Judging solely on pre-release videos, details, and screen shots, I have to admit, I did not see this one coming. We've shown you the reviews for two other PS4 exclusives - Killzone: Shadow Fall, and Knack, and quite honestly, I was not expecting Resogun to outshine either game with higher and more uniform scores, let alone both games. It seems that no matter what platform, colorful shooters are the bread and butter.
Eurogamer, 8/10 - "If Super Stardust HD was Housemarque's twist on Robotron, then Resogun must be its Defender, right? It makes for a pleasing narrative: the hardware's moving forwards, but the Finnish arcade masters are clearly headed in the opposite direction, working their way ever deeper into Eugene Jarvis' cherished past...Resogun really is that rare kind of arcade game that feels like an entirely different beast when played on the toughest setting. It's also the closest the PS4 launch line-up gets to offering a genuine next-gen thrill. Granted, Housemarque's not offering the shock of the new, perhaps - all of the developer's best ideas are actually reassuringly elderly - but it's working with energy, enthusiasm, precision and love. Oh, and voxels. Look at them scatter!"
GameTrailers, 8.1/10 - "Resogun will keep you coming back, but it very quickly becomes a known quantity. There are three different ships to choose from, and while their main weapons diverge as you pick up more weapon upgrades, adding homing missiles or expanding a short-range spread shot, they don't feel that much different from each other. Every ship sends bullets forward or backward and uses the boost technique in the exact same way...Resogun lays out all your tools in front of you and has you gunning for a high score simply for the sake of improving your game. You can look at this as a virtue, but even with the addition of online coop, Resogun doesn't completely explore its promising possibility space. It feels almost inevitable that the game will see some sort of update to offer more ships and more levels in the future...As it is, it's a great companion for a new console."
CVG, 9/10 - "Because PlayStation 4 shoot-em-up Resogun is downloadable and lacks a collector's edition replete with art book and cast-iron replica spaceship, cynical gamers might assume it's less significant than other next-gen launch titles. And the fact that Sony is giving it away for free at launch to anybody with a current PS+ membership could prompt speculation that the company doesn't trust the game's sales potential. Fret not, little lamb. It's just because Sony and Finnish developer Housemarque, creator of the Super Stardust series, plan to share a laugh watching your face melt down the front of your shirt when you realise that the most estimable launch title on PS4 is a digital dark horse."
Destructoid, 9.5/10 - "Aliens have invaded. They’re taking the last of the humans. Everything needs to be blown up. Everything...At five stages long, Resogun can be finished in one sitting. But it’s so lovely and inviting that you don’t mind jumping right back in. Turning up the difficulty is a great reason to come back. Add in the systems that pile on new levels of depth and you’ll find new challenges each time. And, of course, when the leaderboards go live, the top score chase will provide endless reasons to return to the loop. But I do wish that Resogun were longer. Resogun is a satisfying arcade-style game with a next-gen look and feel -- the ideal system launch game. It’s an eye-searing blur of a loop that you’ll be happy to jump into again and again. Don’t miss it.
GameInformer, 10/10 - "Prepare for some impressed, 'Ooohs,' and satisfied, 'Ahhhhs,' as an impressive display of voxels litter the screen after every explosion."
The final verdict? Given the ratings and the game's low cost of $9.99, or free for PlayStation Plus members (which translates to REALLY free thanks to the voucher giving any and all PS4 owners a trial membership), Resogun is a steal.
