Resident Evil 5 Review
- Posted March 24th, 2009 at 19:51 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 59 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 8.5
- Avg. user review score:
- 8.2
Summary
Resident Evil 5 is an incredibly satisfying, non-stop action romp from start to finish. An essential purchase for fans and newcomers alike.
We like
- The stunning visuals
- Teaming up with a mate in the superb online co-op mode
- The ample replay value and unlockables
We dislike
- The occasionally poor AI
- The simplicity of some of the bosses
- The lack of challenging puzzles
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
Let’s get one thing abundantly clear from the start – Resident Evil 5 is not a survival horror game. Far removed from its predecessors, this latest entry in Capcom’s venerable franchise is ostensibly an action-packed shooter, filled to the rafters with intense battles, ostentatious bosses, and egomaniacal villains that could quite have easily been plucked from the pages of a Marvel Comic book. And we bloody love it.
Resident Evil 5 kicks off in early 2009, over a decade since the destruction of Raccoon City as depicted in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The game reacquaints us with Chris Redfield, star of the original survival horror classic, who is now part of the Bio-Terrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA); an organization dedicated to the eradication of bio-weapons throughout the globe, of which Redfield is a founder.
Having been dispatched to the African region of Kijuju, the former zombie slayer (who now looks as though he has been scoffing protein shakes and taken up permanent residence under the bench press for the past decade) teams up with fellow BSAA agent Sheva Alomar as the pair attempt to track down an unscrupulous chap named Ricardo Irving. Upon arriving, however, the duo find that the entire community has been infected with a deadly biohazard mimicking the affects of the Las Plagas seen in the previous game. While we won’t spoil anything, suffice to say long time fans will be pleasantly surprised by the game’s narrative, which adheres to RE’s increasing complex plot far more than its predecessor’s tenuous tale achieved.
Resident Evil 5 offers up essentially what you’d expect from a sequel to the insanely popular RE4, and from the moment you take control of Redfield’s considerable bulk it’s obvious that Jun Takeuchi and his team dissected Mikami-san’s 2005 GOTY down to the bare bones in order to extract what fundamentally made it such a success. As such, the critically lauded over-the-shoulder perspective makes a return, as does a number of other popular inclusions, such as QTE’s, an RPG-esque weapons upgrade system, and a more action-orientated take on the classic RE formula.
However, Alomar’s presence in RE5 represents one of the most significant areas in which the game deviates from its predecessor – co-op. Whether you are playing offline or online with a friend, Alomar remains a permanent assistance throughout the game, adding an entirely new dimension to an otherwise familiar campaign. Cooperating through the game’s six chapters, Redfield and Alomar must carefully manage items and ammunition, overcome puzzles and various other obstacles, not to mention dispatch literally hundreds of Plagas-infected villagers and grotesque abominations along the way.
When playing solo, Alomar is handled entirely by the AI – and for the most part, she proves a competent partner. When you’re low on health, she’ll administer a healing herb or resuscitate you; if she acquires any ammo for a gun you possess, she’ll pass it your way; more importantly, she’ll handle stand her ground against the majority of foes without too much trouble. Problematically, however, it’s in combat situations that faults begin to rear their head. While Alomar has no trouble popping a few pistol rounds in the nearest foe or utilizing the machine gun in short, conserving bursts, she won’t always apply the most appropriate armament for the job. This is best illustrated in confrontations with some of the game’s latter foes, where small arms barely scathe your enemies. Rather than whipping out a Magnum or Grenade Launcher, your partner obstinately sticks with lower tier weapons, making solo operations a precarious business.
Naturally, online play really shines here, allowing you to formulate strategies with your partner in order to overcome tougher foes. This is particularly useful for boss encounters, where one of you may opt to distract an enemy while the other deals the damage from a safe location – satisfying stuff to say the least. On the other hand, if you’re lumbered with the AI, then prepare to tackle some of the trickier bosses without the extra input from your partner. Ultimately, however, the artificial intelligence does solid job and shouldn’t give you too many headaches. Just don’t expect anything too radical.
As always, you have to carefully manage ammunition and healing items throughout the ... (continued on next page)
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
draculaboy |
draculaboy99- 7:56pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 6
well it should have an 8 because the game is not that long
but the replay value give the game .5
so 8.5 sounds fair
-
-
-
chomperbull
- 8:11pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 9
it deserves an 8.0 way to short and way to easy even on hard, yeah it has alot of unlockables but after beating the game already the second and third playthroughs seem more like work than fun, the story is cr@p after beating the game why would u want to play it again unless ur a trophy wh#re which i am, trophies were the only things keeping me going while i was bored out of my mind. loved mercenary mode best part of the game
-
EVilenvi
- 8:14pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 10
game was a dissapointment. It wasnt a better action game than Re4 and wasnt scary at all like the other REs. The bosses were terrible, the AI for the "zombies" was a joke, then menu system was bad, sheva was brain dead at momments and wasted so much ammo with her horrible aim, last boss was poorly made, it was almost completly made for Co op play only and doesnt satisfy as a single player experience. The action scences in the cutscences were pretty weak as well, story wasnt too great, game was almost overly cliche and the dialouge at times was very predictable. It almost tried to hard to have "wow" momments and didnt really do much for me. even with all those bad points It has decent gameplay, awesome graphics, decent music i guess, and if playing with another person can be better. I'd give it an 7.5 or 8
-
-
Dogswithguns |
Dogswithguns- 8:27pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 12
I still have get much chance to play RE4. still in my book shelve.... I dunno, RE5 doesnt look good to me.
-
-
Alpha2
- 8:41pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 14
It's a GAME where you're trying to SURVIVE very HORRIFIC situations. It's a SURVIVAL HORROR GAME. So what if you get more weapons and ammo than you ever had in any RE game before it's not signifigantly any less horrific than RE4 there's just more action because it's a co-op game.
I do agree that the puzzles are practically non existant and that the AI is kinda dumb... but they're mindless zombie people, what do you expect?
-
-
-
Anim3Fr33K |
Anim3Fr33K- 9:12pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 17
Just to point out, the having an ally isnt new to RE, RE0 had 2 people, tho no co-op options, you wernt alone. And i still think ill give this a miss, i had my fill of not-zombies in RE4. I WANTS ZOMBIES DAMN IT!
-
darthrazorback
- 9:24pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 18
I think it deserves a 9 for graphics and 3 for gameplay/controls/AI.
-
Rafaelcbf12 |
Rafaelcbf- 9:32pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 19
@Alpha2. This is no SURVIVAL GAME, this an ACTION HORROR GAME, I don't know about you but didn't jump on single time from a... lets call them infectees. Now if 'surviving horrors' is what it takes for you to classify a game as survival horror, the god of war 3 must be one as well, or guitar hero 3, I don't know about you but going to hel l with the devil and 'surviving' his challenge, according to you, would also make that game a survival horror, what about gears of war. I think you get my point.
-
-
-
superbeast1370 |
superbeast2000- 11:15pm GMT - March 24th, 2009
- 22
wesker (and possibly Chris) take more juice than the entire MLB roster.
-
-
SolidDrake86
- 12:15am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 24
The demo definitely left me unimpressed. The graphics are great but everything else is stolen from RE4 and it has aged badly. I like that it's more action, but you need a much better control scheme to pull off action. I was literally getting angry because I could barely move. What happened to just moving the analog stick to run? Why does it have to be harder to use the knife than to pull off a Ultra Combo in SF4?
-
BlueSteel18 |
BlueSteel18- 1:15am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 25
I was pretty skeptical of this game but I bought it anyway. I must say, I'm enjoying it so far. Not the best game out there but definitely worth my time and money. Good review.
-
Free_Agent
- 1:22am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 26
Good score, the game isn't perfect, but it will be one of the best of this year no doubt. The online would be great if the PSN didn't suck so bad.
-
bayster
- 1:29am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 27
I'd put it at a 9, I could understand people saying an 8 or 8.5. However the user score was 7.6 or something before I gave it a 10. Now your prob saying, why would you give it ten, if you said before nine, well it to cancel out those whiny people preaching controls are bad
It not hard to get used to people and how people are saying 4.5 couldn't the same be said from 1 to 2. I love re5 and I know they will change direction for next game. Tjhey have only made one game similar to re4, it not something to complain about.
Also the horror thing is less prominent and you could argue survival. As alot of the time your not trying to kill but stay alive giving a more frantic experience than ever before. Sure they could have had a dead space like control scheme and made the enemies not slow down at last second, but honestly who was expecting that. Yes it would be good, however I feel if they do that for next game re will get bagged on even more, "its not the same its not the same" NO S**T SHERLOCK. Sorry had to say it.
Replay value prob adds .5 to score I might add. However boss fights were partly a let down.
Summary the why the low score users?
-
-
-
-
-
J1gs4w |
d3v1ldr1v3r- 5:39am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 32
While I love the game, I never once felt like my back was against the wall so to speak a la Dead Space. Also the moving and shooting thing could have been implemented if there were more back-against-the-wall scenarios. Also, im just so f***ing sick of Sheva shooting me in the back when the enemy is in front of me.
-
Strudel |
Strudel- 7:10am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 33
Menu system was changed from 4 which was much better.
Controls were made to be annoying on purpose, not being able to strafe while aiming is unrealistic and very frustrating, something that put alot of new comers to the series off.
DLC for something that should have been in the game from the start is riddiculous.
I think this game needs a patch to deal with the issues I've mentioned, the DLC to drop in price to half or even free. Then, then I think the game would deserve a 9-10/10
-
Smithy2306
- 8:06am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 34
A 7/8 would have done. Its no step up from RE4 apart from the co-op. The story is stupid and the bosses are all the same, no imagination there!
-
xrobbydieselx
- 8:53am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 35
Ok.... an 8.5 huh? Not bad... i'm gonna go play MGO Now... and maybe a little Killzone 2 later...
-
-
Ocelot1987 |
METSTM- 10:35am GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 37
Game deserves a 9 at least. Capcom finally made co-op in a RE game and they didn't half #$$ it. This game was awesome and I'd only downgrade it on story.
-
-
-
juanvaldez
- 12:21pm GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 40
So I gave in to the hype and bought this game. I have 2 major issues. 1. The graphics, all the textures are blurred, and the edges are weak. To be honest nothing looks hd, it all looks like the latest PS2 graphics with a few more pixels. Im shocked that in game ratings people are saying this looks beautiful. Side by side comparisons with games like Uncharted, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2, make this look washed out and weak. 2. I cannot get used to the whole, stop, stand still and shot thing. Maybe I have just played way to much Resistance 2 or Killzone 2, but the stop and shoot thing has me frustrated. Any comments, (im open to anyones opinion, I just dont want to hear, "screw you, it rules" without some kind of data to back it up. So far Im sticking with PS3 exclusive games are far superior to this cross platform crap.
-
-
Digitalman08
- 2:59pm GMT - March 25th, 2009
- 42
I think the reviews are too rigorous with this game
If you want to be scare go play the previous re titles
or Fatal Frame.
-
-
mortada
- 4:12pm GMT - March 26th, 2009
- 44
first i think that they should`ve given it 9.0,i mean you cant balme the game for not having challenging puzzles as the game depends completely on the shooting an melee striking.second number 40 screw you it rules...........sorry just kidding,you cant visually compare multiplatforms with exclusives,as capcom was determined to make this game visually astonishing,but thanks to the 360 they had to scale down some textures and shaders,so my friend you cant compare re5 side by side with uncharted or heavenly sword or killzone2,and thanks to you capcom for producing the best multiplatform game ever!
-
Free_Agent
- 9:05pm GMT - March 26th, 2009
- 45
@44 I'm not sure what your talking about, as this game actually looks/runs better on 360, as do most multi-plats. So i'm not sure what you mean about "scaling it down". I agree that you gotta stick with exclusives to get top quality though, its true.
This game deserved a 9.5 though. I can't believe people complain about these controls? The same people who are defending KZ2 controls are hating on these??? This games controls are almost identical to RE4's, and nobody complained back then. However, KZ2's controls have been changed from the first one, and are horrible in comparison. I am just going to assume these people never played the RE series before.
-
-
-
snakessoreback
- 1:27pm GMT - March 28th, 2009
- 48
Love this game,.i am on chapter 5-3,.cant wait to finish(thus to start again),..i have managed through this far without selling any treasures!!,.do you guys think i should or shouldn't sell?? there can't be much more cash lying around,.and i would love to finish the game with at least the shotgun fully upgrade to get infinite ammo for it??!?
-
mortada
- 3:14pm GMT - March 28th, 2009
- 49
@45,only the demo ran better on the 360 but the game is almost the same on both platforms(except that the ps3`s is brighter with higher contrast)and yes re5 was supposed to be visually better than it is,but because of the 360`s disc they had to readjust it.and never once there was a multi platform that ran better on the 360,check fear2 and tomb raider underworld comparisons and you`ll know what i am talking about
-
terminator12259 |
tacitassassin25- 7:03pm BST - March 30th, 2009
- 50
good review, i just wish there were some acutal scary parts in the game
Advertisement