First Impressions: Resident Evil 5

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Capcom’s newest addition to its Survival-horror/Zombie action game franchise, Resident Evil 5, finally had its demo released on American shores (This week for Xbox 360 owners, Next week for PS3). Though it only shows two of the games levels it showcases a familiar feel to veterans of the game’s previous installment, Resident Evil 4, as well as impressing with upgraded graphics

The control scheme that was applauded in 2005 as being a revolutionary new change to the Resident Evil franchise returns in the fifth installment with very few (if any) changes to the style. There is still no “running and gunning” or even aiming while you’re moving. This is something that some reviewers have voiced complaints about but seems to work for bringing up the tension in what is supposed to be a horror game. Running and 180 degree quick turns also make a return as well as laser-sighting on certain weapons which allows for precision aiming even through the third-person “over-the-shoulder” perspective. Though new IP’s in the genre like Dead Space have used certain elements from this series’ control scehemes they have also brought about extreme improvements on it as well showing that you don’t have to have a slow, paced shooting game in order to keep the tension high. The RE5 control scheme works but could have taken a lesson or two from the newer games in order to vastly improve game play. This is a minor annoyance to veterans of the series that are used to the gameplay but may turn off newcomers to the series who have become accustomed to faster shooting and quicker gameplay.

The levels shown in the demo showcase what seems to be a new improvement in the game, pulling roots from some of the genre’s newest up and comers “Left 4 Dead” and “Dead Space” these levels showcase Infinite Re-spawns of enemies as you wait for something specific to happen within the game. This means that as long as you’re alive and the timer is still going zombies will continue to appear and attack you until you either kill the boss or the objective is completed. This shows that the series is in fact capable of evolving to new industry standards while also keeping to its own roots. Each level also comes with different weapons to try out for each character as well as a mini-boss; a familiar sack-wearing, chainsaw wielding character in one and a new mini-boss with a giant axe in the other.  The game also features one very important feature which will certainly make the game more enjoyable for players as now you can play in 2-player Co-Op on a single system or over Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. This is possible with Capcom now having two main characters who are actually playable in the game: Chris Redfield from previous Resident Evil Games and a new character named Sheva Alomar who not much is known about at this point except that she is a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA)’s African branch and is assisting Chris on his investigations into Africa and the tri-cell corporation.

The only downside that has really been seen so far, like the installment before it, is that the game never seems to become truly terrifying. Though you may die there never seems to be a point in the demo in which you are genuinely frightened. This could also be attributed to the fact that this series, which was made popular in the 90’s with the first installment, has used many of the same tricks it still uses to scare players and most (me included) have probably come to expect when something will actually happen in the games.  This may also be attributed to being a demo and Capcom not wanting to spoil any of the storyline fragments within the game while still showcasing the game itself but the series has seemed to lose a lot of its “horror” aspects and shift more towards an action game that just happens to involve angry zombies, diseased Spaniards, or raging Africans.

The game, while not really bringing anything new to the genre showcases what next-generation graphics should look like with these games. Polished graphics, great-looking locales, and truly realistic looking enemies bring this game to a new level and could easily make it a contender for Game of the Year 2009. If Capcom brings the same passion they have been known for in previous Resident Evil titles and make this game a winner it will easily be worth the $60 price tag this March.

There is also a confirmed collector’s edition through Gamestop (and other stores as well) that will sport a $90 price tag and come with:

• Chris Redfield Figurine
• Tricell Messenger Bag
• BSAA Patch
• Kijuju Keychain
• Bonus Disc including a making-of featurette, a digital art gallery and a trailer for Resident Evil Degeneration
• The game and bonus disc in a Special Collector’s Steel Book Case (Much in the same style as the Gears of War 2 collector’s edition case)

As well as a limited edition strategy guide ($29.99) that comes with:

• Strategy Guide in hardcover casing with exclusive behind-the-scenes content
• Resident Evil 5 calendar that starts in March to coincide with the game’s release and goes until March 2010
• The strategy-guide itself, other than the behind-the-scenes content, will be the exact same as the regular strategy guide.