Review: Super Stardust HD (PS3)

Graphics- 9/10
Sound- 8/10
Gameplay- 9/10
Replay Value- 7/10
Overall- 8/10

Super Stardust HD is not the first game in the dual-joystick genre, but it's probably the best on the PS3. It features crisp visuals, a nice soundtrack, and a fun co-op feature. For only $8, this game is one of the best available from the Playstation Store.

In Super Stardust HD, you take control of a spaceship that orbits a planet on a grid. Your goal is to protect the world from the asteroids that are hurdling towards it. Once they reach the planet, they circle it on the grid, leaving you to destroy them before they destroy you. Because the planet is, of course, a sphere, the playing field is a sphere. The concept is pretty simple, and the game is easy to get into and start playing. However, there are three different types of weapons that you have, each for a specific type of asteroid. For example, the rock crusher does more damage to rocks than the gold melter does, but not as much damage to gold. This gameplay element makes the game more fun, but also more challenging. Also, at the center of the asteroids are power-ups that give you an extra life, make your weapons stronger, or give you a shield. You will often find yourself frantically switching weapons, trying to avoid getting hit, and trying to collect power-ups at the same time. There are several planets to defend, each with five stages of varying difficulty, that end with a boss fight. There is also an online leaderboard, so you can see how you compare with others.

The multiplayer comes in the form of co-op, but its offline only. Both players play on the same screen and have independent controls. However, if one player moves too far away from the other, the other player gets dragged along with. But it is to the players' advantage to stick close together, as it boosts the weapons power. The planets aren't very detailed, but the asteroids and the explosions are very nicely rendered. The asteroids blow up into oddly-shaped pieces, and the weapons create some flashy explosions. The soundtrack and sound effects of the game are nothing special, but the sci-fi theme fits the game incredibly well. If you have played plenty of games like this one before, then Super Stardust HD might be a pass, even though it's a solid game. If you are new to the genre, then this game is an excellent place to start.

Pros: Nice presentation, good value for price, co-op.
Cons: Limited replay value, not the first in genre.

Review: Eric

Review: MLB 07: The Show (PS3)

Graphics- 7/10
Sound- 8/10
Gameplay- 9.5/10
Replay Value- 9.5/10
Overall- 8.5/10

The Show is back! MLB 07: The Show for the PS3 is pretty much the PS2 version of the same game. This really isn't a bad thing, except in the graphics department. The Show is fun on all systems, but the PS3 version is probably the best. If you are a baseball fan, I highly recommend this game.

The next edition of the Show is here with MLB 07: The Show, finally out for the PS3. It was released two and a half months after the PS2 and PSP versions, which were released before the start of the season. The '07 version includes several new features, most notably the Road to the Show career and ability to create online leagues with up to 30 players. Like I said before, the game is almost a direct port of the PS2 version with better graphics and some additional features. However, the graphics certainly are hurt by this. The graphics aren't bad, but the game does not have that next-gen shine and polish that other games have, and doesn't look nearly as good as MLB 2K7. Also, there are several animation glitches that occur during gameplay. Most of these have to do with collision detection, such as going right through a player during a hard slide (this only happens some of the time). The announcing on the game is done well, with the help of Rex Hudler, Matt Vasgersian, and Dave Campbell. However, a consistent problem is that the sayings tend to overlap and do not necessarily correspond to the current play. Also, the soundtrack is not all that great. It fits in well, but only three or four of the 18 songs are any good (personal opinion).

However, baseball games aren't about the graphics or the soundtrack, well, maybe a little bit, but it is mostly about gameplay. And that is the area at which MLB 07: The Show excels. The controls work well and are easy to learn, besides the SIXAXIS controls, which feel tacked on. The new pitching system works incredibly well, and adds a fair amount of depth to the game. Also, the developers added in a system that is supposed to imitate the tendencies of an umpire, creating changing strike zones. This feature adds realism, and can be helpful, but can get annoying if it isn't working in your favor. The career mode from the first edition is back and is still amazing. But in addition to that, the new Road to the Show mode allows you to skip every play you are not involved in, speeding up the process. The only complaint I have with this mode is that the buttons that represent the bases control different bases when you play different positions, but, if you understand what I'm saying, this is a minor complaint. The franchise mode is also back, and is very deep and fun. All of these modes add up to plenty of hours that can be spent playing this game. And that is just the offline play. The online system is well done, allowing you to match up with people who have the same skill level as you. Also, as I mentioned before, you can create online leagues with your friends for up to 30 people. All in all, this game is an excellent baseball simulator, and if you are looking for a baseball game on the PS3, this is it.

Pros: New features work well, Road to the Show, deep Franchise mode, online adds plenty to do.
Cons: Graphics look dated, soundtrack, animations.

Review: Eric

*Also available for PS2 and PSP. Review for PS3 only.

Review: Gripshift (PS3)

Graphics- 7/10
Sound- 8.5/10
Gameplay- 6/10
Replay Value- 6/10
Overall- 6.5/10

Gripshift for the PS3 looked like a nice racing game to get since there aren't too many games out right now, and for only $10 and loads of content, I decided I couldn't pass it up. However, it gets repetitive quick and after you realize this, nothing will keep you coming back for more.

If you read my preview of Gripshift, you know that I thought Gripshift would get repetitive. And it most certainly is. There are a nice variety of tracks, and although I'm not sure about the exact number, there are a LOT of tracks. Unless you have OCD and you must complete every game you own 100%, you will get bored. And even then, you will still probably get bored. This game is incredibly repetitive. To worsen the situation, the game features a steep learning curve. There are five difficulty levels: beginner, easy, intermediate, hard, and insane. Beginner is too easy. Easy is mostly easy, with some occasional hard objectives that require excellent timing to complete. Intermediate is somewhat easy, but starts to get a lot harder. Hard is pretty damn hard. Insane, well, to be honest, I gave up on this game before I got to insane, but I imagine it would be pretty freakin' insane. The game gets hard fairly quickly, and people with short attention spans (me) will get bored really quickly.

To mix up the gameplay, there are a few different environments the tracks are in. They all look nice, but there was nothing that wowed me. The cars also are well done, with cartoony graphics that actually add to the gameplay in the same way Katamari Damacy's did; it draws you into the experience. Also, the game features a techno soundtrack that fits well into the game. The soundtrack has good songs, and plenty of them, I think somewhere upwards of 30. I don't listen to techno, but I found several songs that I like.

That about sums up the single player section. Except for the racing. Yea, the racing... it's not very good. In the preview, I thought it was too easy. Well, the race that was featured was the first race in the entire game. The racing is easy in beginner and easy, a little harder in intermediate, challenging but still doable, and insane is near impossible. The racing features a "weapon system;" I guess you can call it that. There are three items: shield, TNT, and rockets. The shield is self-explanatory, the TNT is like a bomb or a mine, and the rocket is a homing missile. Simple enough, only the homing missile, the most useful of the weapons, has a tendency to suck. Turn sharply, and it will zoom right past you. And don't even try to use it on loops; it will only hit the enemy if they are two feet in front of you. The only multiplayer is online, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, except for there aren't many people online. On the plus side, there is a good sense of speed, and the game does feature simple and easy-to-use controls. So if you have $10 to spend and you need to play a decent racing game on the PS3, or you really like techno, buy this game. Otherwise, this game is a pass.

Pros: Only $10, soundtrack, simple controls, lots of tracks.
Cons: Repetitive, steep learning curve, repetitive, nobody online, repetitive.

Review: Eric

Review: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PS3*)

Graphics- 9.5/10
Sound- 10/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 10/10
Overall- 10/10

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the PS3 is the best game out for the PS3 thus far. It is just about the same game as the 360 version, but with added content and improved loading times. And as with the 360 version, this game is a must-buy.

Wow. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is simply stunning. If you have a PS3, or a Xbox 360 for that matter, you must buy this game. It is just that good. There is just so much stuff to do. If you have been living under a rock, let me explain what kind of game Oblivion is. It is an RPG set in a huge world with plenty to explore. And like I said before, there is plenty to do. If you like being the warrior, killing everything in sight, you will have fun. If you would prefer to be a mage, casting spells and doing other mage things, you will have fun. And if you just like to goof off and mess around, oh man, will you have fun. The main quest is pretty good, but other than that, there are so many other quests, each as interesting as the next. There are plenty of factions to join, along with a new one for the PS3 version. The combat system works well, and there is plenty of stuff to kill. And once you kill those things, you will discover the immense multitude of items and weapons in the game.

The orchestral soundtrack is a perfect fit for this game. The graphics are also amazing, and everything in the game is super-detailed. But because of the violence, some people might be turned off by this game. The only problem with the graphics is the weird animations for your character. I you don't know what I mean, switch to third-person view, walk in a diagonal line and jump. Other than that, though, this game is nearly perfect. If you need more convincing, read the 360 review.

That being said, this game is, more or less, the same game that came out for the Xbox 360, and all of the extra content can be purchased for the Xbox 360 version. Not that that's a bad thing. It's just that if you have played the 360 version, you know what you are getting. I guess this is the better version, but there isn't much of an improvement. On the other hand, if you can afford an Xbox 360 and a Playstation 3, then you should have enough money to afford both copies. So, like I said before, buy this game. I think my friend described it best when he said, "So, it's like an MMORPG, without the online multiplayer aspect," which is exactly what this game is. A massive RPG. Get this game. You will not be disappointed.

Pros: Plenty to do, graphics are amazing, sound is amazing, very fun, problems with 360 version fixed.
Cons: May not be for everybody, some animations look weird.

Review: Eric

*Also available for the 360. Review for PS3 only.

Editorial: Why "Home" Could Push the PS3 to The Top

Dan: Damn you Sony. I now want a PS3 more than ever. I will admit to being a pretty big Nintendo fanboy but it looks like Sony is pulling to the top, at least with strong ideas. Let it be known that I was always going to get a PS3, I was just going to wait for a time that I could purchase one without getting shot in the face by a BB... which doesn't hurt as much as you would think. I knew nothing about home until I saw the trailer above and I was floored. The potential that is there is phenomenal. I really hope they don't screw this up.

Eric: To be honest, Home came as a surprise to me. I was hoping Sony would make something that could compete with Xbox Live, but I didn't think they could do it without totally ripping Live off. Instead they decided to rip off Second Life, which is fine with me. Unlike some people, I am very excited about what Sony could do with Home. I am also a little worried. Home could work very well, or it can turn into a scam to get people's money. Hopefully, though, Sony will get this right.

Let's start with what they could get right. They could allow people to see where their friends are and let them join their friends. They could not charge for Home. They could, in addition to having brand-name products, Nike, Adidas, etc., allow users to create their own products to wear. By the way, that was stuff that they should do. Some suggestions that I have would be to have a leaderboard for games in the lobby or somewhere else. Also, if they included some sort of system where you get better stuff the more achievements or the more games you have beaten, that would be pretty sweet. However, I think it would be rather difficult to do this without some people taking advantage and misusing the system.

Now let's talk about what they might do wrong. First off, if they charge for Home, they made a mistake. I expect them to charge for some things in Home, like games, etc., but not for the ability to use Home. They say they won't, but does Sony always keep their promises? Second, if some of the products in Home are relatively expensive (more than $5), they made a big mistake. People had to shell out $600 for the console, they shouldn't have to keep making us pay. Lastly, if they do not include some sort of achievement system, they made a huge mistake. This is one of the best parts in Xbox Live, and adds a sense of competitiveness to every game (nevertheless, games should be worth playing without achievements; achievements should just be an add-on). Sony needs this so you can see if you are better than your friends, assuming you have friends (no offense to lonely people).

Dan: Eric is right, the money aspect worries me. Charging for things would really make the idea sour in my mind. They could really screw up by charging for everything. It appears that they will be charging for upgrades. Such as a bigger house... etc. This is ok with me long as they give you a reasonable sized house to start out with. The other thing that they could mess up is charging for items. I expect there to be items by big companies like NIKE that you can pay for but I hope that Sony will have plenty of free or really cheap items. They could even go as far an in game currency system to buy certain items. To me what they charge for and how much could determine if it sinks or swims. So, they had better not charge for Home. While I would probably shell out the money eventually, it would feel the same to me. I would feel more obligated to play it so I didn't waste my money on something I don't play. If they didn't charge I would pick it up any play at my leisure and enjoy it much more. Lastly, Eric is right - an achievement system of some sort is all but required. It is a huge mistake to not include something along those lines. Look at how successful it is on the 360. The do need a wall of fame for all time high scores on games. Imagine if you were on that wall. To be honest it can make a bad game good. Many games that you wouldn't want to play normally you will want to go back to because you think you can get a really good score that everyone can see.

Eric: Well, that's our opinions about PS3 Home. It'll be good if it's free/cheap and if Sony can do an achievement system well. It'll be bad if it's expensive and doesn't enhance the gaming experience whatsoever. You can expect our preview in April or May (when the beta is supposed to be released) and the final review in fall.

Editorial: Dan, Eric

Review: MotorStorm (PS3)

Graphics- 9.5/10
Sound- 9.5/10
Gameplay- 9/10
Replay Value- 8/10
Overall- 9/10

If you have a PS3, you probably downloaded the demo for MotorStorm, played it, and have been waiting for the game to come out. It's finally here, but was it worth the wait? The short answer: yes. The long answer: read the review.

First of all: the graphics. Holy crap, the graphics. They are simply phenomenal. Why do I mention them first? They are probably the first thing you've noticed about the game. The environments are beautifully rendered, and bring the game to life. The cars also look fantastic, each with their own unique style. Plus, the explosions look pretty good as well. This game just simply looks good. Also, this game sports an excellent soundtrack. If you enjoy rock music, you will find something here you like. And if you don't like a song? Just uncheck it from the playlist, a feature sadly missing in some games (Supercar Street Challenge, just to name one).

Which leads us to the gameplay. Honestly, the gameplay is a little disappointing. It's still very good, but it could be better. The storyline, I guess you can call it that, is pretty pointless. All you do in the game is race races over and over again. Yes, that is what you do in every other racing game, but some racing games (Gran Turismo 3, just to name one) have more variety in what you are allowed to do, with buying cars and so forth. It is just too linear. Speaking of the cars, yes there are unlockable cars, but the only difference between them and other cars of the same class is looks. They have the same speed and handling. As for the types of cars you can drive, there are seven. The small ones: the motorbike, small and agile, and the ATV, bigger than the bike, but less agile, more meant for driving in the dirt. The medium ones: the buggy, a smaller, speedy car meant for off-roading; the rally cars, the fastest car in the game, but limited to smoother roads; and the racing truck, good for rough terrain, but suffers in speed. And the big ones: the mudpluggers, a mix between monster trucks and pickup trucks, best for driving in, well, mud, and the big rig, slow, bad at handling, but this doesn't matter since you can plow through your enemies. With the different types of cars, there are also different things you can do with them. For example, if you are on a bike or an ATV, you can deliver an oh-so-satisfying punch to other drivers to knock them off their bikes or ATVs. Or if you are in a big rig, simply run over your bike/ATV-riding enemies.

To go along with the theme of cars, boosting is a major part of this game. Without it, there is no way you could win most of the races. When you boost too long, a fireball not-very-realistically comes out of the back of your car as a warning, because if you boost too long, you explode. However, this can create some entertaining moments, as you can have a fireball coming out of the back of a big rig (must be intimidating for the other racers). There are some more problems with the game. Sometimes you will get randomly stuck in a corner or on a rock if you take a turn too fast, the worst part being that it is hard to get unstuck. Most of the time, I have to boost so much that I explode just to get free. This can understandably make you go from first place to last in a matter of seconds. Also, there is no splitscreen multiplayer, meaning if I want to play with my Wii-owning friend, for example, he would have to buy a PS3. And by the time this happens, a better racing game will probably be out. The reason for this is probably because it would be pointless to have the graphics as freakishly good as they are if you cannot enjoy them, but still, the feature would have been very welcome. This game does have online multiplayer, however, and the system is very good, and worth playing. Also, in the preview, I thought there would be more courses, but I was mistaken. There are only eight, and while they are all long, this is still not enough. They get old rather quickly. The best part about the courses, though: there are so many paths to take, which leads to a different strategy for the different vehicle types. Overall, this game is worth buying if you like racing games and have a PS3, and is making me very excited for the expected MotorStorm 2.

Pros: Graphics, soundtrack, running over a biker with your truck, punching an opposing racer off their bike/ATV, fun, online multiplayer.
Cons: No splitscreen multiplayer, having to explode yourself to get unstuck.

Review: Eric

Preview: Gripshift (PS3)

Gripshift, for the PS3, is an enhanced version of the game by the same title for the PSP. It is a racing/ puzzle game, with some strategy elements thrown in, too.

Not a lot of content is shown in the downloadable demo, but I'll tell you what I do know. It features a nice techno/rock soundtrack, with plenty of songs available. They fit in very well with the style of game that Gripshift is. The game also has some pretty interesting courses. Most of them are straight forward, but some of them have several different ways you can complete the objectives of that particular track. Every course has the same three objectives: get a fast time, collect all the stars, and find the Gripshift token. There is an online leader board for whoever complete the mission the fastest. If you have a competitive spirit, you will try your best to get the fastest time possible for yourself, and if you get pretty close to the top time, you may find yourself trying over and over again to get the top, or simply just a faster, time. This adds a certain level of challenge, until you realize you have stopped caring, and either give up, or keep trying anyway. None of the levels are really all that difficult, though, so after you complete it, you may have a "That was too easy" feeling.

That being said, the game gets repetitive. I am not sure how many courses there are (there were only ten in the demo), but I can't see them being very creative any more after the 50th one. Although the courses look nice (cartoony nice, not MotorStorm nice), the scenery in the ten tracks provided looks relatively the same, so if there are more than 100 levels, it will definitely get boringly repetitive. Also, like all driving games, there is some racing involved. However, I do not think this will be a big part of the game, as only one of the levels in the demo was racing. And it was really easy. So hopefully this is improved in the final version. Also, I know there will be some sort of multiplayer racing, most likely over the internet. Hopefully this will be good and actually worth playing. Overall, Gripshift is a fun game with a creative concept, but since it's very repetitive, it will be interesting to see how well the final version is done.

What's Good: Soundtrack, courses.
What Could Be Better: Racing, repetitive, difficulty.

Expected Overall- 7/10

Preview: Eric

Editorial: The PS3 is More Than a $600 Grill

I'm sure you all have heard people comparing the PS3 to a grill, due to its likeness in shape to the George Foreman grill, similar to the photo on the right. And while this picture is obviously fake, some people did actually convert their PS3 into a grill. While I cannot think of a bigger waste of money... maybe the Zune... I must admit there are many similarities between the grill and the PS3's shape. That being said, that is where the similarities end. Well, maybe not...

The PS3 is a gaming powerhouse. The George Foreman grill is a grilling powerhouse. Ken Kutaragi is risking his good name on the system. George Foreman is risking his good name on the grill. And with the amount of heat the PS3 generates, it probably could cook a steak in about 10 minutes (unlike the Xbox 360, however, it doesn't overheat). But that's not the point. The point is that the PS3 is not a joke. Just about everybody who isn't planning on buying one thinks this, and even some of the people who have bought it think this. Sony knows what they are doing. Look at the original Playstation and the Playstation 2, and look at their other electronics. Sony brand stuff is the usually some of the highest quality stuff on the market. (And actually, Betamax was the better quality format, but lost anyway.)

I will agree with some people though, Sony may have been a little overconfident in their ability to sell the PS3 based on the fact that its got the Playstation name. Also, Sony may be in some trouble in the game department, as they have lost a lot of once-exclusive titles. However, if Motorstorm, Warhawk, Lair, and Metal Gear Solid 4 are as good as their supposed to be (a big "if", and if Killzone looks just about as good as it did at E3 2005 (monstrously immense "if"), then I think the PS3 has a major shot at winning the console war. And I will go on record saying this: if MGS4 isn't an exclusive, Sony lost. And although they have lost some exclusives, they still have Heavenly Sword, Devil May Cry 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Gran Turismo 5, and I can't forget Ratchet and Clank 5. But if that's not good enough for you, don't forget about all the exclusive games that were on the PS2, seeing as the PS3 is almost fully backwards compatible, something that cannot and will never be said by the Xbox 360.

One thing I must say, Xbox fanboys: stop comparing Gears of War to Resistance: Fall of Man. Yes, Gears of War is the better game. However, you simply cannot, or rather, should not, since people obviously unfairly can and have, compare a game that came out one year after the console launch with a launch title. That's like comparing Metal Gear Solid 4 to Perfect Dark Zero (actually, Resistance itself is better than Perfect Dark Zero), or comparing MotorStorm, or maybe Gran Turismo 5, to Project Gotham Racing 3. Not very fair now, is it? However, because Resistance was compared to Gears of War, it made Resistance look bad.

Also, you may or may not have heard stories about some stores having a plentiful supply of PS3's for while. Most commonfolk would interpret this as the PS3 selling poorly. However, this is not the case. The real reason is that since Sony didn't want there to be a shortage of systems available, they were flying them over, rather than shipping them by boat, to shorten the time of delivery. And since most stores are getting shipments every week, and sometimes more often than that, people are seeing lots of PS3's on store shelves. And the PS3's launch wasn't bad, it's just that the Wii's launch was better, and less violent. It's actually quite the contrary, since the PS3's launch was the best launch of a system Sony has ever had.

A point I have seen made about the PS3 is its online and how bad it is. First of all, I don't really know where this comes from. Yes it could be better, but it's definitely not bad, and is a hell of a lot better than the PS2's online service, which was pretty much none (sure it had online games, but other than that...). Second, I will agree that it should be better. I mean, look at how far Nintendo has come in its online offerings, only two or three games had online and I doubt any of those were really worth playing. My point is though, the PS3's online service isn't bad. Yes, Xbox Live is better. Yes, there is room for improvement. The best part of it is, though, that its free. I paid $600 for the system (actually about $650 with tax), so I would expect some added benefits. And since its free, I can understand how it's not as good as Xbox Live, which, if you didn't already know, costs $50 a year.

Another thing I have against the public's view of the PS3: its price. Stop complaining about its price if you weren't going to buy it in the first place. It's like if I was buying a Toyota because I needed a car, never considered buying a Ferrari, but complained about its price anyway. I don't and shouldn't really care about the price of a Ferrari because I know I'm not going to buy it. Same thing if you are buying a Wii because of the games, so you never considered buying the PS3; don't complain about its price because it doesn't affect you. On the other hand, if you were thinking about buying a PS3, but the price turned you away, then you can complain about it. Dan's right, the PS3 is for hardcore gamers, and hardcore gamers will be willing to pay the $600 for the console, and might end up buying all three next-gen systems. (Unless, of course, they're cheap bastards, then they'll just buy the Wii.) And if you are getting a console, no matter which one, as a gift or by some other means without actually paying for it, you have no right to complain, you lucky bastard. And a major (or minor, depending on the person) selling point was the fact that the PS3 is a cheap Blu-Ray player, but since this doesn't have to do with games, I don't feel like arguing about right now.

So as you can see, the PS3 is more than a $600 grill. It's a $600 grill that can play games and movies. What more could you want?

Editorial by: Eric

Preview: MotorStorm (PS3)

From what is shown in the demo, MotorStorm looks to be a very good racing game. The player takes place in a tournament set in Monument Valley. The graphics are looking very good at the moment, and could be improved by the day it's released. The environment looks very realistic and expansive. The soundtrack, although I have only heard two or three songs, sounds good. Hopefully they will have added more songs though, by the time the game is released.

But now what the game is all about: gameplay. The controls are tight and the steering is responsive. The game also allows you to use the motion-sensing capabilities of the controller, but most of the time it is too sensitive and takes some getting used to. The game also features excellent AI. The opponents are supposed to have a "memory," so if you bump into the opponent, they will bump back into you. And if you keep running into an opponent, they will supposedly seek out revenge at any cost, even if it means losing the race. Also, there are some nifty features that are added in the game. If you are on a motorbike, you can punch other racers of of their bikes. Also, if you are in a truck, and you honk your horn, other racers on smaller cars will get out of your way to not be run over. There are plenty of types of vehicles to race with, which should lead to many hours of gameplay. There is also supposed to be a good variety of tracks, but only one was playable in the demo.

What's Good: Graphics, AI, variety of vehicles.
What Could Be Better: Soundtrack.

Expected Overall- 9/10

Preview: Eric

Review: Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)

Graphics- 9/10
Sound- 9.5/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 9.5/10
Overall- 9.5/10

Resistance: Fall of Man is the must-own game for the Playstation 3. The game features excellent single player and multiplayer, which will keep you entertained for hours. Resistance is currently the best game for the PS3.

Resistance: Fall of Man was one of the launch titles for the PS3, but something sets it apart from the rest: it is actually good. The first thing I did when I played this game was play the single player. The story for the single player is very well done. Also, I noticed how good the graphics are. Since I don't have an HDTV, however, I wasn't able to fully comprehend how good they actually are. But the one thing I did notice is that it is definitely better than the graphics that can be produced on the PS2. In addition to the graphics, the sound is really done well, too. In some levels the background music really sets the tone for that particular level. For example, some moments seem pretty creepy, or others really tense, just because of the background music (or the lack there of). And while it is done in a rather simplistic nature, it creates the atmosphere for the game.

After I completed the single player, I played some cooperative. The lack of online coop is definitely a minus, but it is still more fun to yell at the person you are playing with when you can actually see them rather than over a mic. After a brief time playing coop, I went online. The online is done well, and the stat system is pretty interesting (except for that week when it didn't work...). The modes are all very fun, and the 40-player games are still fun, but are incredibly hectic since every where you turn, there seems to three opponents ready to gun you down. Speaking of guns, the weapons in this game are simply fantastic. The game is made by Insomniac, the developers of the Ratchet and Clank series, known for its interesting weapons. The variety available is incredible, and the weapons are evenly matched for both humans and Chimera (the enemy in the game). Take the human Carbine and the Chimera Bullseye, both the machine gun types for the separate races. The Carbine is more accurate, but the Bullseye has a higher rate of fire. In conclusion, if you have a PS3, get Resistance: Fall of Man. If you are going to get a PS3, get Resistance: Fall of Man. And if you have a PS3, want Resistance: Fall of Man, but cannot get it for whatever reason, sucks for you.

Pros: Great weapon design, good story, online multiplayer.
Cons: PS3 can do better graphics, no online coop.

Review: Eric