Review: Resident Evil 5 is the next evolution in the franchise
The Resident Evil games are considered to be one of the most well known franchises out there. The series is about 13 years old now and has not lost much steam as Resident Evil 4 was considered to be the best in the series. With the launch of Resident Evil 5 looming ahead, many gamers will be wondering if it has what it takes to push the series forward.
Story
The story in the series has been known for its complex plot. However, it seems like CAPCOM has done a great job with Resident Evil 5 making the story accessible to those not familiar with the franchise. Throughout the series, there have been various virus strains out there mutating unsuspecting citizens of Racoon City to the Las Plagas infestation in Spain. The main protagonist in Resident Evil 5 is Chris Redfield, who I consider to be the most popular character out of the series. He was in the original Resident Evil, Code Veronica and The Umbrella Chronicles.
In Resident Evil 5, we follow the story of Chris as he goes to Africa to investigate a mysterious breakout in the region of Kijuju. The people in that region have started to mutate with tentacles growing out of their heads with a newly developed lust for blood. The beautiful Sheva has teamed up with Chris this time around to take on the hordes of infested townsfolk of Kijuju.
It seems like with every Resident Evil entry, the mutations seem less zombie-like and more monster-like. Could the virus be mutating into something different altogether? I won’t spoil the story; you will just have to play it to find out.
The story does a good job of tying up many of the loose ends which might give some closure to fans that have been following the series for 13 years. However, there are many opportunities to create a new story arc in future iterations of the game.
Controls
Resident Evil 5 is does a pretty good job of deceiving those not familiar with the game. The game looks like an action shooter but it plays like a survival horror game. The series has been known to create panic and fear by making you feel vulnerable with the controls. When Chris fires his gun he stands still prone to attack from behind, inventory changes have to be made on the fly and there is no regenerating health.
‘Noobs’ to the series will complain about the controls expecting something like Gears of War where you can run and gun. What were they expecting? This has been Resident Evil’s formula for 13 years and it has been extremely successful.
The game is subtly deceiving due to its open bright daylight setting and the fast running of the enemies. However, after one or two hours into the game you will feel right at home with memories of the tight hallways and rooms of the mansion from the first Resident Evil game. Your heart will pound as you can hear enemies creeping up from behind you while you are trying to kill the enemy in-front of you.
Would the game feel like a Resident Evil game if CAPCOM compromised and turned the game into an action shooter? No, it would have become your run of the mill shooter without the edge. I applaud CAPCOM for keeping the controls that made series for what it is today.
Visuals/Design
Just about everything in Resident Evil 5 looks spectacular. Everything from the environments to the great character modeling for Chris and Sheva truly stand out. The game also has one of the best looking explosions seen in a video game. Resident Evil 4 is still considered to be a great looking game even to this day and I am sure Resident Evil 5 will receive similar praises for some time as well.
The biggest evolution in Resident Evil 5 is the online/multiplayer co-op mode. During the single player mode Sheva will be controlled by the AI. The AI does a decent job, but can get frustrating at times. The AI will deplete your ammo at will with no sense of conservation or optimizing inventory.
The best way to play the game is via co-op which can be done online and offline. The game relies heavily on teamwork so playing with a live human will make the game more enjoyable. The most enjoyable mode in Resident Evil 5 is the Mercenaries Mode, which plays like your average horde mode with a timer. You will have to conserve ammo while fighting off a wave of enemies until help arrives. This mode can get pretty addicting.
Wrap-up
The team at CAPCOM has truly done justice to the Resident Evil series with the latest iteration. The story is probably one of the best in the series, the graphics are absolutely top-notch and the game will still make your heart race like crazy. I highly recommend that all gamers at least give this game a try.
Score
5/5
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14 Responses to “Review: Resident Evil 5 is the next evolution in the franchise”
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March 13th, 2009
The problem is, they stripped away many of the fun little elements of R4.
The inventory system has been simplified so that the shapes/sizes of weapons doesn’t matter anymore. Yes, you can now carry 5 RPG’s if you wish and 4 other weapons.
You can’t upgrade your inventory size, and there is no more weapon dealer instead weapon purchasing is done pretty much whenever you can find a checkpoint (you have to ‘restart’ the zone). Checkpoints occur very often.
This also leads to another point, if you find yourself with too little ammo or health you can simply reach said checkpoint and select restart from the menu, this bumps you back into the loadout screen where you can upgrade, buy, sell, add extra health etc. They also removed the yellow herb, so you start with maximum health and you can’t upgrade it.
Like I said, its little stuff, but its stuff I kinda enjoyed (esp. the weapon size/shape thing). It seems like in these days of shooters they really cut it back to just a straight ‘gun everything’ down game. In fact I don’t think I remember more than 1 simple ‘light beam’ puzzle that was ridiculously easy.
Oh, also, friendly AI has a habit of running thru tripmines if you set it to attack, or command it to come to you and there is a tripmine between you and the AI.
Still, I think the game is fun and I do like how you can replay specific stages to get the little blue thingies you have to shoot. Its just a shame its so easy to unlock infinite ammo after a single play thru (only for one gun, but i did it for the magnum, so i am set for life).
I’d give RE5 a 8 and RE4 a 9.
March 13th, 2009
Zombies are so passé.
March 13th, 2009
SW,
I don’t think the check points are too common, though I agree allowing weapon upgrades after you die is a bit much. If I have no ammo, I could just die, upgrade the capacity on a weapon and get a full clip.
I was a bit funny initially about the inventory shape stuff too. I do (genuinely) miss spending half an hour trying to fit that tommy gun I just spent my wad on in amongst everything else.
Though I still find you never have enough space and that was the beauty of it before (and it is a lot less hassle selecting grenades now).
I decided to test Shiva’s Ai on a trip mine, shouting ‘come on! come on!’ from the opposite side. She died. Bless her.
The dogs are perhaps the best they have been in a Resi though I reckon.
March 13th, 2009
hm… no multiplayer? no DLC? because a little birdie says otherwise…
also its not noob to ask for a more mainstream control scheme… its just hard for people like me… who have never played a RE game…
March 13th, 2009
Mike, granted the Resident Evil control scheme has been successful before now, but the gameplay has changed since then.
The gameplay requires you to be a least a little bit more nimble when the enemies RUNS at you rather than drags it’s feet towards you.
I have got used to it, but it does feel stiff to the point of wooden.
March 13th, 2009
No there is going to be a DLC after release for a Multiplayer option. 3 Game Types. It will cost $10 for Live and PSN.
March 13th, 2009
CAD, I heard it was even cheaper than that.
All sounds good to me.
I wonder how the ’stop and shoot’ gameplay will go in the multiplayer mode where you hunt each other down and kill each other.
‘Stop running away while I’m lining up a shot!’
March 13th, 2009
I’m picking this up in exactly a half hour!
I’ve been pushing myself all week have FallOut 3 finished by Thursday, so that I could start RE 5 today. Ladies and Gentlemen after much hard work, I am pleased to share with you that I did in fact beat FallOut 3 last night! In case you were wondering I did not get the ‘good’ ending… I finished all but one of the quests. I collected over 20 Nuka-Cola Quantums, but came up short of 30. I’ll go back at some point and finish that one up.
March 13th, 2009
I’ll have this waiting for me when I get home.
March 13th, 2009
I saw screen shots of the online vs. mode. It looks like you can play as Chris, Shiva, Weasker, and Jill. I don’t see Clair or Eda…. lol Eda Wong.
March 13th, 2009
Royzy
That is exactaly what I thought. Ha Ha
March 13th, 2009
Could be neat with mines and if they let you place tripmines.
March 14th, 2009
I spent the better part of last night playing in online multiplayer story mode, and I have to say that RE5 made the necessary changes to the series to make multiplayer work nicely.
The ability to purchase ammo would be a nice addition, and I’m still not a fan of the camera angle.
March 16th, 2009
I pretty much had a marathon yesterday… and managed to get about halfway through the game in a day. I’m treating the online and single player components as completely separate games. I’m playing solo for my first play through. That way I can really take my time with exploring the levels and watching the cut scenes. I don’t have to worry about being interrupted, or distracted while enjoying the game for the first time. After I finally make my way through solo, I’ll replay the entire game online.
I would say RE 5 = RE4 + RE0. Also where did the back story for 5 come from? The Umbrella Chronicles? That’s the only one I haven’t played.