November 11, 2006, Resistance: Fall of Man was released on PlayStation 3 in Japan — a first-person science-fiction shooter by Insomniac Games and Sony Computer Entertainment. The project became one of the key games of the PS3's launch period and introduced players to a new universe in which an alternate history of World War II gradually turned into a struggle between humanity and the mysterious Chimera.
Development of the game began before the release of PlayStation 3. The project initially had the working title I-8, as it was the eighth game in production at Insomniac Games. It was first shown at E3 2005 as a first-person shooter set in an alternate version of history against the backdrop of World War II.
During development, the concept changed significantly. In 2006, the project received the name Resistance: Fall of Man, and instead of a conventional World War II story, the team created its own world featuring a massive invasion by a mysterious race of Chimeras. The game was intended to demonstrate the capabilities of Sony's new console, including its graphics, level scale, and network features.
The events of Resistance: Fall of Man take place in an alternate 1951. In this world, humanity experienced a completely different course of history: a mysterious infection spread across Europe, and along with it came a race of creatures known as the Chimera.
The Chimeras quickly conquer a significant part of Europe, while Great Britain becomes one of the main centers of resistance. The United States sends troops to help the British, and the main character is American Ranger Nathan Hale.
The story gradually reveals the origins of the Chimeras and the nature of the catastrophe. At the same time, the game is not limited to a typical conflict between humans and aliens, but creates a grim alternative version of the 20th century in which familiar cities and historical events receive a completely different context.
Insomniac sought to make Resistance not simply a demonstration of the PS3's technical capabilities, but a full-fledged shooter with its own identity. The game combined a story campaign, a cooperative mode, and large-scale online multiplayer.
One of its features was a diverse system of weapons and enemies. The developers used the science-fiction setting to create weapons and mechanics that would not have been possible in a realistic military shooter.
Multiplayer became an important part of the project. Resistance: Fall of Man offered large-scale online battles and became one of the first major games to demonstrate the potential of PlayStation 3's network capabilities.
The Japanese release took place on November 11, 2006, while the game was released later that month alongside the launch of PlayStation 3 in the United States. In Europe, the release took place in March 2007.
Critics positively received the game, especially considering its status as one of the first major projects for the new console. On Metacritic, it received 86/100, while GameSpot rated the game 8.6/10. Its scale, graphics, campaign, and online multiplayer were among the strengths highlighted.
The game also received a number of awards and nominations for 2006, including recognition for its multiplayer and as one of the best games for PlayStation 3.
Resistance: Fall of Man became commercially successful. According to Guinness World Records, as of June 2013, the game had sold more than 4.15 million copies, making it the best-selling platform-exclusive shooter for PlayStation 3 at the time.
The success of the first installment gave rise to the series. Resistance 2 was released in 2008, followed by Resistance 3 in 2011. The series also received portable spin-offs, Resistance: Retribution and Resistance: Burning Skies.
Although the franchise eventually stopped receiving new mainline installments, the first Resistance remained an important game in the early history of PlayStation 3. It helped shape the image of Sony's new console as a platform not only for technical demonstrations, but also for large-scale exclusive shooters.
Resistance: Fall of Man became the starting point for an entire franchise and one of the projects that defined the early years of PlayStation 3. Its alternate history, dark world, and large-scale multiplayer made the game a notable part of its generation, while for Insomniac it became the foundation for several more major experiments in the shooter genre.
As a reminder, Medieval II: Total War — the story of the game that turned the Middle Ages into a grand strategy.
