Resident Evil brings back a beloved enemy, a great story and an epic ending. Do not be afraid of the infection...
Resident Evil 4 is considered by many to be one of the best games of last generation (this reviewer included), so it is no shock that this game brings with it alot of hype. The first thing you'll notice is the graphics, oh my the pretty graphics. From the opening cut scene to the final one, it is something not accomplished on a multi platform game. The water is perfect, the fire is beyond goregous, and the character models are detailed with love.
If you are playing single player, you play as Chris Redfield, a former STARS operative and now BSAA employee out to fight bio-terriorists. Chris is the star of the series' Resident Evil 1, and arch enemy of Albert Wesker. Can you guess who the final boss will be? Chris is joined by fellow BSAA member Sheva Alomar, who you can play as if you are joining a co-op game.
The game picks up in Africa as Chris is sent to arrest a bio terrorist Ricardo Irving. On the hunt for Irving you will meet betrayers and have epic battles with huge BOWs and of course, Wesker. Let's just say Wesker is the most bad ass villian in recent memory. The cut scenes with these two characters (three if you want to count Sheva) are extraoridinarly done. The graphics and quick time events will blow you away.
The controls in the game are quite simple, press L to aim, R to shoot, left bumper for knife. That is about it. Control partner with B (call, get to pick up items, thank) and take cover with X. There was much talk about faulty controls but in no time you will be scoring head shots and cursing dogs that act as nothing but bullet sponges.
The missions are smartly cut up into chapters, with two to three chapters a level. Some are shorter, like the exciting mission where you find yourself on the back of a jeep with a turret, taking out mortocycle baddies. Speaking of them, they grow progessivly harder as your missions speed along, donning guns instead of bows, and the introduction of a Praying Mantee like enemy that will impale you with one hit. All this makes for some very tense fights where you will out numbered vastly. There is more then a few times you will find yourself down to a grenade and a partner.
The AI partner itself is iffy. She sometimes takes out rifle for long range kills, but more than a few times you will be cursing her as you do litteraly all the work while she is holding her fully equipped machine gun. There is a couple really annoying parts where you split up and the computer lets you down (new age my ass!). By bringing in human friends you can rely on, the situations become more tense but ultimally more enjoyable. The only problem you might encounter is running out of ammo quicker because your partner will actually use some!
The story itself is great. There is reveals and an epic, very epic finale. Wesker is one of the best boss fights this generation. He is one bad ass, out to do nothing but become his vision of a God. He is protected by several memorable boss fights, where the graphics and gameplay really get to shine.
Resident Evil 5 is one of the rare games that takes graphics, gameplay and story and turns it into, for the most part, a tightly wound machine, that moves along at a great pace. Just when you think you are safe, you just might want to think again.
The infection is spreading, will you help fight?