In a year full of sequels to some of the biggest PS3 franchises, the developers with the most pressure to deliver a worthy product are probably Insomniac. While the Resistance series has certainly found an audience, mainly due to the original being the best launch title for the console, it has never achieved the greatness that many expect from Sony's platform exclusives. As someone who has never seen exactly what makes Resistance a relevant franchise, I didn't expect to enjoy Resistance 3. I was definitely mistaken.

As campaigns go, they don't get much sweeter than the one in Resistance 3. Following the dramatic exit of lead character Nathan Hale in the last game, you play as Joe Capelli this time around, stripped of his rank and forced to live in a survivors camp with his family. Unlike the previous two games, where war against the Chimera is in full effect, here the humans are hugely outnumbered with just 10% of the population managing to survive. This dynamic adds much needed humanity to the game, harrowing images of children and families struggling to stay hidden being as poignant as your journey. The journey in question takes more than a few cues from Half Life 2, with Joe encountering a large number of obstructions on his trip from Oklahoma to New York. The story keeps you on your toes, with the developers never scared to deviate from the 'standard' FPS format to deliver some genuinely shocking moments. The comparison to Half Life is a testament to just how well crafted the campaign is, Insomniac proving that Valve aren’t the only developers who can perfect story driven FPS titles.

Joe Capelli is a hero you truly care about

But no matter how good the narrative or journey is, if the game doesn't play well there is little point. Luckily Insomniac has delivered its most impressive action yet, with weaponry and enemies that deserve your time. You have a similar arsenal as both previous games, but each gun has much more bite this time, feeling genuinely powerful as you attempt to kick the Chimera from the planet. For the first time the weaponry matches that found in the developer's other series Ratchet & Clank, while the controls are tighter than ever before. The Auger and Bullseye make a welcome return, the former allowing you to shoot through walls and defensive barriers, while new weapons add inventive ways to get out of trouble. The Mutator for instance allows you to infect enemies with a new strain of the Chimeran Virus, which spreads between foes as they come in contact with each other. All the weapons can be upgraded too, adding features such as extra zoom or flame powered Shotgun rounds. Combining these new environmental based weapons with one of the best Sniper Rifles in recent memory, the DeadEye, has made the weaponry in Resistance 3 vastly superior to either previous game.

The AI of the enemies you'll be shooting at has been improved too, the Chimera are more intelligent and tougher than ever. Different species require different tactics to manage, and while the game does suggest what weapon will be most useful for each, you never feel restricted by your options. Surrounded on 3 sides by snipers while assault Chimera are approaching from the front? You could toss a Shrapnel Grenade into the main group and counter-snipe from behind cover, or you might decide to use the Auger and blast enemies from the safety of cover. You could even rush the nearby enemies with some well timed melee attacks and deal with snipers with the Marksman rifle, just a few examples of how you can adapt to wherever the situation takes you.

Adapting to the situation is exactly what you have to do as you journey across America. The environments here are vast and incredibly detailed. The game may be linear, but you always get the sense of a fully realised world. These areas reflect the theme of survival that runs throughout the game very well. While this is certainly an action game, elements of Survival Horror definitely creep into both the level design and the presentation. Some moments are especially tense, using the same tricks as Dead Space to heighten the effect, such as the lack of a rebounding health meter. It's refreshing to have health packs in a time when most games have replaced them with cover. The game does some unexpected things, making it a journey worth seeing through to the end.

Using a variety of weapons is key to beating the tougher Chimera

The one thing that made Resistance 2 worth a try was the incredibly inventive multiplayer. Though elements of that appear here, you can play through the entire campaign with a friend, Online play features little more than the basics. With 5 modes for up to 16 players to get involved in, there’s definitely plenty to get your teeth into, even if beyond that the game doesn't innovate in this field. The maps to choose from are global though, unlike the campaign which is set completely in America, so you'll be able to take your death match to Wales and Australia. It's a fun diversion, but I know that I'll probably be revisiting the campaign more often than dropping into Multiplayer.

Insomniac obviously chose to dedicate their time to perfecting the story mode, which in my opinion was a smart move. Though there are issues here and there, such as some sound problems and unnecessary Move support, Resistance 3 packs a hefty punch with its campaign. You can see a lot of time and effort has gone into making the journey a worthy one, especially Joe Capelli himself who makes a better lead than Nathan Hale ever did. A thrilling ride from start to end, the experience is better than I could ever have expected... Resistance is finally in the same league as some of this generation's greatest franchises. It may have taken 3 attempts, but Resistance 3 is the FPS the PS3 has been waiting for.

Best Game Moment: When you first encounter Snipers who jump across the map with ease is both terrifying and exhilarating.