"Resistance 2" review

I was planning on running this in Saturday's Journal Gaming page, but since we have no room for Gaming this week, here's the Associated Press' quick review of "Resistance 2":

“Resistance 2,” U.S. Army Ranger Nathan Hale helped England fight off the Chimera, whose most effective weapon is a virus that can turn humans into monsters. As “Resistance 2” begins, the Chimera have crossed the pond, so Hale returns home to resume the battle — even though he shows symptoms of a Chimera infection himself.

Insomniac, the studio behind this series, has also greatly expanded its size and scale, leaping from the urban crush of London to more wide-open American spaces. (The devastated Chicago here is almost as jaw-dropping as the ruined Washington in “Fallout 3.”) The enemies are bigger and smarter; fortunately, your computer-controlled squadmates are more helpful as well. And a major twist — Hale has just 19 hours to live — adds breakneck momentum to the plot.

Naturally, you get some powerful new weapons, most of which have two uses; for example, the Magnum can fire normal bullets or remote-controlled explosives. A healthy multiplayer menu includes the manic Skirmish mode, in which as many as 60 players can battle to complete ever-changing objectives. Add in its satisfying cooperative play and you have one of the most full-bodied adventures on the PS3.

Three-and-a-half stars out of four.