Resident Evil 5 Review

Resident Evil 5 Review

All gripes aside, it’s generally easy to spot the appeal of Resident Evil games. They’re full of guns and zombies, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re usually in the upper-echelon of graphical prowess whenever they’re released. Granted, some things have changed over the years. Jill isn’t around anymore, and the game’s pace has become a bit more arcade-like. That hasn’t stopped players from sinking their teeth into each new Resident Evil that Capcom offers, and with Resident Evil 5, the developers seem to have outdone themselves once again.

Granted, the title of “greatest Resident Evil game” is a hotly contested issue among diehard fans, but this should be seen as a positive sign. If folks seem to have trouble deciding which is the best, surely the developers have consistently dedicated themselves to achieving a high standard of quality. Of course, one of the biggest draws for any game is found in its visual style. This is one area where RE5 shines brightly, no questions asked. Detailed textures in the hair and musculature of characters, dynamic physics and luscious bump-mapping, lifelike animations and intense lighting – the list of graphical goodies is virtually endless. There can be little doubt that Resident Evil 5 has never looked as good as it does on the PC, making this title an outstanding tool for tech demos, or just showing off the power of your processor.

The setup for this incredible zombie fest is a bit more tightly packed and thoughtfully layered than what you might expect to find in your average shooter. The premise quickly shifts from simple to shocking, and despite the game’s Japanese origins, all the voice work is nicely executed. Resident Evil 5 is a game that feels expertly paced, offering a very pleasant variety of gameplay scenarios to ensure that the game stays intensely exciting without getting too exhausting. The writers were not even afraid to throw in a bit of humor, which is a nice plus, as any scenario involving zombies should never take itself too seriously.
Veterans of the series will obviously get a big kick out of Resident Evil 5, but fortunately, previous experience with the franchise is not mandatory. Everything from intense shootouts to frantic boss battles will take the player on an outrageous rollercoaster of adrenaline-fueled combat. Much of the time, it isn’t just the big scary monster that’s making you sweat, but the quiet moments of palpable fear, passing through a dusty, quiet street, knowing that something is always lurking and waiting to kill you.

One of the big frustrations with the console version of RE5 was the inventory system. For newcomers, the system takes some getting used to, because there are limits on how many objects can be carried around. Searching and scavenging are still an important part of the game, of course, and you’ll still be trying to conserve your ammunition as much as possible. That being said, the keyboard makes item selection a breeze. Instead of cycling around with a console controller, you just tap a button to whip out your shotgun, and you’re good to go. Another positive aspect of the PC is the good old mouse control, making aiming and firing at incoming zombies far less frustrating. These improvements might not come as a surprise, but they are certainly welcome and may even persuade console players to give the PC version a try.
The second protagonist, Sheva, remains the defining element of Resident Evil 5. As an AI player, she holds her own pretty well in combat, but her behavior can be a bit inconsistent when things get rough. This is why the two-player cooperative mode is so fundamental to the game. Having a living, thinking human to assist you on each mission really brings the experience to a whole new level. This also allows for the implementation of more advanced strategies, an important asset to have, as we all know that video game zombies will not play fair. There is really no question that RE5 was meant to be played this way, but it certainly stands tall with its single-player mode. If you missed out the console release, you have absolutely no excuse for passing on this version. There can be little doubt that Resident Evil 5 will make the other games in your software library quite jealous.