When Insomniac Games went PS3 exclusive with its next title it was as much as a surprise as the decision for Sony to publish it - in other words it always was going to happen. However, it was perhaps not what many expected with Insomniac going down a much more mature route with an action game designed for the adult market. Resistance: Fall of Man is the result and despite the fact it’s yet another first person shooter set in the world wars, it has enough to differentiate itself to make it one of the better launch titles for the PAL market.

During the alternative World War II, an alien like force invaded Europe and parts of Asia, using the man power of the world and infected the armies with their alien poisons, turning them into alien like creatures. You play as a young American soldier, sent to the front to take the aliens on who becomes infected but strangely does not feel the effects. It is this man’s job to infiltrate the alien forces and take them out from the inside across the battlefield and inside makeshift bases. Cliché, but it allows you to focus on the action, which is very much a positive thing with this game.

Controlled via a first person perspective, the crux of the game is basically moving from A to B shooting enemies, picking up health and generally doing what you expect in a typical console shooter. However it never feels like just another generic shooter and the setting and AI are what achieves this.

If you thought that Medal of Honour had some intense fire fights, then R:FOM takes this to the next level. At an almost constant rate you will hear large explosions and soldiers yelling while you move through the levels, and in the sections where the only sound you can hear is the footsteps, it feels eerie and you just know something is about to happen. This is how much the game can immerse you.

This is complimented by some advanced AI who will hunt you down. They won't chase you across an entire map, but hiding in the corner or in another close room is not an option. The enemies also react to sounds, so moving quietly can be a key factor to success. Of course though R:FOM never really turns into a stealth type game, as the focus is very much on the action. There never really is a point where the game takes you into a squad based combat level however and that is disappointing. Recently games have focused on teams working together and this just seems a step backwards in that 'one man wins the war' mentality being put in the trash can.

The other big feature of R:FOM is the online multiplayer. Sony has seen fit to setup localised servers for this game and it really shows. Rather than host games on your system, it is hosted by Sony allowing many players - up to forty - to connect into a server at once. Insomniac has also promised extra content and has a lot of modes for you to choose from.

The area which really shines with R:FOM is the graphics. 720P is the order of the day with some of the most rich and lush graphics you are likely to see on the console in a launch game. The environments are desolate places with destruction everywhere and while the game has a somewhat cartoon feel, the visual style really helps the game immerse the player. Another standout is the way the story plays out with a graphical novel and some impressive voice acting, in fact the voice acting is of a high level throughout the entire game.

R:FOM is a must have PS3 launch game and quite possibly the only one. Insomniac has really worked hard to produce an atmospheric alternative shooter and that's exactly what they have done. The single player lasts quite a while and even then you have the free multiplayer with more content on the way. You simply must own this if you own a PS3.