A First person shooter developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, making this an exclusive game for the new PlayStation 3 console. The game is set in an alternate history version of the year 1951. Instead of World War II, humanity faces an alien invasion by a species known as the Chimera. The story follows U.S. Army Ranger Sergeant Nathan Hale as he fights to repel the Chimera from Britain, where they have already conquered much of Europe and Asia.

The narrative is presented through a documentary-style framing device, detailing Hale’s involvement in “Operation Deliverance,” a last-ditch effort to save Europe. Hale discovers he’s immune to a virus that the Chimera use to transform humans into their kind, which gives him enhanced abilities.

The main character, Nathan Hale, is part of Operation Deliverance, the last significant military operation aimed at stopping the Chimera’s invasion of Britain. The Chimera have already conquered much of Europe and Asia, transforming humans into their own kind through a virus. Hale starts in York, where he witnesses the brutal efficiency of the Chimera. Here, he learns about his unique immunity to the Chimeran virus, which instead of transforming him, enhances his physical abilities. After York, Hale moves to Manchester, where the mission involves securing a scientist named Dr. Richard Grey. Dr. Grey has developed a weapon called the Leaper, which uses Chimeran technology against them.

Along the way there are various objectives, including assisting the rebel forces from the Chimera attack. To add some variety into the game, some missions will have you either in a tank, or a jeep with an accomplice. Similar to the warthog from halo, you can switch between driving and gunning and can even crush enemies by running them over.

A lot of the games story has similarities to Gears Of War, which was Microsoft exclusive Third-person shooter set in a gritty environment. Resistance explores themes of an alien invasion, biological modification, immunity versus infection, and the struggle for human survival against a non-human threat. It delves into the psychological horror of what it means to be human when facing a force that corrupts and assimilates. In comparison, Gears of War Focuses on themes of war, duty, redemption, friendship, and the fight for one’s home. It also deals with the ethics of warfare, leadership, and what it means to be a soldier in a seemingly endless war.

While both games are set against backdrops of apocalyptic scenarios, Resistance: Fall of Man focuses on an alternate history with a more cerebral, horror-oriented approach to its alien invasion, whereas Gears of War dives into a more traditional war narrative with deep character studies, focusing on the human elements of war, brotherhood, and survival.

Resistance explores how an external, alien threat can unite disparate nations. Despite historical animosities, countries are shown working together against a common enemy, the Chimera. This unity is not just military but also cultural, as seen in the game’s depiction of soldiers from various nations. The concept of total war is evident, where every aspect of society is mobilized for the war effort. The game shows civilians, scientists, and soldiers all contributing to survival against the Chimera. This reflects the idea of a society on the brink, with all resources and efforts directed towards defense or counter-attack. There’s an underlying theme of using the enemy’s own technology against them, which touches on the ethics of biological and chemical warfare, a real-world political and ethical issue. Dr. Grey’s Leaper weapon and the study of the Chimera virus represent this theme.

While not explicitly detailed, the existence of the Chimera can be seen as a metaphor for authoritarian regimes or oppressive forces. The way the Chimera conquer and transform humans could symbolize the loss of individuality and freedom under oppressive rule. The resistance against them symbolizes the fight for human rights and autonomy. Political leaders and the military command are depicted as making hard choices for survival, often at the cost of individual lives or ethics. This theme explores the political necessity of sacrifice in wartime, paralleling real-world decisions in conflicts.

Resistance features both conventional weapons from the era and futuristic weapons influenced by the Chimera technology. Each weapon typically has two distinct firing modes, like the Auger which can shoot through walls or create a bullet-blocking barrier. The Hailstorm Shoots subsonic bolts that bounce off surfaces, increasing their lethality with each bounce. The ricocheting bullets add an element of unpredictability, it also gives the series its own identity through its weapons which is common with sci-fi themed games.

Despite being a Sony developed game, it remains only on the PlayStation 3 with no remake or rerelease for the PlayStation 4. It appears the game didn’t have enough of a broad appeal for Sony to port the game to the PS4. It was followed up by a sequel with Resistance 2, and a portable spin-off.