Rating
4.5

Yes, I know; I’ve heard all of the nicknames. Resident Evil Halo. Resident Action 5. Very cute. 

A lot of fuss has been made about the infusion of action into the latest installment of the Resident Evil franchise,

Image courtesy of amazon.com

 and how it undercuts the horror elements of the series. However, I contest this point; Resident Evil 5 does ramp up the action to another level, but this does not eliminate the fear so much as it shifts its focus.

RE5 replaces the dread simmering under the surface with an anxiety of the overwhelming numbers and capabilities of the zombies — and the series is just as intuitive and addicting as ever.

Right off the bat, RE5 is visually dazzling, bordering at times on photorealism. Quite simply, these are some of the most realistic graphics I have seen on a console. When the game involves zombie-esque creatures with venus flytrap contraptions coming out of their mouths, this is quite the feat. Furthermore, the graphics run fluidly, with only minor hiccups in the frame rate appearing when playing split-screen co-op. 

Speaking of the co-op mode, I have to say this is the best addition to the RE franchise. Survival horror games are built for co-op, and it’s nice to see RE5 implement this mode so smoothly into its campaign. Having a real, human-controlled partner adds another layer of depth, and the title includes plenty of areas where teamwork is necessary. This is one feature I hope carries on throughout the series. 

While the graphics are astonishing, RE5 is elevated to another level because of its gameplay. Resident Evil veterans have memories of slow, stumbling zombies, but those feeble undead are no more. Enemies in RE5 are fast, smart, and very quickly outnumber and surround the protagonists. The game provides ample ammunition for these encounters, but the intensity never really subsides. Some people have issues with the title’s formulaic pacing — progress through the level, fight the enemies preventing forward movement, and then continue — but when the formula is so dang fun, why complain?

Another nice bonus in RE5 that encourages replay is the fact that all of the items and upgrades carry over from playthrough to playthrough. This not only encourages players to conquer the game on higher difficulties, but also offers them the means to do so. When you are wielding a Colt that effortlessly decapitates zombies and kills bosses in only a couple shots, the hardest difficulty suddenly feels much more manageable. 

I wanted to give RE5 a perfect score on account of how much fun it is, but I can’t quite justify it. The game loses a lot of luster in its final act when the zombies start wielding machine guns instead of hatchets and shovels. This evolution of the enemy turns the game into another Gears of War clone, and the title loses the RE appeal. 

Also, I can’t figure out what reason would prevent Capcom from allowing players to move and aim at the same time. In RE4, it was okay; the game underwent a massive makeover, and something like that could be overlooked. In RE5, there is really no excuse. 

While the game has some minor faults, RE5 is the pinnacle of the series’ evolution. Its visceral gameplay, stunning visuals and nearly endless replay value make RE5 a must-own for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners.