It has been a while since I’ve played a game without realizing how much time has passed. Resogun has given me that excitement and addictive feeling that many gamers know very well. I am not ashamed to admit that I played until I started to feel the beginnings of a blister on my thumb. How often can you say that? The last time I remember playing a console game to the point of blisters was the first Mortal Kombat on the Sega Genesis with my brother. I’m not saying that I haven’t enjoyed other games since then but this is one of those games that sucks you in and if you’re a completionist like myself you just want to keep playing until you’ve perfected your style of gameplay with each level. I could play Resogun over and over again and not get tired of it.
Resogun has received a lot of attention and it deserves all of the praise that it has been given. This game has brought back something that I haven’t seen in a while, an old school shooter that harkens back to my time as a kid in the 80s. The unique thing about Resogun is that it doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia; it’s a game that stands on its own. It’s fast paced, beautiful and exciting to play. As an added bonus, it integrates the gameplay dialogue with the PS4’s Dual Shock 4 speaker which gives another dimension to your gameplay.
The premise of Resogun is very simple to explain: you’re a pilot trying to save the last humans from various alien attacks that are taking place on their planet. In single player mode, you can play on one of four difficulty levels with two different types of play, Arcade or Single Level. There are three different ships to choose from, each with a different profile to accommodate various styles of gameplay. Each ship has bombs, boost and the ability to go into overdrive. Once you’ve made all of your choices you begin playing a three-phase level that culminates in a boss battle and the subsequent Armageddon of the planet. The game currently has five levels, each increasing in craziness as you go along.
I know many may scoff at the notion, but I recommend starting off as a Rookie just so you can get comfortable with the controls and understanding what you’re actually doing with the humans that you’re supposed to be saving. It can take a little to get used to shooting with the right stick and remembering the uses the triggers and bumpers. After you’ve got the controls down, feel free to go crazy. Play on the hardest level that you dare. I have found that it was a little bit easier for me to play when there was just chaos rather than waiting and timing attacks; this is definitely the kind of game that gets you “in the zone.”
The graphics, soundtrack, storyline and the overall design isn’t overly complex and yet they are very well executed. It is refreshing to have an indie game that feels polished. Housemarque has definitely set the bar high for other indie developers; the Finnish crew has been making games for almost 20 years (18 to be exact) and it shows. They took a concept and didn’t try to overcomplicate it with extra “stuff” and it works brilliantly. I honestly never would have thought I’d get used to traveling on a cylindrical plane. Yes, it’s a little crazy initially, but you adapt very quickly to the point that it becomes second nature. I think this game is so popular because it allows you to play it the way you play and do what works for you.
There is an online co-op mode that allows you to play with your friends privately or with a remote player on public servers. I haven’t had much success trying to play in co-op mode. I must be playing when most people aren’t? I’m sure that once more people get their hands on a PS4, I’ll have more people to play with and I’ll have an update on this feature.
Bottom Line: There is no reason to not be playing Resogun if you have a PS4. It is currently offered for free with PlayStation Plus. If Resogun is representative of how PlayStation plans to cultivate its indie developers and their games, then they are off to a great start. I look forward to playing the other games they have slated for their new Indie Games section of the PS4 and PlayStation Store.
This review is based on a digital copy of Resogun for the PlayStation 4.
