RE5 is here with a new look and some new features, but is that enough of a redeeming feature?
First off, the graphics are a step in the right directon. Everything from Chris and Sheva, down to to the smallest strand of grass, this game looks phenominal! I have maybe seen only one instance of clipping, and that is when Chris is wearing the MP5 on his back, and the clip from the gun goes right through the holster for his knife. Other than that, I can honestly say that this is one of the best looking games on the 360, and games in gerneral for this generation of consoles. Lighting effects, shadows, water movement, sun rays in the distant backgrounds and so on help this game come to life.
Now, on to the major head turners for the game, the gameplay. New to RE is the inclusion of a co-op parnter, who actually carries guns, ammo, and health. For what it's worth, she doesn't get herself killed as much as other A.I. partners, but she does like to chew threw ammo like there is no tomorrow! Half of my play time has been with her pumping her ammo in my back, shooting at an ememy in front of me. Unless I move, or kill the enemy myself, she will continue to do so. On top of that, she stands way too close to you sometimes, while others she is too far away. A little more balancing, and this would have been a very smart A.I. partner. Now on to the inventory system everyone has been talking about. I have one word for this...annoying. You have nine inventory slots on one character, eighteen for both. When Chris has at least four guns at all times, that leaves fourteen slots to carry Sheva's weapons, ammo, and then health items. What's worse is that you can't pause the game to use the inventory system, unless you start up the game, restart, or just die. That is it. All item management has to be done real time, so if your are in the middle of a big fight, and one of the items you need isn't on a hotswap (one of the four directional pad buttons) well you are pretty much up the creek with a leaky boat and no paddle! That is no exaggeration. Unless you are fast, and/or have the patience of a saint, this will start to wear on your nerves quickly. As for the for the rest of the game, If you have played RE4, you are pretty much up to date. Aiming is done over the shoulder, you can't move and shoot(?), all weapons in the game except for maybe five, can be upgraded, gold and treasures to get the upgrades for guns, costurmes and extra items, are in the enviornment, both in plain view, hidden, and dropped though enemies you defeat (along with ammo, of course), and you have melee attacks, like hooks, uppercuts, roundhouse kicks, and even a neckbreaker move, which is awesome. You also have co-op moves like helping your partner up and or over a piece of the environment. For what it's worth, the game is very fun, but had it had the inventory system like something found in RE4, this could have been so much more.
Now onto the sound. It's a mixed bag. The good news is that all the enemies and guns sound menacing and loud, and the envionment always has some ambient noise in the background. Even the soundtrack, when the music plays, is well put together. However, the voices, while the acting is great, the lines that they say are sometimes on the huh side. Of course, this wouldn't be RE without some cheesy lines, but for a story that is as serous at this, less would've been more.
For the first time in a mainstream RE title, the Outbreak games don't count, we have online play...to an extent. The only thing out of the box that you get is online co-op with a friend or someone over XBL. That is it, but it's fun. However, Capcom has stated that a few weeks after the game launches, we will get some downloadable content for online verses and deathmatch, as well as co-op mercenaries....for 400 Microsoft points. That is a bunch of bull. Capcom is really milking the gamers for what they are worth now. First, DL content for Street Fighter IV in the shape of extra costumes, and now or a few extra game modes that should have been in the final product anyway.
Overall, the gameplay is heading for the right direction, but some of the A.I. choices are weird, and the inventory system needs some work. However, the online co-op is great, and helps balance out the problems Sheva has working by the computer. It's a great ride, hampered by some flaws, but RE is moving in an even newer direction, and is becoming more of a full-fledged action game, and with each entry it looses some more of its horror roots. If the RE4 forumla still works for you, or you want an intense action game that can be completely beaten with a partner, look no further than RE5