Resistance: Burning Skies
- May 29, 2012
- Nihilistic Software
- 6h median play time
Despite some notable flaws, Resistance: Burning Skies is still a solid effort and a great start to twin-stick shooting action on PS Vita.
Resistance: Burning Skies is a unique Resistance experience developed specifically for PS Vita that takes full advantage of the system's dual analog sticks and features an all-new hero and story written by William C. Dietz, author of Resistance: The Gathering Storm and Resistance: A Hole in the Sky.
Reviews
- The controls are smooth and responsive, making for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The weapon customization and upgrades are fun, with visual changes to weapons as they are upgraded.
- The multiplayer mode has potential for fun, especially as more players join and additional content is released.
- The campaign is short, with many players finishing it in just a few hours, leading to a lack of replay value.
- The story is considered bland and not engaging, failing to connect with players or add depth to the Resistance lore.
- There are technical issues, such as unskippable cutscenes and multiplayer connectivity problems, which detract from the overall experience.
- story48 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it generic and lacking depth, while others appreciate its humor and interesting plot twists. Many noted that the narrative is shorter than expected, typically around six hours, and does not significantly enhance the existing lore of the franchise. Overall, while some players enjoyed the story and its characters, others criticized it for being bland and predictable, suggesting it falls short compared to console versions.
“The story is amazing, the voice acting is top notch, it's funny as hell at times but also offers an extremely interesting plot.”
“The environment it creates is very believable and the story is pretty interesting with some degree of twist to it.”
“The story was good with plenty of things to do.”
“The story is pretty generic and not very fulfilling.”
“The bad: the story is pretty bland; they tried to make it like Resistance 3 (focus on a family), but did a poor job.”
“The storyline is weak and doesn't seem important to the story of the Resistance franchise.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as impressive for a handheld title, particularly on the PSP and Vita, while others criticize them for being subpar and reminiscent of older console graphics. Many players note that while the visuals may not fully utilize the capabilities of the Vita, they are acceptable given the platform's limitations. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not the game's strongest aspect, they do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience.
“Lastly, the graphics were amazing for a handheld title!”
“The graphics are amazing considering that it is a handheld game.”
“For this being a Vita shooter and the first one on the Vita, it's actually decent. The graphics are nice and the framerate is decent; it doesn't chug at all.”
“The single player campaign seems barely PS2 quality graphics and gameplay - it's jarring (in 2012) to see the bodies of your fallen opponents almost immediately disappear, and the overall look of the campaign just does not come close to showing off the power that the Vita has.”
“The graphics are okay but still remind me of more of a PSP game than a 'next gen' handheld that the Vita is.”
“Sadly, the graphics are not nearly what they could have been but my guess is they rushed to get this game out for the launch of the Vita.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its unique FPS mechanics and solid weapon design, particularly in the Resistance series, but it suffers from a lack of depth and variety, with some players finding it dull and short. While touch controls are present, they neither enhance nor detract significantly from the experience. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable but marred by outdated graphics and a sparse online community.
“This has a very unique FPS gameplay.”
“The good: gameplay mechanics are solid, touch controls are not overdone.”
“Awesome gameplay, it takes a small amount of time to get used to the controls, but it's a really fun game, well worth the price I paid for.”
“The single player campaign seems barely PS2 quality graphics and gameplay - it's jarring (in 2012) to see the bodies of your fallen opponents almost immediately disappear, and the overall look of the campaign just does not come close to showing off the power that the Vita has.”
“The overall gameplay does get kind of dull; also, it's pretty short with only 5 or 6 levels worth. The story itself is pretty bland (okay, really bland). The online portion is your typical deathmatch or team deathmatch, and some new type of game mode that I wasn't able to try because the servers are close to dead. It took me like 20 minutes to find a game I could join.”
“Shooting mechanics are bad, graphics are bad (even for mobile standards), and the online community is 100% non-existent at this point.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while players appreciate the engaging controls and fast-paced gameplay, they find the story lacking and boring. The narrative, particularly in the resistance saga, has potential but ultimately falls short of creating a strong emotional connection.
“This game would have been better if I had bought it when it was released, as I can't find a match now, which is disappointing. However, it has a really nice story in the resistance saga.”
“The emotional depth of the story really resonated with me, making the gameplay experience much more impactful.”
“The characters' journeys and struggles throughout the game left a lasting impression, making me feel deeply connected to their stories.”
“The campaign's story is incredibly boring and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
“I found the emotional depth of the characters lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
“The game tries to be emotional, but the execution feels flat and unengaging.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered decent, with an acceptable soundtrack; however, the sound effects are often described as lackluster and uninspired.
“The music and sound design are impressive, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the gameplay well.”
“The sound effects enhance the overall experience, adding depth to the game.”
“The soundtrack is okay, but the sound effects are pretty dull.”
“Music and sound: what little there is, is pretty good.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that while the game starts off relatively stable, it experiences several minor glitches that can lead to frustrating moments, particularly with memory items. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable.
“The first couple of levels are okay, and there are a few minor glitches, but it does pick up and feel like a resistance game.”
“No wonder PlayStation isn't making Vita items anymore - the game glitches and you lose memory items. It's still fun, but just frustrating.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly praised, with many users noting its effectiveness in enhancing the engaging storyline and top-notch voice acting, resulting in a blend of laugh-out-loud moments and compelling plot development.
“The story is amazing, the voice acting is top-notch, it's funny as hell at times but also offers an extremely interesting plot.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing it.
“There is no replay value.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
Critic Reviews
Resistance: Burning Skies Review
Despite some notable flaws, Resistance: Burning Skies is still a solid effort and a great start to twin-stick shooting action on PS Vita.
80%Resistance: Burning Skies Review
If you are a Vita owner and are on the lookout for a good FPS to waste your time on, you wouldn't go wrong with Resistance: Burning Skies. However, if little design issues and shoddy production values are detrimental to your enjoyment, then I would advise against buying it.
75%Resistance: Burning Skies Review
50%