Resistance: Fall of Man was the Playstation 3’s most acclaimed launch title, drawing players in with an imaginative sci-fi story and intense gameplay that showed off the muscle of Sony’s latest console. Two years later Insomniac Games is getting ready to deliver the eagerly-anticipated sequel, and according to Environment Artist and Full Sail Computer Animation graduate Nathaniel Bell, fans won’t be disappointed when Resistance 2 hits shelves this fall.
“There are some games where the sequels aren’t as approachable as the original, but this one does a really good job of keeping that same level of quality,” he shares of the project. “I think both old and new fans are going to be really surprised by what we’ve pulled off.”
Innovative level design has always played a key role in defining the best first person shooters, and Nathaniel’s position as Environment Artist found him creating the vast, war-torn cities where you’ll be battling against the alien Chimera army. The action has been transplanted from Great Britain to the United States for the sequel, and the development team credits the new location for opening the doors to fresh ideas.
“Even though the first Resistance was an amazing game, I think we’ve done a really good job of making the new levels ones that you’ll always remember,” he shares. “Based on where they take place and how they’ve been visualized – there’s some great experiences, and a lot of moments where you’ll say ‘That’s really cool and original.’”
Resistance 2 also benefits from coming two years into the Playstation 3’s lifecycle, with the team able to better utilize the powerful hardware to push the visuals. One look at the previews on the game’s website and you’ll see graphics and animation that have evolved far beyond the original, including massive industrial landscapes and frantic boss battles.
“I came on at Insomniac right as they started developing PS3 titles, and the end results are just tremendously better with Resistance 2 – it’s night and day going from then to now,” he offers. “We’re making cutting-edge technology every day, and I can already see that going from now to whatever comes next that there’s room to grow. Being in the middle of that process has really opened my eyes.”
Hardcore, first-person-shooter fans are a tough crowd, but the buzz for Resistance 2 already has it poised to be one of the biggest hits of the holiday season. As the game nears its release date, Nathaniel is already feeding off the attention as he enters the final weeks of production.
“In one of the trailers there’s a shot of San Francisco being attacked, and I created a large part of that,” he enthuses. “It’s really cool when you see things in the press that you’ve worked on personally – it’s a big boost. And actually my favorite part of the process is going to Barnes & Noble and seeing all the magazine covers featuring the game. It’s cool to see your game on a full cover after you’ve been working on it for so long. That’s the moment when I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.”
