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Out This Month
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Prince of Persia Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Release Date: 12/2/2008 Genres: Action, Adventure Developer: Ubisoft |
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Damnation Platforms: PS3, PC, Xbox 360 Release Date: 12/16/2008 Genres: Action Developer: Blue Omega Entertainment |
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Bomberman Ultra Platforms: PS3 (PSN) Release Date: TBA Genres: Puzzle Developer: Hudson |
| Resident Evil 5: Updated Impressions |
| Sean Tonks, Senior Editor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, August 08 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Resident Evil 5's numerous trailers and teasers have often surprised and excited fans and new-comers to the series alike, yet one thing remains constant; they seem to provide more questions than answers. Thanks to the recent E3 event, we've received some answers to those often asked questions and even some major concerns. Do the visuals actually push the limit we saw in RE4? What is the co-op like? Is it almost like Resident Evil 4.5, or does it break new ground? During our hands-on time we definitely brought a few of the blurry details into focus.In the time we had with the game we were surprised by just how action oriented the game was. Hordes of viral infected freaks swarmed our position in crazy numbers, all vying for our blood. In one situation we attempted to hold out against a rather large stream of these 'zombies'. With each blast of the shotgun we put another down. They would fall to the ground and writhe around, disappearing into a bubbling mess of black goo. Popping one of their heads off from the start will sometimes cause an alien appendage to sprout from their neck, familiar to those who played the previous game, so a shotgun is handy to put them down for good. We saw one of the infected in the distance squirming and thrashing about. We watched curiously as his head ripped off and a giant wasp-like creature emerged from his body. His corpse fell to the ground while the zombie-insect hovered above us. The shotgun just couldn't reach the flying menace. We swapped to our pistol. It had less of a punch, but it could reach. The pest dodged our shots until finally a well placed slug to the head sent it twitching to the ground. But, with our focus on the wasp, we didn't see the new group of infected dash up to our position.  One of seemingly human attackers lunged forward and grabbed a hold of us, which triggers a timed button event. Furiously we wiggle the thumbstick. We slammed the stick as fast as we could, and grew nervous as we saw the attacker's face split into four sections and open wide. Small tentacle-like tongues whipped out of the hole in his face. We were able to throw him off, quickly swap to the shotty, and blow his head clean off.After surviving what felt like the apocalypse we figure Capcom has lined up a break for us, maybe a slow section of intensity. But soon as we drop the last monster we are thrust into a fight with the bug-eyed, disgusting, chainsaw freak. It is hauntingly reminiscent of the ones we fought in Resident Evil 4, yet this one is relentless. I won't spoil how to bring the beast to its final demise, but suffice to say it involves fuel barrels, and a giant BOOM. With the presentation of the game thus far we can understand people's cry that it is similar to RE4. Even the control scheme was the same - though Takeuchi hinted that the final game may control more like Gears of War. But we must ask, is that such a bad thing? This is a sequel after all, and from what we have seen, it is taking the formula that so many loved and brought Resident Evil 4 success, and is improving on it. They are deepening and evolving the experience. The combat is more vicious and intense, for instance. The play is also moved forward with the co-op segments. Capcom has limited them throughout the game to keep the creepy isolated feeling, but there are enough moments where you will shoot alongside Sheeva to keep the action levels high. The main section we played involved protecting Sheeva as she stalked through a half-destroyed building. The infected swarmed her, and armed with a sniper rifle, it was our job to turn their heads into goo. What originally we worried would just be a lame, protect and escort mission, turned into a fun, white-knuckle affair. Cooperative play also features some scripted moments that make you quote Neo, just sitting there slack-jawed whispering, "Whoa." "Whoa" is also an appropriate vocalization for the visuals. The game has come a long way since the initial screens and trailers we saw. The lighting is fantastic and the characters are brilliantly detailed. Environments carry just enough grit to stay creepy and dingy. Watching the infected faces rip apart into a twisted monstrosity as saliva and blood oozes out is a gory, disgusting treat. One thing is certain about this release; the visuals are definitely upholding the high quality we would expect from a top-tier game. We can't comment much on the story as Capcom is still keeping that card close to the chest. We can only hope it continues the tradition of Resident Evil and gives us a plot of intrigue, speculation, and intense horror. But one question that is being asked and has yet to receive an answer is, "Is it still Resident Evil?"  With Capcom straying so far from what made us fall in love with the original games, it is indeed a valid question. It seems like the terrifying hallways and nervous butterflies in the stomach are gone. They have been replaced by swarms of monsters and gripping action sequences. The puzzles are all but traded out, and the new daylight focus and co-op element for RE5 are, for some, the final nail in the coffin of what Resident Evil used to be about.Has Resident Evil lost sight? Or does this new emphasis on action and gameplay over suspense work well? Come March 13th, gamers will be able to answer those questions themselves. No matter what your answer to that question is, Resident Evil 5 is definitely evolving into a fantastically gory experience, whether or not it continues the past tradition. Share/Bookmark: 
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