Resistance: Retribution (2009)

Resistance: Retribution was originally a PSP game but is now available on PS4/PS5 as well. It is also the first Resistance not developed by Insomniac. This was handled by Bend and they have done excellent job of not just making a great PSP game within the constraints of that handheld but also of delivering a Resistance game.

The same style as the first game is carried on in Resistance: Retribution; the colours, the narration, the old documents/photos/film, the bleakness. But then it does something amazing, genius and hilarious. It takes this and smashes it together with this dumb action movie vibe and some incredible dialogue and one-liners. It is glorious and if you enjoy dumb fun you’re in for a great time. It is far too constant and deliberate for this to be unintentional and it could genuinely give any action movie a run for its money is this department. Then on top of this is the very abrasive main character, James Grayson, who would have been unlikable if the whole thing wasn’t so funny. He is nonstop entertaining in his attitude and approach to everything and it’s not just him but some other characters as well. The encounters between Grayson and Mallery (an important side character) are so stupid but so perfect and fun. You might not be interested in what is going in Resistance: Retribution but you’ll never want to skip a scene.

Being a PSP game Resistance: Retribution does play differently to the others in the series however this is still a fully fleshed out, lengthy (maybe a bit too long), well made side story. It switches from first to third person with a lock on aiming system and a cover system that you snap in and out of. It works quite well but movement feels a little stiff and sluggish and there is no sprint. Melee attacks work by pressing the shoot button when very close to enemies. Grenade use and weapon swapping is more cumbersome. Sadly the Hedgehog grenade is missing too. The number of enemies in fights is smaller and the locations you move through are also smaller but it still does a good job of feeling large in scale. They’ve done really well with the limitations and lack of buttons on the PSP but it’s not the same as a console experience. They managed to keep things very Resistance: Fall of Man like as well. The health is similar to that game, so are the traps and weapons and it even has vehicle sections. They went a step further too and added underwater sections and a whole new infected mode. This mode changes the main characters appearance, makes him even more abrasive, gives him another weapon, the same health system from the first game and changes the story and dialogue up a bit. It’s a great idea that makes it so much more replayable.

For this play through I went right through the PS5 version and also put some time in on the PSP and I can’t tell you which one to go for. This game was built for the PSP and it looks great on that little screen and plays smoother there as the new version ditches the lock on aim and changes the controls a bit. But the PS5 version has been adjusted for a big TV and a controller and it has new features like trophies and rewind. I guess it might come down to whether or not you have a PSP. I’m a little confused by the reception to the PS5 version as well. Do people not remember what PSP games were like? It’s a very low-priced, basic remaster, what were people expecting? I understand wanting more and better, but this is much better than nothing. This game could have been left in the past but now its here and playable on your modern console.

Resistance: Retribution is a worthy addition to the series and a must own PSP game. The PS5 version is worth playing too and I’m glad it exists. Whichever option you choose just make sure you don’t skip this if you’re going to play through this series, it is a treat.

8.0/10