Resident Evil: Resistance

The engaging, entertaining aspects of Resident Evil: Resistance is what will keep players invested past the ridiculous and unnecessary lootbox system and now-ubiquitous XP Boosters which players can buy for real money. Despite the game's issues with connecting players properly and a somewhat mismatched balance system, Resident Evil: Resistance is the most fun Capcom has ever let anyone have as a member of the Umbrella Corporation, and series fans who spent a lot of time in last year's Resident Evil 2 running from Mr. X will likely find a lot of satisfaction in stomping around after players in the tyrant's over-sized trench coat... if they can find a match, that is.

As a freebie included with Resident Evil 3, you can't really fault Resistance, but it helps that its asymmetrical multiplayer is also a lot of fun. It’s a unique take on the Resi universe and I hope it finds some longevity.

Considering the cuts to the Resident Evil 3 campaign, Resident Evil: Resistance is certainly content that manages to balance the overall value of the product rather well.

Overall, the game is fun and a worthy addition to the Resident Evil franchise. All it needs is a couple of tweaks and a dedicated fan base, and it could become one of the more popular Resident Evil games purely because of its endless replayability and fun factor.

As of now, it's a fun addition to the Resident Evil 3 package but isn't available separately. It's got a good foundation to work with and feels unique enough to stand out if it gets the support it needs.

With a refined matchmaking system (and rewards to go with it), as well as a balanced set of character classes and improved monster control, it could be a sleeper hit for many. For now, though, it feels like a missed opportunity. The fact it's bundled with a fantastic 5-star game in the form of Resident Evil 3 Remake, certainly helps. But as a standalone product, it's a fun but ultimately flawed experience; albeit one we hope improves in time.

Resident Evil Resistance is wildly inconsistent. There are great ideas buried underneath abysmal balancing, annoying technical issues, and matchmaking woes. Playing as series icons like William Birkin and Mr. X is an appreciated novelty, but the routine objectives make playing as the survivors tiresome. With enough love and care, hopefully Resistance’s better ideas can rise to the surface, but right now there’s still a lot of work to be done.

I have the patience to play the game and hope for that potential to be realized, but the unbalanced kickoff and silly decisions like attaching hosting duty to masterminds is not something I expect many people to weather for long. Resident Evil Resistance could be so much more with what it has on the surface, but what’s under the hood needs some thoughtful tweaking if Resistance is indeed a cause worth fighting for.

The Mastermind gets to have most of the fun in Resident Evil: Resistance, but surviving is less than a blast.

There’s a long way to go for Resident Evil Resistance before it can compete with its single-player counterpart. Aside from the incredibly poor combat mechanics, framerate, map design, and loss in fluidity with movement, the game never manages just to be Resident Evil. It tries to do so much to mimic what other similar games are doing, that it’s tripped itself up on the very foundation it was supposed to stand firmly atop of. Mastermind mode is never quite as fun as it could be, but shows potential, and Survivor mode is a complete mess that should be taken back to the drawing board. Luckily this is included with the purchase of Resident Evil 3, so at least you’ll always have that to wash out the taste Resistance leaves in your mouth.

As it stands right now, however, it simply isn’t fun to play most of the time. Stick to Left 4 Dead in the meantime; Resident Evil Resistance is better left buried until its developers have reanimated it with some much-needed updates.

In the end, Resident Evil: Resistance is a passable yet unremarkable multiplayer game. Playing as a mastermind offers more amusement but being a survivor is too dependent on communication which can be a problem. Even if you're playing under ideal conditions, it sadly loses its appeal very quickly. Specifically, it's not a bad game but it's certainly hard to recommend for long-term play.