Release Date: March 13th (Xbox 360, Playstation 3) - Available on the same day worldwide

After the massive success of Resident Evil 4, Capcom have brought the series back for one more entry in Resident Evil 5. The game is being created by the minds which helped form the basis of the series in Resident Evil 1 and developed by the team which made the great game Resident Evil 4.

Resident Evil 5 kicks off ten years later from the original Resident Evil and has infamous Resident Evil hero, Chris Redfield taking the helm as main character once more. This time around, Chris Redfield has joined a unit called B.S.A.A. (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) and has been sent to Africa to investigate the origins of the deadly T-Virus outbreak caused by Umbrella. Though Chris Redfield will not be fighting the infected hordes by himself, he will find a new partner in a woman called Sheva Alomar who is also an agent of B.S.A.A.'s West African branch but not only this, we have been told she plays an important role to the story as a mysterious incident in her past ties her strongly to the plot and the virus's beginnings.

Resident Evil 5 has been slated as a true sequel to the series unlike Resident Evil 4 which began the transition of change in the series. What does this mean? Well, expect events the return of Umbrella and hints to past games, past characters and some old faces. Also confirmed are playable flashbacks from past RE games and nifty new features like the power of light, for example if Chris spends too much time in the dark and steps outside, the camera will take a while to transition and adjust to the light just like your eyes realistically would. Producer Jun Takeuchi has also stated recently that with Chris Redfield returning to the main character position that an important part of the story will come to a close and one of the series's greatest mysteries will be solved. What does this mean? Is this the conclusion to everything Umbrella related? Is Albert Wesker finally going to meet his end?

What are your thoughts on the next true Resident Evil game? Are you excited by it all? Are you disappointed by its similarity to Resident Evil 4? What do you think is going to happen in terms of story? Discuss!

EDIT: Some trailers for those who don't know much and are interested in what the game is like.

Captivate 08 Trailer
Story Trailer
Gameplay Example

Honestly, I thought the series was dead after 4, and when I first saw a trailer for 5 I thought it was going to be the same as the previous one but with better graphics. It wasn't until I found out that it is linked to the story of the first ones that my hopes for this games increased, then after a few more trailers I'm already convinced that this is going to be great. I always had a problem with that tendency of the girl who doesn't have to get hurt and always gets in your way (RE4, SH2 & 4) but in this case she seems to actually be useful and have an important story. It looks highly entertaining with an interesting plot and nice action sequences. The gameplay of RE4 was fun and apparently it stays that way (with some improvements I expect) and the other thing I think will stay as in RE4 (unfortunately) is the puzzles, which weren't very elaborated (not elaborated at all to be more precise).

Actually in terms of puzzles the development team decided to go back to roots about it and said they'll have puzzles similar to the ones we had on the PlayStation originals.

Though I must say the only thing I really want back is the item box >_> That is truly epic stuff.

IMO This will be the greatest game in the history of all-time. Resident Evil 2 was the second game I played for the Playstation and using the shotgun to blow away a Zombie for the first time made me feel giddy with delight all over. LOL.

And then Resident Evil 3: Nemesis came out (bought it for 65 bucks first day of its release) and I think that is the most fun I ever had playing an action game---ever. It was perfect IMO.

RE4 was alright, but I played the PS2 version so perhaps I would have liked it better on the Gamecube. And the whole new over the shoulder perspective was nice, but I will always be a "third person w/ pre-rendered backgrounds" kind of guy. LOL.

But Resident Evil 5... now this is (IMO) the first truly next-gen Resident Evil. This is where horror and survival will for the first time reach epic gaming status. I mean seriously, those gameplay graphics in the trailer are jaw-droppingly amazing. MGS4, GTA4... (IMO) those will all pale in comparison to the pure action bliss that will be RE5. As much as I love Final Fantasy, IMO the Resident Evil franchise is the greatest game franchise ever (and my favorite). Yup. LOL.

*whispers* And thank god it is also coming out on the 360. LOL.

REIzBOY

RE4 was alright, but I played the PS2 version so perhaps I would have liked it better on the Gamecube. And the whole new over the shoulder perspective was nice, but I will always be a "third person w/ pre-rendered backgrounds" kind of guy. LOL.

You know, I somewhat agree with you. The whole person w/ pre-rendered backgrounds just screams Resident Evil more than the over-the-shoulder perspective. Whilst the recent change isn't a bad one, it just isn't as powerful as the old camera angle. But yeah, the Gamecube version is much nicer than the PS2 one =P

After Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil is probably my favorite series. Silent Hill has been ruined by some bad games as of late and Final Fantasy I'm beginning to hate. I'm really excited for Resident Evil 5, nearly as much as I was excited for Metal Gear Solid 4

"Deerstalker"

You know, I somewhat agree with you. The whole person w/ pre-rendered backgrounds just screams Resident Evil more than the over-the-shoulder perspective. Whilst the recent change isn't a bad one, it just isn't as powerful as the old camera angle.

You know how "everybody complained" that you moved like a tank in RE? That you had to move... then turn... then shoot? I loved that part! LOL. It made the game more exciting for me when the monsters were coming from both sides and I had to quickly turn in one direction and shoot and then hurry up and turn back around and shoot. I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but I'm glad RE4 still kept a bit of that old Resident Evil driving like a tank feel. LOL.

"Deerstalker"

Silent Hill has been ruined by some bad game as of late.

I played Silent Hill 1,2,3 and although IMO the second one was best (awesome story); I had fun playing the 3rd one too. The action gameplay in the SH series is a tad bit buggy IMO (plus, need more bullets, lol), but the stories were just so darkly immersive that I didn't even mind. I think Silent Hill needs a next gen makeover too, but it will never be Resident Evil.

REIzBOY

You know how "everybody complained" that you moved like a tank in RE? That you had to move... then turn... then shoot? I loved that part! LOL. It made the game more exciting for me when the monsters were coming from both sides and I had to quickly turn in one direction and shoot and then hurry up and turn back around and shoot. I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but I'm glad RE4 still kept a bit of that old Resident Evil driving like a tank feel. LOL.

Oh yeah, I know that argument. I liked my human tank, nothing more rewarding than turning that tank around and blasting an acid grenade at a zombie. It does make you feel a lot more "badass" when you walk at a snail's pace but can manage to fight off a whole horde of zombies.

REIzBOY

I played Silent Hill 1,2,3 and although IMO the second one was best (awesome story); I had fun playing the 3rd one too. The action gameplay in the SH series is a tad bit buggy IMO (plus, need more bullets, lol), but the stories were just so darkly immersive that I didn't even mind. I think Silent Hill needs a next gen makeover too, but it will never be Resident Evil.

Silent Hill has taken a turn for the worse by letting Western developers use it however, it's one of those games which has sadly not made the next-gen jump and I would have to say Resident Evil has finally taken a strong lead as the horror genre's best game. Silent Hill is going down that list fast.

I love the pre-rendered backgrounds way more than the shoulder angle, and I miss all those games like Parasite Eve and Dino Crisis. I think it made the first 3 Resident Evil's seem much darker (specially 3) than RE4, and probably 5. I think 5 looks and will be awesome, but in my list I'm pretty sure it won't beat RE3.
And even if I've played RE3 and then 2 before even knowing Silent Hill, I still rather the SH series, excluding Origins and the new ones >_> and even if almost everyone seems to think SH2 is the best, I rather 1 and 3. I'll always prefer a good creepy atmosphere than blowing up armies of zombies, so I hope RE5 will be somewhat darker than 4.

Too bad they're not returning to the roots. But RE4 pretty much did away with that. What a shame.

Oh well. At least the Chainsaw guy is back. I'll never forget the first time he cut off poor Leon's head. That was rough.

This game looks amazing and has great co-op play. I haven't played any resident evil title before. I wonder if this will look good.

Kuro

Too bad they're not returning to the roots. But RE4 pretty much did away with that. What a shame.

They are, somewhat. In terms of story, it is a return to formula unlike Resident Evil 4 which might as well have been labelled '1 Man Vs. 10,000 Zombies'. (Which also reminds me I should play Dead Rising someday)

Iro

I still rather the SH series, excluding Origins and the new ones >_> and even if almost everyone seems to think SH2 is the best, I rather 1 and 3.

It's tainted, tainted I say!

"iroveashe"

I love the pre-rendered backgrounds way more than the shoulder angle, and I miss all those games like Parasite Eve and Dino Crisis.

Yes, yes! The pre-rendered backgrounds were the best IMO! I mean just look what the Gamecube did with pre-rendered backgrounds for the Resident Evil remake! That game was simply as gorgeous as you could get IMO.

And I LOVED, LOVED Parasite Eve 1 and 2, and if there were more games in the series it would definitely be my favorite series of all time! I just loved the quasi RPG feel to the action.

Then there was Dino-Crisis, which IMO was really underrated! The part where you had to go underwater was so cool IMO.

And then there was Fear Effect 1 and 2, which was a whole lot of fun (if not a little hard due to the complex puzzles).

And then of course Onimusha 1 and 2, which was wonderful change of pace from all the gunplay in the RE series. And I think Onimushi 2 was the last time Capcom did an action game with pre-rendered backgrounds.

Now all my favorite series (including Final Fantasy) have moved on to the realm of the 3D. *tear* LOL. LONG LIVE THE PRE-RENDERED BACKGROUNDS! LOL.

Of course, this was when a 3D environment wasn't as pretty looking as the gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds. However, nowadays with all the next-gen power; the 3D environments look almost as good. So after RE5 comes out I might change my mind and like 3D better. LOL.

Rei boy

And I LOVED, LOVED Parasite Eve 1 and 2, and if there were more games in the series it would definitely be my favorite series of all time! I just loved the quasi RPG feel to the action.

I haven't had the chance to beat PE1, well, actually, I have the chance, I'm just lazy, but PE2 was, next to RE3 & 2 and SH1 maybe the games that I feel more like classics, not in a general opinion, of course, but on a personal level because I've played those games a lot some during my first "gamer" days.

reiZboy

Then there was Dino-Crisis, which IMO was really underrated! The part where you had to go underwater was so cool IMO.

Dino Crisis should also go on my list of classics, but sadly I can barely remember them, all I remember is the beginning of the first one, absolutely nothing of the second one, and the third one being too easy, short and crappy.

Haven't played Fear Effect nor Onimusha, but I think Alone in the Dark was similar to that style, from what I've seen.

Deer

It's tainted, tainted I say!

<_< Shhh, Silent Hill 1 pwns any Resident Evil in terms of creepiness, and even if I consider Nemesis one of the best monster-bosses, Pyramid Head is scarier, and you now it

Talking about cool monsters, I've never been a big fan of the chainsaw guy (although I admit he was scary, and in RE5 looks even better), but that weird looking monster at 00:46 of the Story Trailer looks promising o=

Iro

Dino Crisis should also go on my list of classics, but sadly I can barely remember them, all I remember is the beginning of the first one, absolutely nothing of the second one, and the third one being too easy, short and crappy.

Yeah, Dino Crisis 1 and 2 are amazing. Nearly forgot about those games, I think time has sadly washed them away from memory. Never played the third as it looked quite poor and sounded quite poor.

Iro

Talking about cool monsters, I've never been a big fan of the chainsaw guy (although I admit he was scary, and in RE5 looks even better), but that weird looking monster at 00:46 of the Story Trailer looks promising o=

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the chainsaw guy looks a lot more creepier in RE5 than in RE4. In regards to the monster, I didn't even notice it was there until I just watched it in HD. o_o Which leaves me with just one statement...

I'm so glad BOWs are back ;_;

This game is one of the reasons why I need to snag a next gen system, pure and simple. As a big fan of Resident Evil, both old and new (althought to be perfectly honest, I suck at the prerendered REs, even though I really, really like them, lol).

So far, the trailer is really exciting, but I just hope that there are a lot of new stuff since RE4 in terms of gameplay. Alot of the actions seem familiar, and I dunno, even the appearance of a chainsaw guy wearing a sack kinda disappointed me, lol. I mean, I loved fighting the chainsaw guy and all, but I definitely want this to be more than just a graphically upgraded version of RE4 plus story.

But I have to admit, the lighting mechanic sounds really cool, I can just imagine it: dark room, step outside, blinded, and then something smacks you in the face while you're blinded, lol.