Release date: September 6, 2011

Publisher: Sony

MPAA Rating: Mature

Since I had very few friends, I hadn’t been very impressed by the recent wave of video games that have cooperative or multiplayer features. If it were more popular, I thought, maybe I’d like them. But for all the multiplayer action I normally get, I might as well just have a PS3 controller. Twenty-five years ago I could have gotten by with two Atari joysticks and playing alone, but games like stink they don’t match current offerings in terms of challenge or complexity. Also, I was in diapers and didn’t know exactly what my feet were.

My opinion changed, however, when I picked up a copy of Resistance 3, which was released late last year. Being a fan of the former, I finally turned around to purchase this new entry in the alternate history series. The co-op aspect didn’t even cross my mind at first as I was completely captivated by the stunning graphics and engaging gameplay. One of the strongest aspects of the Endurance The series has been the fusion of historical elements (namely WWII) with science fiction (aliens that will rip your head off if you get too close, for example), and this one was no different. From fighting aliens under a barely standing St. Louis Arch to an intense battle in the middle of a war-torn Times Square, Resistance 3 uses real-life locations to boost the feeling that the stakes are high, as if you could look out the window and see the buildings around you bursting with explosions.

After finishing the campaign, I immediately started a second game, but in the main menu, the co-op option somehow caught my eye, and I wondered how different it would be to play with a partner. The prospect of saving the world again seemed much more tempting with someone to cover for me. So, I dusted off my second controller and invited a friend over to play.

The cooperative mode is, story-wise, exactly the same as the single player mode. But what a world of difference. Together, my friend and I yelled at each other to take down alien snipers, wailing our way through abandoned train stations infested with creatures that looked as if they had just been dressed for display in a butcher’s shop, and then in silent amazement (for a second time around) when the game’s stellar graphics would show us just how intense the PlayStation 3 can get. One scene in particular where we float up the Mississippi River and get trapped under a collapsing bridge was particularly impressive, and when the thing fell apart, we both seemed to have sat down in front of a summer blockbuster.

Resistance 3 is from Insomniac Games, the same studio that produces the Ratchet and Clank series, and its influence can be seen especially in the weapons that the game makes available. Various weapons (such as the Bullseye and Auger) from the previous two games return, but are complemented by new weapons such as the Mutator, which produces explosive green pustules on enemies and turns them into walking time bombs. Additionally, the Cryogun gives a nice little inverse to the often-played flamethrower by firing a stream of ice at enemies and allowing you to smash them to pieces with a melee strike or the weapon’s alternate fire mode, a concussive blast that breaks frozen enemies into pieces.

In general, the game itself is very impressive. It’s a great title to add to your PS3 collection, especially if you’re a fan of first-person shooters or sci-fi/horror games. But even general action gamers will likely find something here to enjoy. And while I was skeptical about co-op gaming before, the multiplayer aspect of Resistance 3 it turned out to be quite funny. I am looking forward to trying more games with a cooperative element. Now all I need is for the Slackers to sell people to come play video games with me.