18 cert, Sony Computer Entertainment, PS3 *****

Resistance is not futile – if you're in possession of an Augur, some shrapnel grenades and a good aim. The Resistanceseries is back with a bang, and Resistance 3is an intense experience. From the very beginning the game throws you in at the deep end, with little time to grab your gun and some ammo before you're pitted against the Chimera.

You take on the role of Joseph Capelli, who now has a wife and child. When the game opens, Capelli is camped out with some other survivors, hiding from the Chimera, before their sanctuary is discovered. Capelli and Fyodor Malikov decide to head to New York in a last bid to stop the Chimera’s total domination of the planet.

The Chimera haven’t mellowed in the intervening years. They’re now intent on terraforming Earth, transforming it into their own world and killing all humans in their path. You get the impression that the New York trip will be a suicide mission.

Resistance 3doesn't hold back on the gore. The Chimera tear humans limb from limb in their bid to dominate the planet and stamp out the last signs of any uprising. And some of the new weapons are impressive in the damage they inflict. (The Mutator will cause your enemy to explode, for example.)

Despite all the human blood and alien guts, Resistance 3manages to tug at the heartstrings and reveal moments of genuine emotion, such as Capelli saying goodbye to his family.

From the single player campaign to the multiplayer modes, developer Insomniac has made some changes that may not be popular with everyone, but enhance the game. The multiplayer mode allows 16 players to battle online instead of up to 60 in Resistance 2's Skirmish mode. There are five modes open to you: Team Deathmatch, Chain Reaction, Deathmatch, Breach and Capture the Flag. Co-operative play is back as well, but with just two players.

If nerve-pinging tension, engaging storylines and alien gore are your thing, this is definitely worth the investment.