Resident Evil 5 Review (Xbox 360)
Category: Reviews Published Date Written by Pandalicious
If you are a fan of the Resident Evil series, then the latest installment from Capcom will not disappoint. In Resident Evil 5 you control Chris Redfield, the series’ most beloved protagonist. This time around you are in Africa fighting alongside the beautiful Sheva Alomar. You once again battle horde after horde of infected Zombie-like creatures. Who is at the bottom of this Evil? Who is experimenting by infecting these innocent people and why? Well, I’m not going to spoil the game for you. The story for a Resident Evil series is as convoluted as ever. Most of the answers will be explained through game play and beautiful cut scenes (all of which are in game engine). And as always there are loads of files and computers just lying around that contain back-story if you choose to read them.
It’s nothing new to see shocking imagery in a Resident Evil game. In the first level you walk by a group of locals beating a man to death in the street with a sack over his head. As you pass them they just stare at you daring you to do something. You also see a blonde woman being dragged off down an alley. Rushing to her rescue a few minutes later you discover that she has been infected and turns on you. The enemy’s transformation from human to Majinis is disturbing and grotesque. The Majinis are humans who have been taken over by Las Plagas parasites from Resident Evil 4. Only this time they can be infected in mere seconds and are much stronger. Remember pulling off the perfect head shot just to have a worm-like enemy emerge from the blown off head? They’re back, along with a huge selection of old and new enemies. From the dogs that split in half and try to attack you with the thing growing from inside of them to the expanding mouth of lower-level zombies, this game is gross! Each chapter has new enemies and new mini-bosses that require new ways of defeating them.
You can play through the game in either single player or new co-op mode. Anyone who listens to our podcast knows how much of a freak I am for co-op game play. I will admit I’m not the biggest Resident Evil fan. I have played through RE1 & RE4; that’s it. This game wasn’t even on my radar until I heard it had co-op. I played a couple of levels solo and it was fun. The AI controlled Sheva will guide you through the levels by giving cues on what to do next, such as doors to enter or areas that require you to boost Sheva to higher ground. She will come to save you when needed by giving you ammo and other items you may need. If she has something you need in her inventory you can request that she give you the item through the improved inventory system. Which comes in handy if you are low on ammo or need a health spray? Where this title shines in my eyes is the new co-op mode. You sacrifice having the game hold your hand and guide you along telling you what to do and where to go, but that’s it. The game forces you to fight alongside your partner because when one person needs to reload or grab something from inventory you need to be there fighting off the enemies and vice versa. There is no pausing the game to reload your weapon or heal; it is all done on the fly and can be very brutal in the heat of battle. If you decide to run off and leave your partner it will most of the time end with one of you dying. One of my favorite moments of the game was in the mines in which one player has to carry a lantern through the dark mine shafts while the other is on point. It was fun to turn and run away leaving your partner to fight in the dark, listening to their screams and cursing you while they are torn to shreds helplessly in the dark. This reminded me a lot of having to carry the flashlight for your partner in Doom 3. As always in the Resident Evil series you cannot shoot on the move. It is a game mechanic that they have stuck with and is what makes the battles more intense and chaotic. Like it or not, this game play mechanic is and looks like it will always be a part of the game play. They have added a cover mechanic which I didn’t use one time. I would just hide behind the massive walls or boxes that are set up for you to use in cover mode. Maybe you will use it in a more effective way, but I just found it to be a waste of time. The game also features plenty of quick-time events, so do not put your controller down during those gorgeous cut scenes. I found that one out the hard way.
If you enjoy collecting items you will have your fill here. There are emblems and gems to find in each level. Collecting all the emblems will unlock two different outfits for each of the main characters. The gems can be sold between levels to upgrade your weapons and buy ammo. Pro tip #1: look for sparkling gems in lamps and on the mountain walls. Shoot them and you will be able to pick them up. Upgrading weapons to the max will unlock new and exotic weapons like the Hydra shotgun. These weapons are powerful and very expensive, so hunting for the gems in each level is a must to obtain them. Pro tip #2: upgrade your shotgun. A fully upgraded shotgun can take out three or four enemies with one shot.
The game looks much better then it controls. The graphics are simply amazing. The level of detail in each chapter is some of the best I have seen in this generation of games. The shanty town levels are full of interactive set pieces. There are a few spots in which you can use a grenade to take out a fruit stand or small building to uncover hidden gems. Some chapters have chickens running around at your feet that you can chase. Be warned they will fight back! Pro tip #3: chase the chickens then stop and let them lay an egg. You can use the eggs to regain energy or hit zombies. The levels are filled with items to investigate or interact with so they never feel sparse or empty. The character models look exceptionally better than most games. For once I don’t feel like I was staring into the lifeless, soulless dead eyes of a chicken. When Sheva was on screen you could actually see emotions being relayed through her facial expressions and eyes.
After you have finished the story you can play Mercenaries mode. This mode has been in other titles in the series but this time around you can play it co-op. This mode is a lot like the game “The Club” that came out last year. You have a set amount of time to take out as many enemies as possible. String together your kills to build up a combo for more points. You will find time bonuses in each of the nine levels. These time bonuses are essential to score enough points to unlock different characters to use. I would tell you them but that would spoil some surprise guests you meet up as the story unfolds.
This game made me remember how much I loved RE4, almost enough to dust off the Wii and play through it again. I had a great time playing through it on co-op and have loved the mercenaries mode. If you’re a fan of survival horror games then this is a must own. Final score 8 out of 10.