3/18/2009
I meet the criteria for criticizing. 😉
To kick off the gaming year of `05, Resident Evil 4 came out to tough criticism from long time fans of the previous games and massive critical acclaim. The reason for the former being the complete revamp of the series, a decision to not include fixed camera angles and use an over the shoulder third person shooting mechanic. It may have not been much of a survival horror game, but the action was almost unmatched, possibly the reason it won plenty of game of the year awards and is still looked at as one of the greatest games of all time.
Fast forward to March of `09, and we are finally playing the long awaited sequel to one of the greatest games ever created. Enter Resident Evil 5…
Plot
The plot picks up right from where the prequel left us, and roughly ten years after the original Resident Evil. You play as Chris Redfield, BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) agent, and longtime series character. This journey follows Chris and his newfound ally Sheva Alomar (BSAA West African branch) on a mission to unravel the mystery of the Uroboros (a new bioweapon, see T-Virus) and discover the fate of an old partner, Jill Valentine.
Now, if your expecting a deep, revolutionary and engaging storyline, you’ve got the wrong game. The plot is extremely straight forward with little to no twists and no brainer decisions. It is full of “Where did he go? Over there.” moments of simplicity. By the end of the game scores will be settled, and you will sit through an ending all too akin to the other games.
However, with all of the bonus content in the game there are files and documents which you can read that include piles of backstory for those who want to know more, or simply haven’t been into the series for very long. It will make you wonder why the in-game story is so lacking, but I suppose it is better to have it all in one place rather than not at all.
Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
Gameplay and Presentation
Players of RE4 will feel right at a home. However, the selling point this time would be of course, co-operative play, a franchise first. I would strongly suggest playing with a friend, as it is definitely better than relying on the computer AI, although decent, nothing can replace a human.
While the AI has thus far suffered plenty of complaints, I for one have had a decent experience with it. Sheva will have two modes that she can enter independently or with the consent of the player, cover and attack. Cover being a form of watching your back and only attacking when a hostile gets too close, attack making Sheva pursue and shoot nearby zombies. It’s a choice between passive and aggressive that is clear as day, crystal even. She (or Chris should you choose to PLAY as Sheva) will remain at your side at all times, the most it will take is tap of the B button to call them over. Fairly simple, but not without the minor frustrations that are almost impossible to avoid when using AI, such as Sheva running in to walls and using items with almost no discretion. Why an option was not included to control Sheva when playing on your lonesome is anyone`s guess. Developer laziness?
One of the biggest downsides of Resident Evil 5 would have to be the rushed feeling of the game. You can see how little time was spent on some sections of the game when playing the later areas. You`ll find yourself running through narrow halls, and solving cookie cutter puzzles all too much.
This game just cowers in the shadow of RE4, although it IS technically a better game, it is in the wrong time era, it doesn’t feel like a fresh experience at this point. The enemies are almost identical to the last, down to their animations and actions, but rightfully so I suppose since the Las Plagas from RE4 are back. This games zombies aren`t that groundbreaking, but there is enough variety to keep it feeling fresh.
The game also boasts also boasts a more “robust” melee system, which doesn`t really feel all that new, save for joint attacks performed when teammates attack in succession.
The storage system is quite different this time around, and you’ll notice that quickly considering the favorable merchant character is no longer around. Each character carries nine items, amongst them being healing items, armor, weapons/ammo, and another type of item being treasures, which only serve the purpose of being traded for money. All of your items will be stocked for different sessions of play. Upgrades return, allowing you to tweak your utensils of destruction to perfection.
The Shenmue influenced action cutscenes (also known as Quick Time Events and QTE) return, in which players must press specific buttons during cinematics, to engage in actions further progressing the story, such as avoiding a chainswinging motorcyclist, or running away from the venomous bite of a bat like bio-organic weapon. Although fun, these queues are WAY too easy, leaving much to be desired in the challenge and quantity departments.
Mercenaries returns, this time instead of being a tool to earn new unlockables, players compete against and with each other for a spot on the leaderboards. There are eight maps, and eight character skins, which allow players into the shoes of Wesker and Jill, along with the original roster, all with at least two outfits and sets of equipment, and even some special abilities. Mercenaries provides a steep challenge, allowing players to bask in the pure action of the game.
The music sets the pace just fine, with a steady arrangement of suspenseful tunes. With that said, you will likely be hearing the same scores over and over again, don`t worry too much though as some of them are actually quite phenomenal. If you don’t like it you can always use a custom soundtrack.
Fans of the game will be able to squeeze approxiamately a good weeks worth of gameplay, since the game has a decent amount of replayability once the initial playthrough is complete (it took me a little over 10 hours on Veteran with a friend, which unlocked Professional difficulty). With The Mercenaries mini-game, unlockable outfits, weapons, files, and even digital action figures to name some, you`ll soak in a plethora of prospects. There is even an option to add filters to the visuals for slightly different experiences, such as black and white, and a noise effect. Players will likely enable things like this, and no music whilst going through their all knives playthorughs.
Overall, the game provides classic third person shooting, with just a touch of the survival horror that sparked the series, considering the stop and shoot robotic like movements are still intact, keeping you cautious, and on your toes. Veterans and Amateurs alike will find comfort here in the familiar and easy formula.
Resident Evil 5 is just another testament to Capcom`s ability to change with the times, and reinvent themselves to match todays standards of gaming, (as you can see many similarities with more recent hits like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gears of War) all the while keeping their individual charm, winning the hearts of hundreds of gamers, including resilient veterans and fanatics. It may not exhibit their innovative talents displayed in the previous installment, but the addition of co-op play saves this from being a disaster. The game shines its brightest when playing with a dedicated friend and a great arsenal. At it`s core lies a great action game with mild scares, a no gimmicks story, decent length, and good replayabilty. If that tickles your fancy, you owe it to yourself to purchase this game.
Here’s to the next series format revamp for Resident Evil 6.
Leave a comment
No comments yet.
mysterio 
Leave a comment