If I had to list a number of development studios that make the best PSP titles, Sony Bend would undoubtedly be around the top of that list. These are the guys who took the smoldering ashes of the Syphon Filter series and summoned a phoenix from them. The Oregon-based studio recently accepted a different challenge - to craft a handheld installment of the Resistance series. The goal was pretty ambitious - Resistance is an acclaimed next-gen franchise that has not even seen its third year in age. So how did the game turn out? In a word, awesome. If you own a PSP, you should also own Resistance: Retribution.

It's not a stretch to say that Resistance: Retribution looks like a re-skinned Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, but it is certainly unfair to how great the game really looks. It doesn't have the sweeping dystopian vistas of the PlayStation 3 games, but the developers have created some really great-looking levels. Most of the environments are claustrophobic to a degree, but considering the hardware limitations, it's understandable. Character models and enemy designs look outstanding, and they animate exactly like they should. To top it all off, the full-motion cutscenes are among the best-looking on the PSP.

A sweeping orchestral score is just one part of what makes Resistance: Retribution such a great sounding game. Explosions are deep and satisfying, and the different kinds of gunfire sound natural and organic to the Resistance universe (with the exception of the shotgun, which is seriously lacking in oomph). Overall, the voice acting is solid, although I didn't buy most of the French accents. Occasionally, you'll come across some hiccups in either the voice track or the sound effects. It's okay, though - very few of these quirks are immediately noticable.

Resistance: Retribution takes place between Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. During a raid on a conversion center in Manchester, Lieutenant James Grayson finds his brother Jonny in the late stages of the Chimeran conversion process. In keeping with protocol, he performs a mercy killing. The whole ordeal leaves him with a pretty deep emotional scar, and as a result, he snaps. Grayson goes AWOL, embarking on a bloody rampage that results in the destruction of over twenty conversion centers. He is eventually detained and charged with desertion - a capital offense. Before his death sentence is carried out, he is offered a conditional reprieve by Raine Bouchard, the leader of the Maquis (the French resistance). Grayson buys his freedom by assisting the Maquis in their plan to end the Chimera conversion process once and for all. The story is standard Resistance fare, but what sets it apart from that of the PlayStation 3 iterations is the undeniable appeal of the protagonist. Retribution will likely change your opinion of Nathan Hale (the hero of the PlayStation 3 games). By comparison, James Grayson makes Nathan Hale look like a two-dimensional cardboard cutout. Hale always assumes a bland "let's get down to business" disposition. Grayson never shuts up, and what spills from his mouth is often quite funny. He is always talking trash to his enemies or lobbing ethnic slurs at his allies. He's a total asshole, but he manages to be quite likeable.

From a gameplay standpoint, Resistance: Retribution shares more in common with the PSP's Syphon Filter titles than either of the other Resistance games. It is an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter that is more "stop and pop" than "run and gun." You'll journey through a number of different European locales, exterminating Chimera as you go. You'll fight several enemies from previous Resistance games. Retribution has more than its share of Hybrids, Titans, Leapers, and Drones - but there are some great new enemy designs, as well. If you've played either Resistance: Fall of Man or Resistance 2, you may have noticed that there are no (identifiably) female enemies in those games. Enter the Boiler. This female Chimera is a suicide attacker that has extremely thick skin and a ridiculous case of encephalitis. Boilers have only one weakness - their swollen heads. One well-placed shot will result in a fantastic explosion of blood and brains. A Boiler that gets close enough will unleash a self-destructive psionic attack that takes away a fourth of Grayson's health. Enemies rarely attack one type at a time - Grayson is constantly under fire by different kinds of Chimera, each of which have their own unique attack patterns and weaknesses. It is here where the game offers its challenge, partly because Grayson is 100% human. Unlike Nathan Hale, Grayson must rely solely on health pickups to survive - he does not regenerate health over time. You can change that under the right conditions, but I'll get to that later.

Resistance veterans will be pleased to know that a number of familiar weapons return in Retribution. You'll gain access to the Storm Rifle (which is basically the M5A2 Carbine), the LAARK rocket launcher, and the cover-penetrating Auger. There are some new toys to play with, and they all have unique alternate firing modes. The Razor is essentially a Bullseye with a modified alt-fire: you can drain an entire clip into a deadly homing projectile. Grayson's arsenal is very well-balanced - different situations will call for different guns.

In addition to a stellar campaign, Resistance: Retribution features what is quite possibly the most fully-featured multiplayer component in a handheld title. The game features both ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplayer. Infrastructure consists of a number of match types that pit four Cloven against four Maquis soldiers. The game includes your standard Team Deathmatch, Free-for-All, and Capture the Flag, but there are some unique modes, such as Assimilation and Containment. My personal favorite is Assimilation - it reminds me of my Aliens vs. Predator 2 glory days. One player starts as a Cloven - whose job is to convert everyone else into a Cloven. As the Maquis cooperate to keep the Cloven at bay, the Cloven must attack the Maquis. Each time a Maquis soldier falls, he is assimilated into the ranks of the Cloven. Eventually, the odds of survival are switched around. The goal is simply to be the last man standing (and maybe even last to the end of the match).

Containment is reminiscent of Unreal Tournament III's Warfare mode. Each team is charged with protecting their own reactor while simultaneously trying to destroy that of the opposing team. The only problem with multiplayer is the fact that the control scheme can't always accommodate the action - which (as far as the multiplayer goes) is relatively twitch-based. That being said, the developers pulled out all the stops for the game's multiplayer component. The multiplayer component of Resistance: Retribution is loaded with features, including an experience/ranking system, voice chat, clan support, and a friends list. You'll earn medals, for better or worse. Early on, you will likely find yourself with the dubious honor of being the LVP. However, this is a game that rewards practice. Stick with it, and in no time, you'll learn to mow chumps down and dance on their corpses - literally.

Resistance: Retribution offers a well-balanced challenge. The game won't hold your hand, but it won't punish you for trying to beat it, either. Deaths are usually the result of a grave tactical error, rather than a case of what I like to call "stupid fingers." However, there are a number of gameplay sequences that overwhelm you with enemies. These segments can sometimes be frustrating - especially when there's not much cover in the immediate area. These situations are few and far-between, however, and it usually won't take long to figure out how to get out of them.

The game's campaign is about ten hours long, give or take a few depending on how experienced you are. There is a lot of replay value packed into this game. First off, intel collectibles are strewn over each of the levels. While they deliver some interesting commentary from Grayson, they serve another, more concrete purpose. Collecting all of the intel will earn you four extra weapons. Secondly, Insomniac's skill point system makes its return in Resistance: Retribution. This system, which boosted the replay value of games like Ratchet & Clank, is basically the precursor to Microsoft's Achievement system. Satisfying certain requirements will net you Skill Points. These Skill Points will reward you with some bonus material. If this doesn't keep you coming back, the multiplayer most definitely will.

The core gameplay mechanics of the PSP Syphon Filter games were excellent, so Sony Bend adapted them to fit Resistance: Retribution. The end result is a subtle evolution of an already great control scheme.

You control Grayson with the analog nub, and aim with the face buttons. The D-pad is used to carry out several different functions. Pressing Left on the D-pad will reload your weapon. Tapping the Up button will toggle a precision aiming mode. This is necessary for killing Boilers and sniping other enemies, but this precision comes at the cost of mobility. Holding Right on the D-pad will pause the action, allowing you to change your weapon. The Down button acts as a context-sensitive action button - you will use this button to vault over obstacles, man turrets, collect intel, and interact with the environment. If this description makes the control scheme sound unwieldy, don't fret - all of it works outstandingly well. The aforementioned tweak in controls lies in the lock-on system. In the handheld Syphon Filter games, the left trigger is used to target enemies - this would not work in a Resistance game. The Chimera's strength is often expressed through numbers, and Grayson needs to be able to switch targets on the fly. Sony Bend's solution to this is both simple and brilliant. If you slightly nudge your aim towards the enemy you want to shoot, the targeting reticule will automatically snap to that enemy. In addition to the lock-on system, the cover system has been revamped. When Grayson is close enough to something he can hide behind (for example, a barricade or door jamb), he will automatically take cover. It's not a bad system, but it doesn't always work as well as it should. If you are running away from enemies in a room full of cover points, the cover system will often misinterpret your flight as an intent to move behind cover. This will slow you down, dramatically decreasing your odds of survival. The control scheme isn't perfect, but it's the best you're likely to find for a PSP shooter.

I never knew that the Chimeran virus could be spread by the use of a USB cable. Gamers who own a PlayStation 3 and a copy of Resistance 2 can "infect" their PSP, and by extension, James Grayson. There's no downside to this, and there's more to it than just yellow eyes. Grayson will be able to regenerate his health and breathe underwater. You'll also unlock the magnum from Resistance 2, provided you haven't already collected all the intel in the game. The extras don't stop there - the developers have included an in-game Remote Play-esque feature. This feature is called Resistance: Retribution Plus, and it allows you to use your SIXAXIS or DualShock 3 to play Resistance: Retribution. This mode takes the auto-aim function away as a tradeoff for the precision of two analog sticks. It certainly offers a different experience, but I preferred the default control scheme. The best thing about these features is the fact that you don't have to access either the PlayStation 3's or the PSP's Xross Media Bar in order to access any of them. The process is extremely simple and entirely contained in Resistance 2's Options Menu. First, make sure your that your PlayStation 3 is running Resistance 2 (and that your PSP is running Resistance: Retribution). Then, connect your PSP to your PlayStation 3 with a USB cable. From there, all you need to do is go to Resistance 2's Options Menu and select "Connect PSP." Your bonus options will appear, and all you have to do is choose which ones you want to activate. All in all, the developers have included some great content for loyal Resistance fans.

Resistance: Retribution is absolutely a must-own title. It's not perfect, but it is definitely one of those games that will remind you why you bought a PSP in the first place.