The PlayStation exclusive sci-fi franchise makes its Vita debut and becomes the brand’s first ever handheld dual analogue FPS, explains Billy Langsworthy.
Starting life as a PS3 launch title, Resistance is now a fully-fledged franchise with four games, as well as companion novels and comics. Now the sci-fi series is touching down on the Vita in Resistance: Burning Skies. Sony proudly claims this is the first handheld dual analogue first-person shooter.
The campaign was co-penned by William C. Dietz, author of novel Resistance: The Gathering Storm, and is set between the first two games.
Gamers play a New York fireman caught up the mayhem of the 1951 Chimera invasion. He must join other survivors, facing off against brand new incarnations of the aliens.
Reach for the Skies
As well as twin analogue sticks, Resistance’s new home on the Vita provides gamers with touch screen that allows rapid weapon fire.
There are also a variety of Wi-Fi multiplayer modes for those wanting to take to the battlefield with friends. Up to four players can tackle Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Survival modes.
Victory yields XP, which can be used to purchase upgraded and customisable weaponry. Some of the enhancements available include increased grenade capacity and a bull’s eye scope. The established fan-base will already be looking forward to this chapter of the popular series and as the first major shooter on Vita, Resistance: Burning Skies is targeting a similar audience to that of its much loved console cousins.
“Resistance: Burning Skies is the PlayStation Vita game that our consumers have been crying out for,” says senior product manager Ian Vinten.
“Making full use of the twin analogue sticks, this is the first portable FPS that matches up to the home console experience.”
Killer marketing
The Resistance: Burning Skies campaign has kicked off already with press insertions across trade and specialist channels driving pre-orders. Sony has an online campaign running across broad lifestyle channels such as NME, Muzu and Facebook, as well as specialist games sites.It also has a cinema campaign taking place in June around films such as Avengers Assemble and Prometheus. Pre-roll ads will run across YouTube, Yahoo and online gaming channels.
Gunning for Vita
Resistance is the first big-name shooter to be released for PlayStation Vita. Others in development include new outings for Call of Duty, Killzone and BioShock. Sony has already released third-person shooter Unit 13.
History of war
After surviving the first Chimera invasion on the PS3 with Resistance: Fall of Man in 2007, fans of the franchise enjoyed the battle for America in Resistance 2. Last year, they were able to view the battlefield in 3D for the first time in Resistance 3.
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