Gaming Trend Review
Resident Evil 5
- Official Site
- Platform: 360
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: 03/13/09
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Pros
- Impressive graphics
- Exciting, varied gameplay
- Strong co-op elements
- Fun boss battles
Cons
- Too short
- AI has no sense of ammo management
- Lack of reload, move & shoot may not appeal to some
- Inventory system is a tad clunky
by Tim Wilson
The Resident Evil franchise is one of gaming's biggest success stories. Boasting 20 titles across multiple platforms (including mobile phones!), Resident Evil is the king of the survival horror genre. In fact, it can be argued that the first Resident Evil, debuting on the PS2 in 1996, is the first game to firmly establish survival horror as a unique genre on console platforms. Popular series such as Fatal Frame and Silent Hill owe huge debts to the game, which itself built upon early PC titles such as Alone in the Dark.
With the popularity of the series, it may be hard to believe that Resident Evil 5 represents the first time the series has appeared on PS3 or Xbox 360. For fans old and new, this means Resident Evil has finally entered a world of high-definition outside of PC ports. No wonder, then, that this latest addition to the series was so heavily anticipated.
The world of Resident Evil has a rich history. The general gist of the games have major characters Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine (among other supporting cast) fighting the illegal (and horrific) experiments of the evil Umbrella Corporation. The Umbrella Corporation is responsible for a biological mutagen called the T-Virus, which turns people into terrifying zombies and other demonic creatures. Some common elements carry throughout all the games in the series, including a third-person perspective, the use of an inventory to carry herbs (medicine), weapons, and ammo, and a focus on survival (meaning resources are typically limited).
Resident Evil 5 is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 4, and as such retains much of that game's unique gameplay elements. These include context-sensitive controls, laser sights, body-part specific hit detection, and dynamic cut scenes. Those familiar with that game or the series in general will recognize names and places from the past, but such experience is not necessary to enjoy the game.
When first starting Resident Evil 5, I was a bit surprised when I realized the "cutscene" I thought I was watching was actual gameplay. The game boasts the same high-quality graphics that we've come to expect from modern 360 titles such as the Gears of War series. The attention to detail is amazing, and creates an immersive, atmospheric environment.
The game takes place in Kujiju, a village in the African desert. While this may seem like a strange setting for a survival horror game, it does an excellent job of evoking the same gritty, hostile environment of such recent games as Far Cry 2. As you make your way through the village at the beginning of the game, you'll witness the locals watching your every move. The dilapidated tin shelters, the run-down produce stands, and the hostile glances you receive add to a feeling of uneasiness that would not be possible in a game with less than cutting-edge graphics.
The cutscenes are also terrific, which is good considering that you'll see a lot of them. Boasting a cinematic feel, they do a great job of moving the story along and showcasing the game's fascinating boss creatures. Certain cutscene sequences require player input, such as tapping the X button when prompted to dodge an attack. While not particularly challenging, they do allow the player to feel a part of these theatrical interludes.
Another area in which the graphics engine excels is in the depiction and animation of the numerous "zombies" you'll be fighting. The game utilizes hit detection which can tell if you hit a creature in the head, arm, or legs. These hits are accompanied with realistic and appropriate reactions, such as dropping a weapon if hit in the arm or stumbling slowly if hit in the legs. Head shots result in suitably gory fountains of blood, and dead creatures form a bubbling pool of ooze. The main characters are also well-depicted, featuring expressive faces and the ability to pull off complex movements such as roundhouse kicks or jumping through windows. Suffice it to say that Resident Evil 5's graphic technology makes for one of the most immersive games I've played in a long while.
Resident Evil 5's sound is generally very good. For the first time in the series, the game uses a live orchestral score to enhance the cinematic feel of the experience. The score was composed by Kota Suzuki, who was last heard in Devil May Cry 4. One way in which this score is used to great effect is the way in which it dynamically changes to reflect the danger to the player. The approach of enemies is signalled in musical changes of tempo and tone, and these cues can provide valuable intelligence during the course of play. At no time does the music distract or become repetitive, which is something few games can claim.Voice acting is also generally well done, and does much to add to the feeling that you're participating in an action-horror film. While you'll occasionally run across characters that are a little over-the-top, it's hard to fault them when they fit so well into the setting. Ultimately, Resident Evil 5 is like coming across that rare B-movie that's actually entertaining. As such, it's hard to fault it even when it hits the occasional patch of mediocrity.
Screenshots
Resident Evil 5 utilizes a context-sensitive control scheme that works brilliantly for the most part. Point at a ladder, and you get the option to climb it. Point to a gap, you get the option to jump it. These actions obviate the need for a complex control scheme, while still allowing the player to perform complex maneuvers. There are occasions where this scheme gets slightly annoying – with zombies breathing down your neck, it’s not always easy to quickly point yourself in such a way to get the “Knock Down” ladder prompt. However, that’s an extremely minor quibble.
The rest of the control scheme is a bit polarizing among the gaming community. One of the biggest issues is the inability to move and shoot at the same time, as well as the inability to reload between clips. For many this is a real drawback, as the game often feels like a shooter. The inability to perform these basic functions can be jarring, especially after playing games like Dead Alive or Bioshock that seamlessly integrated a horror theme into first-person shooter gameplay. Personally it didn’t bother me too much – I found the limitation served to ratchet up the tension and forced a slower, more methodical tempo.
The inventory system is another aspect of the control scheme that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, pulling up an inventory and trying to find an item to use during a firefight or chase sequence can be very tough. The game does allow you to set up quick slots accessible via the D-pad, and these help tremendously. Still, the inventory system does feel just a touch cumbersome, especially if you’ve forgotten to set up quick slots beforehand.
Resident Evil 5 starts out as Chris Redfield arrives in Kijuju, an arid area of Africa. There he is met by a woman named Sheva Alomar, who serves as your AI backup in the game or a playable character when playing co-op. On the hunt for a mysterious man known as Irving, Chris and Sheva soon realize that there are some very dangerous forces at work. Together, they must get to the bottom of the mystery while trying to stay alive in an increasingly hostile environment.
“Hostile” may be an understatement. Something is turning villagers into raging zombie-like creatures known as majini. As you advance through the game, you’ll also confront fierce boss creatures, most of which require teamwork and strategy to take down efficiently.
There is some argument about whether Resident Evil 5 is truly survival horror, since it largely takes place in brightly lit outdoor environments. I’d argue that it absolutely is survival horror; it’s just pushing the genre into exciting new venues. From start to finish the game provides an atmosphere of creepy menace, a feat which is remarkable considering you’ll spend most of your time outside in the daylight, only rarely venturing into dimly lit corridors. Part of the reason for this feeling of dread is your seemingly constant shortage of ammunition and healing herbs. Efficiently managing your inventory is paramount, lest you find yourself facing a zombie horde with little more than a knife.
Inventory management is key because there’s so much of it to manage. Throughout the levels you’ll be wise to seek out ammo, herbs, and gold in the various barrels and boxes scattered throughout the environment. These items will also drop from enemies. Gold is a very important resource, as it is used to buy or upgrade items between missions. During these inventory management sequences, guns can be upgraded to improve capacity, critical shot chance, firepower, and reload speed. You can also buy items such as new weapons, herbs, or specialty items like melee vests or grenades. While this management does interrupt the pace of the gameplay a bit, it’s nice to feel like you’re improving your character’s survivability over the course of the game.
One of the major new features of Resident Evil 5 is a focus on cooperative gameplay. It is clear from the moment you meet Sheva that the game was developed from the ground up for two players to work as a team. The game supports both local split-screen co-op as well as online co-op play, though there are some drawbacks. For one, you can’t trade weapons back and forth, which seems silly in light of the fact that you can trade herbs and ammo freely. The other drawback is that you simply can’t drop into an existing game mid-mission – the game forces a start at the last checkpoint. Despite these issues, it’s refreshing to see co-op gameplay integrated into the game’s development from the start, as opposed to being a tacked on feature.
Of course, co-op gameplay is fine if you have a friend or on Xbox Live, but what if you’re rolling solo? Fortunately the game does a pretty good job handling Sheva with AI. Like seemingly all AI squad mates she sometimes gets in the way. She can definitely hold her own, however, and you will rarely feel the need to “babysit” her in order to ensure her survival. Sheva has a very limited capacity for following orders – you can either tell her to cover you or aggressively attack. I never found the need to use the Attack command, because she is insanely aggressive as it is. In fact, her aggressiveness brings up her one major flaw – the poor girl has no concept of ammo management. She will think nothing of emptying clip after clip into a zombie that you could take out with a single head shot, or senselessly attacking a boss creature that must be dispatched with more creative methods. In light of this, you will need to spend some time making sure you direct her to pick up ammo instead of hogging it all yourself. One strategy I found very useful was to use a different weapon, such as the shotgun, so that she could take the majority of the handgun ammo. This ammo micromanaging sounds a tad more annoying than it actually is, but it still represents a significant flaw in an otherwise competent AI partner.
Whether you rely on the AI or a human partner, the game provides plenty of opportunity to utilize teamwork. There are occasional instances where partners can split up, so that you can perform some high/low cover maneuvers. Doors between levels and major checkpoints usually require both characters to open them, so that one player doesn’t accidentally trigger the mission end while the other is still looking for loot. The game’s co-op gameplay particularly shines during boss battles. Without giving too much away, many of the game’s bosses require more than mindless shooting to take down. In these instances, your battle will be much easier if you have a teammate to distract or lure the boss while you work on taking it out permanently. You can defeat bosses solo while partnering with the AI, but it is a bit more challenging since Sheva tends to run around doing her own thing. You can issue her context-sensitive commands when defeating the boss requires you to do so, but expect to rely on a sharp sense of timing in order to make the plan come together.
Resident Evil 5’s biggest strength in terms of gameplay is that it never seems to grow stale or tedious. One mission may require you to simply concentrate on getting from point A to point B through an endless swarm of enemies, while others lend themselves to slow, methodical dispatching of enemies before advancing. Interspersed among these missions are some interesting boss battles that will require your brains as much as your reflexes, as well as occasional dynamic cutscenes. The end result is a game with an excellent pace – you’ll never know quite what to expect, which means you’ll always be on the hook to finish “just one more mission.”
Resident Evil 5 doesn’t revolutionize Resident Evil 4’s gameplay, but it does provide a solid and entertaining entry in the series. The addition of cooperative gameplay adds an interesting twist to the series and the survival horror genre as a whole. There are definitely areas with room for improvement – the limited shoot and move mechanics, the still slightly cumbersome inventory system, and some enhancements to the AI – but overall the game is a fun journey from start to finish that is sure to bring new fans to the franchise.
