Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Genre: First - Person Shooter
Release Date: May 29, 2012
MSRP: $39.99
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Genre: First - Person Shooter
Release Date: May 29, 2012
MSRP: $39.99
How does the first true portable dual analog FPS fare?
Resistance: Burning Skies is the most recent Resistance game to release (following 2011's Resistance 3) and second portable Resistance adventure (Resistance: Retribution released on the PSP in 2009). The series has been consistently been released to widespread critical acclaim, but that's no surprise coming from a developer as talented as Insomniac. However, unlike those games, this one was not developed by Insomniac or SCE Bend; it was developed by a rather unknown, new studio: Nihilistic Software. So, how did they do in bringing such a great series to the Vita? Rather well, actually.
Resistance: Burning Skies follows the story of a firefighter named Tom Riley, who we play as in the initial days of the Chimeran invasion. Early in the story, Tom's family leaves for a protection camp, and he stays behind to help fend of the invaders. He later goes to find them only to discover their camp was attacked by the Chimera and they were kidnapped. From there on, it's your pretty standard fare for an FPS. The story isn't particularly interesting, but it's definitely not bad; it was good enough to keep me playing, and that's what counts. The voice acting for all characters was well done. One thing that slightly bothered me were the cutscenes in between missions (of which there are six in the game, and will take approximately 6 hours to complete). These cutscenes are presented in a comic book style, minute long scene from a different characters perspective. I would've preferred if it related more closely to Tom and his story. It is not majorly detrimental to the game, because what is presented in these scenes is good.
Resistance: Burning Skies is the most recent Resistance game to release (following 2011's Resistance 3) and second portable Resistance adventure (Resistance: Retribution released on the PSP in 2009). The series has been consistently been released to widespread critical acclaim, but that's no surprise coming from a developer as talented as Insomniac. However, unlike those games, this one was not developed by Insomniac or SCE Bend; it was developed by a rather unknown, new studio: Nihilistic Software. So, how did they do in bringing such a great series to the Vita? Rather well, actually.
Resistance: Burning Skies follows the story of a firefighter named Tom Riley, who we play as in the initial days of the Chimeran invasion. Early in the story, Tom's family leaves for a protection camp, and he stays behind to help fend of the invaders. He later goes to find them only to discover their camp was attacked by the Chimera and they were kidnapped. From there on, it's your pretty standard fare for an FPS. The story isn't particularly interesting, but it's definitely not bad; it was good enough to keep me playing, and that's what counts. The voice acting for all characters was well done. One thing that slightly bothered me were the cutscenes in between missions (of which there are six in the game, and will take approximately 6 hours to complete). These cutscenes are presented in a comic book style, minute long scene from a different characters perspective. I would've preferred if it related more closely to Tom and his story. It is not majorly detrimental to the game, because what is presented in these scenes is good.
A Firefight
The graphics in the game look great. I encountered a few technical glitches and hiccups in my time playing (one of which involved a killed Chimera floating in the air and suddenly spiraling off to the side) but, again, they were not detrimental to the experience at all. This is one of the better looking games on the Vita, but it is not Uncharted: Golden Abyss quality. However, for a handheld, these are great.
Now, to what everyone cares most about: the gameplay. The game does play fundamentally like a first person shooter on one of our home consoles. The only real difference is that because of the lack of triggers, grenades and secondary fire was remapped to the touchscreen (which work as you want them to for the most part), and the lack of a clickable left and right stick means that running and meleeing were also remapped to the touchscreen (though you can also run by pushing down on the d-pad, which works very well because of its close proximity to the left stick; you can hold down the run button without removing your thumb from the stick, which is very convenient). Gunplay is tight and responsive, just as an FPS should be. If you're looking for an FPS fix on the go, this will definitely quench that thirst.
Now, to what everyone cares most about: the gameplay. The game does play fundamentally like a first person shooter on one of our home consoles. The only real difference is that because of the lack of triggers, grenades and secondary fire was remapped to the touchscreen (which work as you want them to for the most part), and the lack of a clickable left and right stick means that running and meleeing were also remapped to the touchscreen (though you can also run by pushing down on the d-pad, which works very well because of its close proximity to the left stick; you can hold down the run button without removing your thumb from the stick, which is very convenient). Gunplay is tight and responsive, just as an FPS should be. If you're looking for an FPS fix on the go, this will definitely quench that thirst.
Multiplayer Gameplay: Team Deathmatch
There is also a multiplayer component, though this leaves some things to be desired. There are not many modes; multiplayer consists of either small or large games (your choice) of deathmatch and team deathmatch. There is a "all modes" option which just plays all the modes in one plalist and mixes up the order in which you play them. A survival game mode was later added on, and while the idea is interesting, it wasn't executed quite well; games are over in about a minute or less every time (it consists of 2 Chimera and 6 humans; if a Chimera kills a human, they respawn as a Chimera. The game goes until everyone is a Chimera). There is a steady progression system that could warrant you to return to the multiplayer, if it weren't for one glaring problem: matchmaking is absolutely horrid. The amount of people playing is rather low, and the only game mode I was ever able to get into a lobby for was "all modes" (it seems like basically every single person plays in this mode). When I got into a lobby (which did happen every time I clicked "all modes"), I was very frequently disconnected from the lobby and booted back to the main multiplayer screen and forced to re-enter matchmaking. However, when I was finally able to get into a game, the game ran flawlessly. I never encountered any glitches of any sort.
Overall, this is a good debut portable, twin stick FPS. I expect as the Vita gets older, developers will hone their ability to create good FPS games for it and better improve their servers and matchmaking. If you're looking for a portable FPS, this is your best bet for the time being.
Pros:
+Solid gameplay
+Good looking graphics
+Good voice acting
Cons:
-Story is somewhat lacking
-Multiplayer matchmaking is poor
8.0 Graphics: The graphics are great, especially for a portable game. It consistently looks crisp and there are very few graphical glitches.
8.0 Sound: Voice acting is good, sound affects are classic FPS fare, and the occasional orchestral piece is nice.
8.5 Gameplay: Gameplay is precise and fun. Some touchscreen remapping doesn't quite always work as wanted which can be aggravating, but for the most part it is well executed.
7.0 Lasting Appeal: No real reason to play through the single player story again (you can get the platinum trophy from one playthrough), but if you're willing to stick through poor matchmaking then there is plenty to come back for in the multiplayer department.
Overall: 8.0
Great
Overall, this is a good debut portable, twin stick FPS. I expect as the Vita gets older, developers will hone their ability to create good FPS games for it and better improve their servers and matchmaking. If you're looking for a portable FPS, this is your best bet for the time being.
Pros:
+Solid gameplay
+Good looking graphics
+Good voice acting
Cons:
-Story is somewhat lacking
-Multiplayer matchmaking is poor
8.0 Graphics: The graphics are great, especially for a portable game. It consistently looks crisp and there are very few graphical glitches.
8.0 Sound: Voice acting is good, sound affects are classic FPS fare, and the occasional orchestral piece is nice.
8.5 Gameplay: Gameplay is precise and fun. Some touchscreen remapping doesn't quite always work as wanted which can be aggravating, but for the most part it is well executed.
7.0 Lasting Appeal: No real reason to play through the single player story again (you can get the platinum trophy from one playthrough), but if you're willing to stick through poor matchmaking then there is plenty to come back for in the multiplayer department.
Overall: 8.0
Great