Resident Evil 5

GAMEPLAY

RE5 stays true to the previous gameplay dynamic of over-the-shoulder shooter action, so well implemented by RE4. The games pace is flowing, the character control feels smooth, though personally I had to ramp up the aiming speed to fastest, just to get a bit more of an edge on the endless Majini. Converting from a Gamecube controller to a 360 controller was a bit interesting, and when playing the demo I initially had my doubts, but once getting hold of the game properly, found adjusting to the controls rather easy, though quick turn around is still my Nemesis... Knife play is alot easier, now that the aiming triggers have been moved to the shoulder buttons, and whipping out your blade is a simple finger move away. The added extra of cover points seem a bit contrived, as they are only available at certain points of the game, but they do help break up the flow of the, sometimes, tunnel vision play.

DIFFICULTY

I started my first run through on Normal difficulty, and found myself wishing I had started it on a higher difficulty. With the extra help provided by your secondary character ( AI or trusty companion controlled), the threat on amatuer and normal is somewhat diminished. If you have any shooter experience, I would suggest starting on Veteran, and reaping the rewards at the finish, as it is much more of an accomplished feeling getting to the end on such a setting. Throughout the game, hordes of infected are thrown at you, usually at the most crucial points, and in tight quarters too. My favourite encounters had to be walking through the mines, whilst either you or your partner had a lamp to guide to the way through the gloom, picking out your foes in the shadows, or escaping the oil refinery, with a 2 minute time limit to explosion, and the mad scramble to get the docks and away in an awaiting boat, all whilst battling those intent on stopping you, well, dead.

Instead of a seperate bosses section, I'll just say that for the most part, the bosses caused me no issues. There is no doubt that I had some deaths with them, but I didnt get to the point of pulling my hair out, and there were enough prompts on screen and level design wise to figure out a strategy pretty quickly e.g. first Chainsaw Majini + Explosive Barrels = Boom! For experienced players, 10-12 hours of gameplay should be more than you need to get through.

GRAPHICS AND LEVEL DESIGN

As a next generation game, there was no doubt that with a studio suchas Capcom behind it, Resident Evil 5 would come out looking nothing short of impressive. Well, it looks even better than that. Firstly, the controlled characters, within gameplay and cut scenes, emote so well, and have such fluid animations and reactions, that it easily outshines all that is done before. I personally have never seen such subtle facial control in any video game, and though slightly B-movie standard lines are being spouted, the characters do not express overly, making them easier to believe.

Secondly, the enemies are well designed and detailed, and the spread and degridation of the infection shows through the standard Majini as the game flows. Extra enemies such as The Axe Wielding Majini ( not enough of him!), fat Majinis, dogs, flying B.O.W.s, tentacle head Majinis, spiders, mutated Majinis ( y'know, the ones that come up to you and try swallowing you whole... ), alligators and the very welcome returning Lickers... there is enough variety to make the game alot more interesting to look at.

Thirdly, the level design is absolutely stunning, and surprisingly varied. Special mention goes to the lighting, as the team behind RE5 actually accomplished their original statement, and the change from light to dark environments, on the fly, really do give you the sense that your eyes are adjusting to the changes of atmosphere. Shanty towns, Abandoned Railroads, Seaside Docks, Darkened Mines, Marshlands, Savannahs, Refineries, Research Facilities... such a variety of settings was personally not expected, and each setting is expertly designed ( though sometimes rather linear) and beautifully detailed.

STORY

You have to know what is going on from previous games. If this is your first Resident Evil game ( and if so, shame on you!), you are not going to have a clue what characters are talking about. Alot is tied up here, Weskers origins, the reappearance of Jill Valentine, Oswald Spencer, The Progenitor Virus, yet at the same time, alot of new elements are introduced in the form of Tri-Cell and Uruboros to keep the formula from treading old ground too much. Hammy as hell for the most part, yet all lines are delivered with believability, having some excellent voice actors ( though Shevas " Lets make a stand for our fallen brothers!" takes the cheese awards ). For those deep in Resident Evil lore, this will service you well. Fans of Wesker may be some what dissapointed at the end, but overall, the end is a natural conclusion, and it will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.

EXTRAS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Finishing the game on Normal or above unlocks the exclellent Mercenaries Mode, one of the fabulous extras that came with RE4. The same formula applies, you have a set amount of time and ammo to take down as many enemies as possible. The levels are closed off areas of certain areas in the game, all littered with time extenders and combo multipliers. The more time you unlock, the more enemies appear, and you will find foes appearing that require alot more tactical fighting than simply blasting away. Achieving high scores unlocks extra arenas, as well as extra characters, each with their own set of weapons and strengths, as well as weakness'. Also completing these levels will earn you points to " purchase" extras such as costumes and figurines

Throughout the main game, the chapters have BSAA emblems littered throughout them. Shooting them unlocks extras that can be purchased in the Bonus Features. Extra Costumes, Character Models, Different Camera Filters, Unlimited Ammo are all available, though multiple playthroughs are required to get everything, as certain unlocks are only available with certain rankings. There is also a huge catalouge of weapons to be had, some only available when maximising certain weapons potentials out completely.

The majority of achievements are simple to acquire, mostly just finishing a chapter section will give you another smattering of Gamer Points. Some are more difficult, naturally, and will require alot of work to get... Professional mode, anyone?

CONCLUSION

I have enjoyed this game without a doubt. The wait from RE4 to this was not as painful, as I had RE4 to play anyway. Maybe overhyped too much, and not delivering on all levels, but providing a solid and rewarding gameplay experience overall