This year I looked forward to March 13th more than usual. This year, on my birthday, the long awaited sequel to one of my favorite game franchises would be released. Resident Evil 5 would finally arrive.
On launch day, I anxiously picked it up like it was a gleaming can of first-aid spray.
To the uninitiated, Resident Evil 5 is the latest action game sequel in the popular “survival horror” series Resident Evil. The game follows Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) agents Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as they pursue bio-terrorist Albert Wesker through Africa.
Unlike previous Resident Evil games, Resident Evil 5 is totally devoid of any horror. There are no ‘jump-out’ scares and unlike the atmospheric and disturbing survival horror classic Dead Space, Resident Evil 5 will neither scare nor disturb.
Prior to its release, Capcom claimed that Resident Evil 5 contained “Fear you can’t forget.” Ironically, the developers forgot to add the fear to the game.
The result is Capcom’s attempt to create a multiplayer, action-game in the main Resident Evil series.
This isn’t Resident Evil’s first foray into multiplayer action. The Resident Evil Outbreak series had toyed with the concept before. Unfortunately, despite Capcom’s prior experience with a multiplayer-driven Resident Evil, the multiplayer elements in Resident Evil 5 are mediocre at best.
Long-time Resident Evil fans will probably enjoy the seemingly ‘new’ way of experiencing this venerable franchise, but I’m hesitant to recommend this game to casual gamers looking for a multiplayer shooter. Unlike Gears of War 2, the level design of Resident Evil 5 provides a somewhat disjointed multiplayer experience. In Gears of War 2, the campaign structure made your partner an essential part of the gaming experience.
In Resident Evil 5, co-op ‘elements’ feel more like an afterthought instead of primary consideration. Whereas Gears of War 2 required a coordinated effort on the part of both players, in Resident Evil 5, working together in strict tandem feels optional instead of mandatory.
But that’s not the only area in which Resident Evil 5 falters when compared to Gears of War 2. Resident Evil 5 clumsily incorporates gunfights. The awkward, inconsistent cover mechanic is a chore to use and the inability to move and shoot feels dated.
For all intents and purposes, Resident Evil 5 is a full-fledged action shooter. But instead of keeping pace with its competitors in the hotly contested genre, Resident Evil 5, like its protagonists, has stubbornly planted it feet, leaving it far behind in the gameplay department.
Gamers who have had their expectations risen by the recent slew of high-quality action shooters may feel invariably disappointed by Resident Evil’s lack of progress.
But the haphazard shooting gameplay isn’t the only area in which Resident Evil 5 painfully straddles the fence.
Resident Evil 5 can’t decide what it wants to achieve with its weaponry. On the surface, the game seemingly tries to model its arsenal in a realistic fashion. Favorites like H&K’s USP, the Desert Eagle, the Sig P226 and the AK74 are just some of the realistic weapons featured in the game.
Unfortunately, the applications of these weapons are anything-but realistic. The H&K MP5 has more penetrating power than an AK74 or a Sig 556. This is ironic because the MP5 is typically chosen for its lack of penetrating power, thereby reducing the likelihood of collateral damage. The AK74 and the Sig 556 on the other hand, are chosen for their increased penetrating power, and are usually used when confronted armored assailants.
Penetrating power isn’t the only place where real-world gun realities dissipate. In Resident Evil 5, you’ll find 100-round magazines for the M93 handgun and you’ll discover that in order to reload an empty 12-round capacity magnum, all you need to do is load 3 rounds.
Anyone who’s played shooters that contain highly-accurate reproductions of real-world firearms will be disappointed with Resident Evil 5’s unrealistic weaponry.
The shop system also feels incomplete. Players are unable to purchase ammunition. This greatly restricts the manner in which you can play the game. The handguns and the machine guns end up becoming the most viable weapons to use since these ammunitions are available in abundance.
The epic quick-timed events from Resident Evil 4 have also been watered down. Whereas Resident Evil 4 displayed the unbridle potential of quick-time enabled cut scenes, the quick-timed events in Resident Evil 5 feel like throwaway. Gone is the epic knife-fight with Krauser. In its place you’ll find Chris punching a boulder. Literally.
But ‘boulder-punching’ isn’t the only ludicrous event that transpires in this game. The main antagonist Alber Wesker has turned into Neo from the Matrix and during one cut scene, you’ll see Chris and Sheva cheesily cross-dive under a tomb door as it’s about to close. Gone is Leon’s witty dialogue from Resident Evil 4. In its place is a forgettable story and an unworthy ending to the Resident Evil series.
Despite its flaws, misgivings and untapped potential, Resident Evil 5 is still a fun game. Weapons feel distinctly different from one another and dispatching the game’s Majini with a variety of firearms feels satisfying.
Resident Evil 5 is a good looking game. Chris, Sheva and Wesker all look good and the various bosses are all well-designed.
Varied and interesting enemy design has always been a hallmark in the series, and enemy design is another area that Resident Evil 5 excels in. Resident Evil 5 will provide you will a large variety of enemies to contend with. Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to Resident Evil 4’s spectacular and genre-redefining gruesomes.
To mask this deficiency, the arcade-style Mercenaries mini game, and a New Game + mode will keep you entertained for hours after you’ve completed the 15-hour main quest.
Resident Evil 5 is best enjoyed as a co-op adventure. However, as mentioned above, the level design isn’t as immersive of a co-op experience compared to Gears of War 2.
Resident Evil 5 is hard to recommend to non-fans of the series. If you’re looking for a survival horror game, Dead Space is clearly a better alternative. If you’re looking for a shooting game with excellent co-op situations, Gears of War 2 is clearly a better alternative. If you want an overwhelming, multiplayer, survivor-horror game, then Left 4 Dead is clearly a better alternative.
If you’ve never played a Resident Evil game, then approach it like a S.T.A.R.S member about to open the door to a zombie-filled courtyard; with lots of caution.
In Resident Evil 5, Albert Wesker invoked Darwin’s theory of natural selection. While competing games in the genre have evolved into stellar titles that increase the expectations of gamers, Resident Evil 5 awkwardly stands-still wondering where everybody went to.
I hope the Japanese creators of the next Resident Evil find a way to evolve quickly. I give Resident Evil 5 a score of 7.5/10.
