Resident Evil 5

Introduction

The latest installment in Capcom’s best-selling Resident Evil franchise took us on a decidedly different adventure from previous games in the series. In many ways it continued what its predecessor, Resident Evil 4, started, by focusing more on action and spectacle over horror and a creepy setting. Gone are the staples of the survival horror genre, like ammo conservation, sudden scares, and a foreboding atmosphere. Taking their place is the hot and sunny setting of Africa, an arsenal of guns and ammo to help you tackle any scenario, and most notably, co-op.

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Resident Evil 4 was a drastic change over previous games, switching the camera to a third person over the shoulder view, replacing the tank-like controls with a more intuitive setup, and the total removal of the shuffling, moaning undead. Despite all this, the game managed to retain some semblance of what made the series so renowned in the first place, like the sense of dread that constantly hangs in the air, the terrifying creatures you encounter, and fantastic boss fights. Resident Evil 5 has some pretty stellar boss encounters and enemy designs, but you won’t be coming across anything that’s even remotely as disturbing as the Regenerator in RE4, though a modified version of the chainsaw man does return, and he’s almost as terrifying this time around.

Overall, the bosses are a bit of a letdown. A majority of them range from uninspired to insanely predictable, or a mixture of the two, with many of them requiring you to focus your fire on the large glowing spots. RE5 overuses the worm-like creatures created by the Uroboros virus, pitting you against them in one form or another on many occasions. There are a few highlights however, like the frantic fight against Irving on a stormy sea. Then, unfortunately, there are also the more frustrating boss encounters where you’re forced to sit in the back of a truck, holding the trigger for 5-10 minutes while aiming at the plagas protruding from a troll-like creature.

For the most part, the combat hasn’t changed much since Resident Evil 4.There are a few nitpicky things like how slow turning your character is, but the only thing that’s just fundamentally wrong with the combat is the inability to strafe. Capcom said they didn’t include what many people consider to be a basic feature in a shooter so the game would be “more intense,” but instead it just makes it more frustrating. So you might not be able to move while you’re fighting the waves of enemies that are thrown at you, but in many cases you won’t need to because of Chris and Sheva’s arsenal of melee moves. Both characters have a cache of melee attacks that are unique to them, with Chris’ attacks relying on his brute strength and Sheva using her agility and talent with bladed weapons to dispatch weakened foes. Using these moves to finish off enemies is a great way to conserve ammunition, though there will rarely be a time when you need to do so.

This game was built from the ground up to accommodate co-op play, so that’s without a doubt the best way to experience it, but if you don’t have someone to play with there are a few things you should know before getting it. First and foremost is the awful, item-hogging AI that is your partner Sheva Alomar. For the most part, Sheva’s a fairly useless companion to have to rely on in such dire circumstances, since she takes her time saving you and doesn’t really care if you’re low on health and really need that first aid spray—instead she’ll take it anyway and you’ll have to ask nicely to get it.

Thankfully, it’s not all bad. Sheva might not have been taught how to share but when it comes to killing, she’s a rather intimidating marksman. Give her a rifle and she’ll take out a startling majority of the enemies that come your way. As a character, Sheva is also one of the best new characters to be introduced to the series so far, and a fantastic addition to Resident Evil’s stellar cast of strong female leads—right alongside Jill and Claire.

Even though the series has strayed far from its roots in the horror genre, that doesn’t mean fans of the series won’t find plenty to love about it. There’s a ton of collectibles, like special costumes and powerful weapons, figurines of the various characters and enemies in the game, and more. If you’re the type of gamer who likes scouring every nook and cranny for easter eggs and hidden items, Resident Evil 5 will definitely satiate your appetite for such things.

The single player campaign doesn’t take very long to beat, somewhere around 4-6 hours total, but that number will likely be a little shorter if you have a friend to play with. When the campaign is finished there’s always the Mercenaries mode, which pits you and a friend (or you can do it alone) against waves of enemies and a time limit. The goal is to survive as long as possible, destroying golden items strewn about the environment to increase your time limit or add a bonus to the points you accumulate. The only downside is you will have to rely on your partner, because if one of you die it’s game over and you’ll have to start over from the beginning. The Mercenaries mode is a fun distraction and it’s evolved a bit since Resident Evil 4 introduced it back in 2005.

Resident Evil 5 is a cinematic experience that more than anything else shows Capcom’s willingness to adapt its flagship franchise to the times. Each new game in the series has done new and exciting things, and RE5 is no exception. It’s just unfortunate that the story is short and the AI is still sub par for a game of this caliber. If you’re a horror fan you won’t find much satisfaction here but if you’re looking for an action-packed experience full of spectacle and a plethora of exciting moments, Resident Evil 5 won’t disappoint.