Four years have passed since the events of Resistance 2 – as the world falls deeper under the Chimeran threat, a wormhole opens above New York City, spreading icy winter across the globe.

The fourth entry in the Resistance series is the bleakest yet, focusing on a band of weary survivors surrounded by invaders who were once human. In this alternate 1957, Joe Capelli (who had a significant role in Resistance 2) is struggling to survive with his wife and child. After an evacuation forces them apart, he has no choice but to work with Dr. Malikov to stop the Earth falling into an endless winter.

In a genre which has increasingly focussed on multiplayer in recent years, it’s refreshing to see so much attention paid to the story during Resistance 3’s meaty 10 hour campaign. There’s a real sense of desperation and emotion in the well produced cut scenes and, together with above average voice acting, you might actually find you care for these characters. The game earns its 18’s rating with some horrific moments and if the finale ends up being a little generic and predictable that’s really more to do with the sci-fi setting than a failure on the part of the writers.

The gameplay is straightforward running and gunning – there’s no cover system here and developers Insomniac Games have even done away with regenerating health for that true old school appeal. It adds some serious tension to the mix as you desperately hope for enemies to drop a medpack. The shooting itself is rock solid – guns feel meaty and responsive and I never felt like the controls were getting in the way of the action.

The death dealing devices themselves are a joy to play with; including old favourites like the HE .44 Magnum (which has exploding bullets) and the wall-penetrating Auger. You’ll also find new additions like a powerful Chimeran sniper rifle called the Deadeye and the deliriously fun atomiser - hit the alt fire to create a small, Ghostbusters like trap that drags in nearby enemies. The secondary fire modes open up some great tactical options like planting a turret or marking a target for future bullets. Guns level up as you use them, unlocking new abilities, which helps to keep things fresh. You’ll find some difficult enemies in the world of Resistance 3 and the range of weaponry, coupled with large levels and multiple routes gives you the chance to take control of the battlefield.

Local co-op is a welcome inclusion and competitive multiplayer is present and accounted for, though it’s not likely to break the mould. It retains the levelling system from the single player and adds in regenerating health and, together with some impressive maps, should certainly keep you entertained beyond the surprisingly lengthy campaign.

A decent story, robust gameplay and a conventional but fun multiplayer mean that Resistance 3 is a good bet for genre fans. Those who miss old school shooters will definitely find much to like here.