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E3 2008: Resistance Retribution Hands on and Interview

by: Chuck -
More On: E3 2008
One of the main problems developers have had(especially FPS developers) with the PSP is that lack of a right thumbstick.  This breaks down the traditional FPS control scheme of having on thumbstick to fire and the other to aim and while developers have used the face buttons for the aiming system it rarely works out well.  The folks at Sony Bend have come up with a solution to that for Resistance:Retribution by creating a large auto aiming window that you push around the screen.  Anythin within that window is auto-targeted allowing you to focus on movement and evading incoming fire.  The system works out pretty well once you get used to it (it took me about five minutes) but while it makes targeting enemies easier it doesn't really de-couple you from the action as much as you think it would.  Using the zoom mode on a sniper rifle still requires you to aim with the thumbstick so don't expect any cheap headshots in the single player or four on four multiplayer games.

I really like what the folks at Bend have done with the plot as well.  With Resistance:Fall of Man 2 focusing on the war in the Americas, it leaves the battle for Europe to Retribution.  The plot is also going to be a little darker as it's about one man's quest for revenge after the Chimera kill his brother.  The graphics in Retribution are excellent and I think Sony is doing a great job of managing the Resistance franchise as the game will be coming out in the Spring of next year and should be able to capitalize on the buzz being buitl by the folks at Insomniac.  For more information on the game and the controls be sure to listen to this interview I did with SCEA producer Sam Thompson.