“Resistance 2″ received a lot of pre-release hype. The highly-anticipated sequel was quickly labeled a paramount exclusive in the PlayStation 3’s 2008 lineup. Though the game has received high praise from most critics, some in the gaming press have voiced their displeasure with the single-player campaign. Garnett Lee unleashed a passionate rant on a recent episode of the 1UP Yours podcast; our very own Lono expressed his displeasure on Episode 63 of The Red Show.

After digesting numerous opinions, I finally joined the second offensive against the Chimera this past week. My thoughts are after the jump.

I am not going to try to defend the narrative. It is not terrible, but it certainly won’t win any awards. If you were expecting top-notch dialogue and enthralling cutscenes, then you might want to skip this one. The main problem is that Nathan Hale just isn’t a compelling character. In my opinion, he takes a back seat to the Wraith-wielding Capelli, who sports a rather radical scar on his face. This was extremely disappointing, as Insomniac Games’ “Ratchet and Clank” franchise is known for its colorful characters. The Burbank-based studio even attempted to make the story more Hale-centric by ditching the narrator from the first game. Unfortunately, the result was the same: a lackluster narrative featuring an interesting-as-the-color-gray protagonist.

Back at E3, Insomniac showcased in-game footage of the skyscraper-destroying Leviathan. I was impressed, but not completely overwhelmed. After all, huge enemies are nothing new. Then I saw the “Last Hours” trailer. After getting a glimpse of the Mother Spinner, I had an epiphany. “Resistance 2″ would feature an army of massive monsters.  Visually, the large-scale bosses didn’t disappoint. The gargantuan Goliath left my jaw on the floor. Not since “Shadow of the Colossus” have I been so awestruck. I got the feeling that Insomniac was merely attempting to impress gamers, as the Leviathan and the Goliath felt more like tech demos than boss fights. The results were two memorable enemies in a couple of scripted encounters.

Gameplay-wise, “Resistance 2″ plays a lot like its predecessor. You enter a room, fight off a wave of enemies and move on to the next battle. This isn’t all you do, but aside from the occasional switch flip and the optional intel collection, there isn’t much variety. Then again, it is a first-person shooter, so what else would you expect? Fortunately, shredding the Chimeran forces is quite entertaining, as players have numerous unique tools of destruction at their disposal. Personally, I prefer series stalwarts like the Auger and the Bullseye, but also found the new toys, which include the saw blade-launching Splicer and the explosive-bullet-shooting Magnum, quite enjoyable. Overall, the arsenal feels a lot more realistic this time around, as goofier weapons like the Arc Charger and the Splitter have been removed. However, unlike in “Fall of Man,” Hale can only carry two guns at a time. This mechanic often forced me to choose between a plethora of ammo and immense firepower. Granted, I rarely had an empty clip, as the plethora of enemies provided plenty of bullets.

Some have bemoaned the game’s trial-and-error gameplay, but I never found it to be too frustrating. I simply learned from my mistakes and adapted my strategy. The great thing about “Resistance 2″ is that it has numerous difficulty settings. Therefore, every gamer can find the level that matches his/her abilities. A game shouldn’t be impossible, but it needs to provide some semblance of a challenge. The key is finding the right balance. Shooter pros can crank it up to “Super Human,” while more casual FPS fans can select “Normal” or “Casual.”

Nathan Hale’s second adventure isn’t perfect. The story is forgettable, the experience is over far too soon and the graphics, while quite good, look like they were lifted from the original game. However, in my opinion, the single-player campaign is far from a “critical failure.” Trophy support adds some replay value, the ending is tremendous and, get this, the solo adventure is fun. Burn me at the stake; I had fun playing a game. I certainly appreciate an exhilarating narrative and triple-A graphics, but I want my games to be enjoyable first and foremost. The “Resistance 2″ single-player campaign didn’t blow me away, but it provided nine hours of Chimera-slaughtering entertainment. That is was all I wanted.

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