sheva |

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Release Date: 3/13/2009

Available On

I was waiting for this game ever since I stepped foot into RE4 two years ago (on the better PS2 version). For some reason, RE5 feels like RE4.5 since it feels so similar, and this was a big disappointment for me. Don’t get me wrong, RE5 is phenomenal, but all the similarities can make avid RE4 players quickly bored and/or not so impressed. Rewind four years ago to that pre-rendered still of Chris Redfield during the RE5 announcement and look (or remember) how amazing it looked.

Well, since it took so long to come out, RE5 now looks on par with most next-gen games. It is one of the best-looking games out right now, but what RE5 does that RE4 didn’t do is have amazing cinematic cutscenes. RE4 had a lot of interactive cut scenes, but RE5’s are very cinematic (buy the collector’s edition and you’ll see the new camera technology they used to make these amazing cutscenes). There are fewer interactive cutscenes (press the so-and-so button within 2-3 seconds), but everything else makes up for it. RE5’s controls and basic gameplay are exactly the same as RE4’s. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? There’s still the over-the-shoulder camera, along with the whole laser sight and the whole wonky control scheme. While it still works, it does feel dated, and I wish there were a more Gears of War-type control setup or even something more modern.

One of my main gripes is that your attached case is a whole lot smaller, and you can’t upgrade it like in RE4. Sure, you have a quick-select button, but I’d prefer more room for stuff, thanks. You get nine NINE slots, and they are quickly used up. Let’s say you have a vest, four different weapons, and four ammo types. There’s no room for health (yes, it’s still the stupid herb ordeal), grenades, or anything else. This requires a lot more sacrificing, but thankfully your sexy buddy, Sheva Alamar, has nine slots as well, so you can trade and exchange items with each other. Yes, there is a “buddy system,” and I think in a zombie-ridden Africa, the buddy system is great (don’t worry, it’s not a “bodyguard” system like RE4 Sheva actually fights). Sheva’s AI is pretty good. Sometimes she tends to try and shoot through you half the time and doesn’t like to keep up with you when you’re bombarded with enemies.

Rarely will you die from this, but if you do, you get mad. This is why RE5 is a better-played co-op, online or offline. This is great and even has a Left 4 Dead feel since you’re surviving zombie hordes while trying to stop…err…a really bad man from unleashing the new Uroboros virus around the world. Since this is a next-gen system, the boss fights are bigger, badder, and tougher, and boy, do I mean BIGGER!!! You thought the El Gigante was huge on the GC, PS2, and Wii tries shooting up a 30-foot flying B.O.W. or something that’s the size of a naval freight ship. A few new elements are added to certain boss fights, such as “key weapons,” and these are only good for that fight. You may have a rechargeable flamethrower, an RPG, or even a satellite gun, kind of like the Hammer of Dawn in Gears of War. While all boss fights are a major challenge, you can always do it in one try. There are a lot more weapons in RE5, but most of them are useless since they are slight variations of other weapons. It takes longer to completely upgrade weapons, and you can only do this when you start the game, die, and are in between levels. No, there’s no creepy British dude with stuff under his coat selling you things. I found this change a bad one since it may hinder some people when they need a weapon before a certain point. Upgrades cost a lot more and thus make unlockables harder to get.

Another great thing about being next-gen is that the levels are now huge and the puzzles are challenging but not confusing and scatterbrained. There are a lot of little goodies to collect and unlock. You can use points for achieving certain things (such as finding all BSAA emblems, beating certain levels, etc.) to unlock figurines, filters, costumes, etc. These add great replay value and can make the game more fun a second time. When you beat the game, you get a mercenary mode (like in RE4) that pits you against tons of zombies you have to fend off. RE5 is an amazing game, but it feels too similar for RE4 veterans and may hinder and bring down your expectations.