Resident Evil 5 is a small step in a different direction. Where fans are familiar with certain themes and gameplay mechanics, RE5 may be called quite the opposite. Take it from someone who has completed the story mode and is on his second run to rack up those darn achievements. Resident Evil 5 while different, still brings the fun and excitement in zombie carnage.
RE5 has received its fair share of criticism over the years, mainly because of its “tank controls”. The game takes place in a different setting and still sports the same type of gameplay. For one the “tank controls” are now “turret controls” because you are unable to move and shoot at the same time. This has been increasingly frustrating for a game that is now grouped in the action-horror category. More about that genre jumble later. For a game that is supposed to be faster paced and more action-heavy, RE5 still persists on dragging the gameplay a bit by making you have to stand still when you aim and shoot at enemies. This was actually a breath of fresh air a couple of years ago but with today’s advancements in technology and what is expected from games now, leaves Capcom with no excuse. Dead Space which was a smash hit, actually gave the survival-horror genre a jump start and a fresh new look on how scary shooters are supposed to be done. Being able to move and shoot should have seriously been considered by the minds at Capcom.
This also leads to the slight disappointment with the genre not staying true to its roots. The Resident Evil series has been branded the leading survival-horror game since its inception. RE5 actually has nothing to really be afraid of. The game is set in Africa, in broad daylight. You see your enemies coming and the scariness of being trapped in a mansion, or a train, or a city full of zombies even, is gone. The campaign is now completed with an A.I. partner or a co-op buddy. The survival-horror title is no more in RE5. Action-horror, or just Action seems more fitting. While the story is nothing spectacular it does provide a lot of answers to the lore and stories from the other games. You might also say that with today’s endings, this is definitely an ending fit for a Resident Evil game.
The A.I. can be a bit inconsistent at times. Your A.I. partner reacts to your attacks and snipes heads really well but there are times when Sheva won’t pick up ammo laying on the floor or assist in opening the crates nearby to help free-up time in critical situations. I have experienced worse but I wish they would have given this area some more polish. I found myself being robbed of my achievements simply because she was either taking my kills or made me miss my opportunity in one way or another. The enemy A.I. was a bit on the “why would you do that” side. Yes they are mindless zombies, but if they are smart enough to use guns and take cover, why would they not try to run for cover when they see me blowing their friend to smithereens right beside them? Left 4 Dead taught us that when zombies are running at you, they’re going to claw at you with all their might. RE5’s zombies actually stopped running to start walking toward you 5 feet away. This just felt hypocritical in a way since they were just running for you.
These little flaws pail in comparison to how great and fun the game really is. Resident Evil 5 looks fantastic. The environments are hyper realistic and help set the mood. Whether you are traversing through a barren village, fighting a giant sea monster in the middle or a rainy ocean or fighting a swamp village of zombies, you can’t help but marvel at its beauty. While some character models are repeated you really can’t be angry at Capcom for coming up with some realistic looking and moving character models. I couldn’t get over how great a job they did with the coloring of the African Americans. In video games we have come across black characters and have identified them by the dark color in their skin but there is something about RE5's zombies that look absolutely incredible in their true-to-life depictions. I was literally in awe at how wonderful these characters looked.
The arcadey-feel that is presented in RE5 is the single most significant reason you will have to play this game. It provides you with strong replayability and a stellar campaign. Checkpoints are spread out very well so a section doesn’t feel too long especially if you feel yourself dying too much. The chapters and sections provide you with those bite-sized 10-20 minute sessions if you are usually short on time. The inventory system has improved in a way since you are able to have your A.I. partner Sheva, pick them up if you aren’t able to carry them. I also enjoyed being able to buy new weapons and items from the store. Upgrading your arsenal between chapters and death screens made the overall experience very enjoyable.
RE5 also provides you with a lot of extras and after-action trophies. Seeking out treasures and emblems for in-game achievements is a great reason for a second playthrough but RE5 offers many other incentives. Alternate costumes, infinite ammo locks and unlockable new weapons all beg you for a second playthrough. And if that wasn’t enough, Mercenaries Mode returns! I actually had a lot of fun with this back when it was introduced in RE4 but they have certainly beefed it up for its second iteration. I only wish there were more playable characters but playing mercenaries co-op with a friend is definitely satisfying. If only the campaign was split-screen as well.
The game is definitely more fun than it is frustrating. When you are provided with so much variety and built-in value, you lose sight of the little nit-picky arguments one may try to build against it. While the story may be a bit predictable, it still provides some great insight to the story of the series. RE5 is gorgeous, fun and definitely worth playing.
Grade: Favorable
