Granted, I am very late to the RE5 party but for 25 bucks I gave the PC version a shot. Somehow, this game just doesn't click for me, even though I really liked Dead Space. Let me run down my personal pros and cons:
 
Pros
------

• cut scenes
• character models
• Decent use of GTE
• Inventory management
  
• buy and upgrade system
• Enemy design
  

• The graphics (Screw HDR, I prefer my games colorful and saturated) 
• Playing with my 360 pad, the controls feel awkward and slow
  
• The "puzzles" are a nuisance
  
• The backstory seems pretty convoluted (I never played a RE game before)
• "RESIDENT EVIL 5!" - You don't say?!
• The camera angle is too tight (I don't mind a low FOV in general, but RE5 feels zoomed in at all times)
  

Lol you think the cave plunderings out of place, just wait till you reach the AK-totin majini's

Gotta say, your list of cons are really weak.. you're obviously not much of a gamer if you're not liking the Temple level. If you're not playing the game on co-op.. you're not getting the full experience. The camera is supposed to be placed over the shoulder like that, its not too tight - you're just not use to it, which is kind of surprising because Dead Space has just as tight an angle.
 
You don't really need to pay much attention to the story or know any of the back story to get the full experience from that game.

"The camera is supposed to be placed over the shoulder like that, its not too tight - you're just not use to it, which is kind of surprising because Dead Space has just as tight an angle.

" never mind i thought this was about how big a piece of shit the game was, because it turned into some mainstream bullshit with fucking non'zombies and useless cover mechanics without any survival horror elements left. my mistake you obviously have nothing to complain about.   end rant "

"you're obviously not much of a gamer if you're not liking the Temple level.  "

I hate the over the shoulder perspective.  I played RE5 for a couple of hours and quit, same thing with Deadspace. I simply hate OTS games. 

"@Abyssfull said:

" @Siris said:

"you're obviously not much of a gamer (...)"

...Thats a lil harsh. "

And that's a lil stupid. "

My only question, and the outcome will decide the fate of the game, is the merchant in the fifth game?

"My only question, and the outcome will decide the fate of the game, is the merchant in the fifth game? "

...

• The graphics (Screw HDR, I prefer my games colorful and saturated) 
• Playing with my 360 pad, the controls feel awkward and slow
  
• The "puzzles" are a nuisance
  
• The backstory seems pretty convoluted (I never played a RE game before)
• The camera angle is too tight (I don't mind a low FOV in general, but RE5 feels zoomed in at all times) 

...  
So far, I found the experience underwhelming. The characters are outstanding and I am looking forward to each new cutscene, but what's happening in between those is not all that good (especially compared to Dead Space). I feel that there is a great game hidden somewhere here, but it just doesn't come through for me, a rough diamond if you will. Unless the game picks up some serious steam, I am afraid I won't be finishing it, neither alone nor in Co-Op. "

" @atomic_dumpling said: 

...

• The graphics (Screw HDR, I prefer my games colorful and saturated) 
• Playing with my 360 pad, the controls feel awkward and slow
  
• The "puzzles" are a nuisance
  
• The backstory seems pretty convoluted (I never played a RE game before)
• The camera angle is too tight (I don't mind a low FOV in general, but RE5 feels zoomed in at all times) 

...  
So far, I found the experience underwhelming. The characters are outstanding and I am looking forward to each new cutscene, but what's happening in between those is not all that good (especially compared to Dead Space). I feel that there is a great game hidden somewhere here, but it just doesn't come through for me, a rough diamond if you will. Unless the game picks up some serious steam, I am afraid I won't be finishing it, neither alone nor in Co-Op. "

The story was a bit rubbish, and seemed primarily concerned with entertaining Resi fans  "

I really enjoyed the night I rented this and beat it with a friend. I never had a problem with any of the game. *Shrug* 
 
But then again I've never played another RE game in my life.

The only way I can play this game is by making fun of it every step of the way.  That actually makes it a slightly enjoyable experience, as it's a hilarious game. 
 
Otherwise, it's pretty fucking terrible. 
 
I'm thinking about getting together with my buddy and doing a Resident Evil 5 Comedy Run...because everyone that watches him and me play it on co-op end up laughing their asses off every single time.

The trick is to get the infinite ammo magnum. Here, I made a chart:
 

I thought the graphics were the best part of the game; that think looked incredible on an artistic level, and had the technical chops to back it up.

I'm with you on the pros but I really don't have a problem with your cons.  i liked the game, though it isn't as great as 4, it's still a good game on it's own.  But obviously if you don't like it then don't, people have different tastes and at least you gave the game a try before putting it down.

" @atomic_dumpling: That comparison does nothing for me; Resi 5 looks much better by miles.  Not that comparing it to another game is even a good way to convince me the graphics are bad in the first place. "

Cons
-------

• The "puzzles" are a nuisance
  

Yeah the pacing is terrible. Alot of the middle section of the game REALLY falls flat.. the swamp.. the refinery.. some of the later parts of the temple and caves area.. especially the mirror puzzles.. yuck. Really sad knowing this is how the series and entire story is supposed to end... Sigh.

I liked the game a lot, I'll admit. But it's narrative woes are pretty obvious. 
 
I probably dumped most of my time into it in the Mercenaries mode. That speaks for the level of comfort I had with the controls and the camera. I acclimate to that sort of thing quickly. Part of me wants to say that's a nitpicky complaint, but I've got a friend who calls a game's control scheme broken if the character keeps walking for a step or two after he's let off the analog stick, so I'll let it slide, I suppose.

• "RESIDENT EVIL 5!" - You don't say?!

I also don't understand how people can say that this game isn't as good as RE4 when really it's the SAME DAMN GAME with different characters and HD textures.  This doesn't apply to you since you've stated that you've never played a game in the series before, but it just perplexes me. "

It's also seems awfully random sometimes. You just ride down an elevator and soaking in the sci-fi atmosphere of a clearly abandoned lab, and suddenly "HEY HERE'S A BIG FAT BOSS FOR YA! How he did get in here, you ask? Um … well … got me there … PUSH X YOU DIMWIT!"

RE5 was there for one reason and one reason only: To wrap everything up. 
 
RE4 reinvented the series, if they had kept the same type of engine it would probably have been horrible at this point. 
 
5 however has all the makings of an ending to the series: The MAIN hero of the series is back, and through files, timelines and backstory in game they have put more facts about the whole series in one place than ever before. 
 
They also... SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content. 
 
If you really have a problem with the OTS zoom, beat it and use Sheva, she's smaller, and being left handed makes it interesting. 
 
As for the team AI there is only one problem with it, They eat ammo. Solution: Stun rod. 
 
My only complaint about the game is the daytime. There is too much of it. The game would have been much more like a horror game if everything was done at night, instead its sunlight until you get to a part of the game where everything has guns. But then again, this game never did seem to aim to scare the shit out of you after the introduced Sheva. 
 
If you play the rest of the series before playing RE5, you will have much more appreciation for it, but the game on its own has a lot to be desired...

RE5 was my first Resident Evil game as well, and it turned out to be my Game of the Year of 2009.

It doesn't get much better, if you don't like the village and the tomb, the rest of the game is about the same with guns added to the enemies. There are a few interesting scenarios but not really that spectacular.

It is a quite underwhelming game, and I wouldn't have played through it twice without coop. 

Resident Evil 5 was pretty disappointing in terms of story and of course the lame ending but i found it to be fun. i liked shooting dudes and all the melee attacks.  
 
as a long time RE fan, i didn't find it to be too bad. RE4 still remains king but RE5 was a fun game, and i played through it multiple times AND i spent hours upon hours on mercs. the DLC was fine too.  
 
it was a good game, but not a good RE game, really.