance 2 is awful colorful. You’d expect the color scheme to be bleak and drab, like Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down or any number of recent war movies you could name. Bleak situation, bleak color scheme. Makes sense.

Apparently not: according to Insomniac, the ideal color scheme for the end of the world is one that is bright and overly saturated. The California levels are incredibly sunny, bright and full of sparkly green trees that seem totally out of place. Even the San Francisco level by the coast was glistened over by a horrible golden sunset. The contrast with Resistance‘s overcast skies is just a little too much and, again, it felt completely out of place.

After gleaming the over-saturated filter from my eyes, I figured I could pay some attention to the character models. Do they look any better? Erm…page two hides what I see as the nasty truth.

CONTINUE TO PAGE: 1 2 3

Tags: opinion · Resistance 2
Categories: Editorial · PlayStation 3

Keith K

I havent played (nor will I play) the beta, but it sounds to me like you’re hatin’ on the game’s story without having played the game’s story.

Are you sure you’re not just pissed off because the plot has gone over to the US? Thats pretty much the only glaring negative I got from your opinion.

To me, that seems like a good parallel to the history of WWII. Britain was broken, beat and scarred while the US remained sunny and bright. My understanding of the story in R2 is that the US isnt lost, its just being fought over. The Chimera (or whoever) havent desolated the country.. hence the fighting.

If it is just a matter of the change of setting, go knock on the Church of England’s door and have a talk with them.
Ch1cken X

I read both what you and Pacman wrote. I still hold hope for the game and pray that the problems you’ve glossed over are due to the fact that it’s still in the beta. I’m not worried about fighting in a pretty forrest or getting lost in a sunset, but the problems with the single-player gameplay have me worried. That’s where the first game “felt right”.
ezcex

I don’t know what you talking about man. There is nothing wrong with the scenery being good looking. It is cali you know. I think that the co-op was great, saying its repetative is like saying horde mode in gears 2 is repetative. It is not, it adds a little more everytime depending on how far you get. As for competative I believe it was fairly balanced, I could easily get the same about of kills just with any other weapon and I died from about the same amount of weapons. Nobody stuck with just one gun. I would also like to say that my gf liked R2 co-op. She wanted to be medic. So if R2 made my gf play an FPS and not her DS, that means R2 is gonna be sweet.
http://www.sarcasticgamer.com Yamster

@Keith: Nono, I’m not bothered by the change of setting at all. It’s just that WITH the change of setting Insomniac seem to have figured that a nice big smothering of pretty pastel colours was in order, despite the storyline’s situation being even bleaker than it was in the original Resistance game.

I don’t really mind the setting as such, but I really, really disagree with some of the design changes that have gone on.
Cmidrfti

I’m on side with you Yamster. I found the first game to be particularly meh at the best of times anyway and I’m failing miserably to understand what all the hype is about.
http://dd.com Kiljoy

I’m on your side yamster, the beta was just not enjoyable, hectic multiplayer, boring coop, and the server’s weren’t too great.
NoneOfYourBusiness

I enjoyed it, considering that we got 1 coop level, and only 3 or so competitive levels, it aint that bad. Also, the character models get more complex as you level and add crap to them, not saying there is an MGS4 type jump, but they do steadily look more badass.

As for the coop missions, I have to agree they are a bit bland, but I will reserve judgement till I see a few other levels. We dont know the circumstances of that level…could be a simple level, when another level could be a survival type level or even a group vehicle level.

Competitve play pissed me off…all you need is the carbine or bullseye to pwn, there is no other place for the other guns. Serious balancing needs to be done with those two, although Its nice to see that they made the 40mm a different gun kinda. Although dmg ratios and other things need a lil tweakin.

I enjoyed though the RPG-like leveling system to unlock new abilities n stuff and not just medals.
torpid

I’m going to have to disagree with you. I did not find the weapons to be completely unbalanced, I’ve killed people who had been using just about every weapon and you just seem like you have a lack of skill. The graphics are most likely very bad because it’s the BETA, and they most likely reduced the graphics quality to keep the download size small.
NoneOfYourBusiness

I could run up ok k/ds with a lot of guns, but the fact that nearly everyone uses those 2 guns means something is unbalanced and attracting them to them.
Jehu

I must agree I play COD4 and it is hard to get use to the game. I takes way too long to kill the enemy and I just can’t get use to the shield. Sorry it’s COD4 and then COD5 for me. Resistance 2 Beta is just too boring.
paul

This guy is just trying to get hits on this site and that is sad. Listen to what he said about the sun in California not matching, WAKE THE F UP YOU IDIOT ITS ALLWAYS SUNNY IN CALIFORNIA. Just because there is an invasion its going to be cloudy, WHAT A JACKASS YOU ARE DESPERATE FOR HITS YOU MUTT!!! I PLAYED THE BETA AND ITS UNREAL.
wolfehound22

Ok guys no need to get into a bitch fest just because he doesn’t love a PS3 exclusive. Don’t get me wrong I think he’s wrong I loved the game, but no need to bash him. It’s not like he is bashing your family or harming your well being.

That being said I see nothing wrong with bright colors I mean it is taking place in Cali where it is always sunny. Compared to England were it does rain a lot. We have only seen 2 levels, so I am pretty sure it is hard to judge just from a beta. Obviously co-op was a lot of killing big groups of enemys, but we did not get any glimps of the story. All we got was go kill these guys move on. It is only about a 30 min chunk of one level. I do remember single player in most games including the first Resistance where we spent most of the level running and shooting enemys, so it is not to surprising that with the small part we do have that is all we are doing.

Now the competitive multiplayer was hectic in some regards I still found it rather fun and difficult. It really isn’t to much diffrent then the first one which I do not have a issue with.

All in all I liked the beta, but even if i didn’t judging a entire game by a 30min clip of co-op with no story and some online play really is being kind of short sited. I think the strength of the first one was the story and I still see that being the same for the second. But like you said the first one was so so in your book so you not liking this one really isn’t a surprise. If you like the first one you will like this if you did not then you probably should pass on this one.
Tweep.

Wow, I wonder if Paul is actually Nathan Hale?

Yamster, pretty much agree, though I do feel that having fifty million things on-screen with no lag is an achievement; but I’m not playing a game based on what it can do technically…
Alejandro

OK-OK … no need to get gruesome. Yamster – you clearly have a chip on your shoulder. London was overcast and California is sunny – yeah, no kidding – kinda like real life! I’ve played R:FOL MP for hundreds of hours … I’ve also played R2 beta for 50-60 hours and I’ve enjoyed it very much. The weapons are balanced well … I’ve killed and been killed with everything from the magnum to the the mini-gun with no glaring unfairness.
You state that this is a “broken” game – Have you played Mercenaries 2 … THAT is a broken game. As a matter of fact, that game cannot even compare to R2 BETA for crying out loud. What ever your problem with R2 is, it isn’t with the gameplay or the color scheme – I think you are just a sad little boy, who couldn’t figure out how to beat up on all the back taggers in R:FOL MP and wants some attention – come play the BETA tonight and I’ll give you all the attention you need. You can use the minigun and I’ll use the Magnum … BOOM – you die!
gunnar2906

Bad color scheme?
Maybe 50@ Pioneer Kuro can help?
Stop playing in from of computer monitors – PS3 is not a X360!! =)
gunnar2906

BTW being so sarcastic
maybe you want to compare F2 colour scheme with so beloved Fallout3 or Fable2?
Playing 2 latters on 50″ Pioneer plasma panel I found them completely colourless and faded
DJJADE

I completley agree wth everything you have said. color scheem looks way to cartoony. Some more gripes I have about the game are they way grenades are thrown. It looks like im throwing a roll of toilet paper compared to the first game where you could throw like an all star quarterback! Co op is a great idea for the first time through but after playin it a while it got very tedious and boring. Lastly my real problem with this game from the first is NO WEAPON WHEEL! If someone is sniping you what can you do without a sniper or marksman gun? DIE! and then switch classes and get a sniper rifle and hope someone already didnt kill him cause then you are stuck running around with this weapon! All strategy is thrown out the window with no weapon wheel. See in the first one yeah if you got tagged you could possibly have a 40 or if someone had a laark maybe you had one in your weapon wheel. Now your just limited to 2 guns and you better make do with it or your screwed! I feel like they completley ruined this game based on this beta! I will be getting the full release but I most likely will find myself back on RFOM1
Bob

damn, fanboys look really attacked when there exclusive is stated as being mediocre
and they don’t even understand what he meant most of the time
and don’t attack Yamster, lots of ppl agree with him so he can’t be wrong that much
i didn’t try the beta so i have no real opinion on it but from what i’ve seen, he is right on some stuff
anyway, i’m not expecting too much of R2 since the first one was only a decent game
wolfehound22

@DJJADE wll in regards to no weapon wheel this is just along the lines of any other first person shooter. You can not carry an unlimited amount of guns which I really do not have a problem with that since it make it a little more realistic.
neezy007

IMHO I think this beta is garbage.
The multiplayer is crap and I wont be buying this game.
samik

So, Killzone 2 sucks because its too grey and resistance 2 suck because its not grey enough? Brilliant!
http://adfja alexi

i only read the first page but all i gotta say is that england is known for being gloomy and dark…. california and whatever states are featured in r2 are all bright and sunny cuz thats how it is… insomniac focuses on realism. its rare to see california dark and gloomy, its always bright and sunny, even during the winter. maybe if you weren’t so ignorant you wouldn’t post retarded a$$ $hit like this.
Orakga

The one thing that’s even remotely justifiable is the graphics. But as for the game balancing and whatnot, I cannot disagree more.

I personally couldn’t kill anyone with the two weapons you mentioned, so I stuck with the Marksmen, the grenade launcher (forgot the name), magnum and the sniper. All depending on the situation.

But reading between the lines, it sounds like you are not aware of the REGENERATING HEALTH mechanics in the competitive multiplayer game.

All in all, I simply disagree. The only reason why I stopped playing the R2 beta is so that I can focus on Dead Space and LBP before the R2 retail version comes out, so that I can devote all my time to that game.

And this is coming from someone who absolutely hated R:FoM.
g

hmmm i think calling the coop boring because you continuously shoot at stuff is just stupid. Its the same thing as saying fps are boring. There are different environments, abilities/gear, enemies and classes and the maps are randomized on top of the fact that you are playing with a different lineup of classes with different people offering many different experiences(like all medics for example). Also the competetive can get so intense… it is really on par with halo 3 there(better in many ways) and it never feels boring because it destroys both halo and cod in the weapons department(cod4 is just normal guns and and cod5 is going to be like wooden real guns lol). Calling this game bad is a misconception as it takes the best elements of cod4 and halo3 and improves on them and then adds more. My only complaints are the graphics arent top notch and it can be too colourful at times but its no big deal because it does look alot better than halo 3 and that game had its fair share of stupid purples/pinks/reds/blues… Great game.. less frustrating then cod and much more variety. It truly is like halo on ps3 w/o the cool paintballing armour
DJJADE

@wolfhound. Not trying to be a jerk but if a game was trying to be realistic how come there are aliens running around, alternate history, and future type guns? the first didnt go for that aspect and thats what defined that game to then make a mediocre copy of every other game out there. If I wanted to play cod or halo I have them and would go play them. I guess money and greed gets to the best of em.
http://bleh Jojoe

@djjade: Dude, seriously, realism of the environment in the 1930′s 1940′s US time. That’s what they’re aiming for. The storyline is however different. Don’t be an ignorant fool. Storyline, the setting, that’s two different things. So don’t be stupid. Besides, Insomniac work hard on this, researching what it looks like back then. Give them credit where credit is due.
NoneOfYourBusiness

You can hold 2 weapons at once….just drop your magnum…whats the big deal.
Xgamr

Have to agree Yamster, the beta completly blew a**. resistance 1 was generic and now resistance 2 (or to take a page from yathzee’s book Gernic shooter 2: hooray for genericness) will blow come full game. i might rent just for story which was meh im not sure but this game is only gatting hyped because the first game was the only game back in the day to attrach fanboys.
Brandon

I’ve played the beta, and I think that it’s good in a few ways like the “resistance 2 beta rocks!” article.

But I agree with most of what you said, too, except the color saturation stuff. England is a lot more foggy and overcast for real, and the climate isn’t necessarily different for the plot of this game, right? Also, the co-op I view as another multiplayer–I don’t expect it to have a story or general experience to rival the single player campaign.

I’m hoping that things like the menu screen visual quality and the worst sound effects and audio I’ve heard in the PS3 era are due to it being a “beta.”
Jolley

Yamster I disagree with most the things you say and wait for it ….. I do again .I really really enjoyed this beta it made me more interested in a game I thought couldn’t even touch gears 2 ,playing it I believe it surpasses it many areas.

Saying this I really didn’t enjoy the first resistance so I suppose it’s how people see the direction of the game.

Plus did anyone see the reviews for the game. they were pretty damn good. I know reviews doesn’t change if you like a game but i am just saying.
Rocketman

Chimerians have thicker skulls, i mean isnt so easy to see that. And for the humans, well lets just say they are almost imune to bullets
nate-dog7

I played the beta and it’s amazing. Chaotic 60 players battles with absolutely no lag. Best online game i’ve ever played without a doubt.
Ted Price

Hey guys dont get upset. all you have seen of the game its just the beta, the actual and finished game is a product of much more quality, in graphics and in color palet.
wolfehound22

@DJJADE lol ya I know I thought of that after I typed it. But thanks for calling me out
wolfehound22

As I said before and I can see it’s more true for those that loved the first one will love this one. And reading some of these comments the ones that did not like the first one will not like this one that goes for you to yamster. You say right in your artical that you did not like the first one that much so it is to be expected you probably will not like this one.
Rusty

You’re insane. It seems you’ve bought into that whole first wave of nex-gen game’s idea that “gray is the color of the future.” Drab boring colors aren’t all you need to make a discontent, bleak mood.

And you really thought the co-op play was just shooting at one thing for 5 minutes and flicking a switch, you were doing it wrong. Or maybe you’re used to co-op meaning kill all the terrorists…again, wait for them to respawn and do it some more.

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October 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am · 36 Comments

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