It's RE4: Africa and that's not a good thing. RE4 was great in '06 but it's '09. The inventory system is in real time that's great if your playing with a other person but in single-player it sucks. With no shoot and move makes fights harder. Your team mate Sheva Alomar in single-player is dumb. That times she will go in and shoot up everything and waste all of her ammunition in a single fight. In other times she will stay in the back and will not help you. That times the game plays so blatantly into the old clichés of the dangerous 'dark continent' it takes you out of the game that times.

But it not all bad. It looks great, that times it can be fun to play. The offline/online co-op mode is the good thing about the game.

I have it a 3.5 out of 5.

Mithras4

DSX

Resident Evil 5 is essentially Resident Evil 4 in HD.

WITH ADDED RACISM, you mean.

You clearly wouldn't know racism if it set burning crucifixes in your front yard.

I guess we all agree that the co opt is an great asset ...

Lol, oh hatesyou. You see, I'm not on any "high horse" as you said, no in fact I'm on a monument of myself, that commemorates the greatness of me, towering above the earth. You see maybe I got that you were joking around, but this is the internet subtlety is hard to read. Of course you have a giant, clairvoyant, space brain you know that others got the joke. Also those were never burning crucifixes, they were lower case T's, for "time to leave". Lastly quit trolling and do your job.

You know I found number 4 to be have some horror to it atleast, it gave the feeling I had when playing the remake of number 1 on the gamecube, it actually felt like a resident evil game after a long line of bland games with barely any plot or just confusing side plots that should never have been there. This game just feels like a throw back to all those resident evils made after 2, annoying, bland, no improvement besides graphics.

I'm half way through the game now. I'm quite enjoying it, although I'm playing it co-op with a mate, I could see myself getting very frustrated with it in single player.

As has been said, Sheva isn't the brightest light in the sky. There are ways around this though.

I guess to start things off, this isn't your classic RE game, it continues the trend RE4 started & is more an action game than the survival horror I remembered & the few puzzles in the game are all pretty straight forward & linear. The decision to stick with the not being able to shoot & move was an interesting decision that many people seem to dislike but I think it works well in this. The enemy NPCs are rather slow and stupid & usually will win by overwhelming you or by making you waste ammo before reaching a boss unit. Overall I personally think it's a welcome change to all the Gears of War'esche type of gameplay.

The games visuals are stunning, nothing to doubt there. They look amazing & something that won't displease even the most critical of reviewers I'd think. The use of real time cutscenes are executed well & look just as good as any FMV sequence.

In regards to compensating for Sheva when being controlled by AI, set her up with the shotgun, always send her out ahead & try to grab all the ammo you can find, only occasionally allowing her to pick up a couple rounds at a time. The rest of the time, use her as a shield, she will use her knife & tends to defend herself pretty well. When you come to bosses, keep her close & just make sure she's not behind you. If you can though, co-op is a must, it's great fun screaming to a mate, OMG THERE'S ONE BEHIND YOU & watching them frantically trying to turn around when no one's there

I haven't been able to play it yet.
Though at this rate I won't play it for another year or so.

Vallie

I haven't been able to play it yet. Though at this rate I won't play it for another year or so.

No offense, but why are you even posting in here then? This is for people who have played the game, or even give impressions based upon playing the demo. I don't mean to be rude, but this post was completely un-necessary.

Well. I don't know what to say. As a game I think it's great. Quite far some of the most amazing next gen graphics I've seen, though nothing has beaten out MGS 4 yet. The script isn't stellar, but it's still rather decent. I've only been able to play a bit, but I have to say..what happened? Yes, things change over time. I don't expect or want Resident Evil to stay the same. Hell, RE 4 is one of my all time favorite games. I just don't feel that Capcom is really advancing forward that much as they are moving in a different direction. To say that this game is survival horror is like saying Gears of War is as well. It's not and neither is this. At most, there are elements that are similar to what RE 4 had, but so far I haven't felt or really seen anything I would classify as making this game being 'survival horror'. Now, being a mostly action driven title isn't a bad thing. I feel that it's been working pretty darn well with the RE titles so far and I'm sure it'll keep on working just as well. In terms of combat, I would of preferred being able to move with the knife. What is it with RE and not being able to move with the knife? I loved the epic QTE sequences in RE 4 with the knife battles and I was hoping that RE 5 would offer a bit more freedom with the knife, but no. I can understand being stationary while firing a gun, but while swinging a knife? I want to swing with freedom!

I also need to talk about Sheva. It's like Capcom wanted you to play co-op with this game. Sheva displays some seriously poor AI. She snatches up everything she can get her hands on and she is far too quick to heal you when you take anything that's around half damage. I also love her tactic of, "Let's stand around and not shoot the enemies unless I feel like it." It literally feels like I need to play with someone else. There is also something else I need to talk about, the 'not-dying' mechanic. Why? Well, you defeat the point of being 'survival horror' when you can't die. What's the point? I can see trying to appeal to a wider audience, but games shouldn't sacrifice certain things. I use to suck at survival horror games and you know how I improved? By playing them. You get better as you go, it's what makes a game a challenge. This mechanic basically allowed me to pretty much play like a mindless drone. Gone was the amount of thought process and strategy that I put into what I did with the fourth title and previous installments. Now, I can just stand still and pump enemies full of lead! Speaking of which, there is far too much ammo in this game. Resident Evil, to me, was always about picking and choosing your battles. So far, I can pretty much mow down every enemy that comes across my path without a care in the world for my ammo. RE 4 started this and it hasn't changed in RE 5.

I may be harping on this game a lot, but it's only because I felt that they could of improved upon these concepts. The game itself does a lot of things right and despite the fact that I may harp on the AI, which by the way Billy from Resident Evil 0 displayed more intelligence than Sheva has, I'm glad to see the return of the partner system. RE Zero was one of my favorite Resident Evil's for quite some period of time and it was because of that concept. Still, I'm glad I purchased it. It still is an absolute blast to play and the game is damn fun. If certain features were changed, I'd worship this game. I don't expect it to be like it's brothers or sisters. I'm glad they went down a different path and haven't looked back. For what it is, it's a wonderful experience.

What are you talking about Mithras4? Just because it's set in Africa and there are African people there and your calling the game racist? Ok then what about in Resident Evil 4 when you are killing infected Spanish people in Europe? Guess that makes that game racist too eh?

In my opinion, Dead Space is the new Resident Evil since it is actually a survival horror game. Anyone that says Resident Evil 4/5 is scary... I don't know what to say.

DistortionL05

Lol, oh hatesyou. You see, I'm not on any "high horse" as you said, no in fact I'm on a monument of myself, that commemorates the greatness of me, towering above the earth. You see maybe I got that you were joking around, but this is the internet subtlety is hard to read. Of course you have a giant, clairvoyant, space brain you know that others got the joke. Also those were never burning crucifixes, they were lower case T's, for "time to leave". Lastly quit trolling and do your job.

How about you do your job and keep on topic? CrimsonCyanide has been around often enough to have an idea of my sense of humor and comments I have made to him in jest or otherwise have nothing to do with you. You are not in a position to be telling me how to do my job nor are you on friendly enough terms to go provoking argument.

Comments concerning crucifixes were to quell unfounded accusations of racism and to prevent them dragging the topic onto another tangent. Discussions of that nature rarely maintain civility nor have a place in discussion of a video game where it is not a thematic element.

If you dislike how I go about things, do not think that insult will convince me to change my ways. You know not my motivations and you are not in a position where I respect your opinons / criticism or anything else you care to type.

@~swordie : i've played it and its Awesome game with 2 players

I really wanted to love this game. I really wanted to be on board with the whole new direction. I really, really, wanted to enjoy the countless zombie "Body Snatcher" stompin' hours. However, Its just not for me. Beautiful, however, it may be, I really can't get behind the 1st 2/3 person shooter style. I mean, I know the mindless slaughter fests (1st person shooters) are hugely successful. I enjoy them sometimes too! Just don't stop destroying one of the best series ever made by going 2/3 to keep the survival twitch genre, If your going to go that far, might as well gut the whole thing. Ohwell, I can still hope there's Fatal Frame and Silent Hill to keep me scared and on the brink of insanity.

True that Resident Evil 5 has lost some of its Horror aspect. Its hard to get scared when play as a buff dude with powerfull guns at your disposal + a hot partner who can also kick ass. Its a really fun game if you play it with your buddies, and if you turn up the difficulty, more enemies come at you, making the game much more intense, comparing the small number of enemies that come at you in other RE games where all you could do was shoot or run away. You really feel a sense of overwhelming at some points, making you and your partner have to think and use the environment, and everything you have to survive. There are a few scary sequences still in the game that may freak you out. And personally I think the third person, over the shoulder view is nice. I thought it made the game much more engrossing than the set camera angles the the previous RE games (- 4). You can see more of the world as well as look/aim at what ever you want.

eh tldr; I enjoyed the game. Love the action, the graphics, and the co-op play is super fun.

oh, and Infinite ammo rocks.

CrimsonCyanide

I can understand being stationary while firing a gun, but while swinging a knife? I want to swing with freedom!

Whilst this is certainly not favorable, I can see WHY this would be done. Imagine how complex the control system would be to move and knife with the default control set they have assigned. It would just make for clumsy and uncomfortable gameplay. That being said, having completed the game, in hindsight the knife really isn't that important unless you're going on a knife only run.

CrimsonCyanide

I don't expect or want Resident Evil to stay the same. Hell, RE 4 is one of my all time favorite games. I just don't feel that Capcom is really advancing forward that much as they are moving in a different direction.

Not meaning to be harsh but to be fair completely fair, Resident Evil's gameplay, art design and layout was exactly the same in every game until Resident Evil 4. I don't really understand why people are complaining so much about this, why does a game need to re-invent itself every iteration despite having a great system going for them already? They've added new elements so it isn't exactly a copy and paste job they've done, no-one complains about COD games being pretty much the same nor MGS games being the same or Gears of War or Halo games being the same as the previous game so why is Resident Evil getting slack?

CrimsonCyanide

I also need to talk about Sheva. It's like Capcom wanted you to play co-op with this game. Sheva displays some seriously poor AI.

You won't see me complaining here, in a dream world I would love for them to do away with Sheva for offline gameplay, she's just really poor towards the end and in most cases the result of game overs or at least a major factor.

CrimsonCyanide

Speaking of which, there is far too much ammo in this game. Resident Evil, to me, was always about picking and choosing your battles.

That is only for the beginning of the game, once you reach Chapter 3-ish the ammo begins whittling down quickly and you have to ration and pick your battles, what with stronger enemies and all.

I'm not defending the game or saying it's God's gift to gaming but I do think it's getting some unnecessary slack. It's not a masterpiece when it comes to story and the pacing is pretty poor and there are some bits of the game where I shake my head in disappointment but it's still a fantastic game which hasn't really changed much of the formula shown in past games. As for the 'horror' complaints, I'm sure if you go back and play the old ones that most of those scares were cheap scares so it's not exactly a huge loss. But if you still want that, Dead Space should be out in a game store near you.

Deerstalker

Whilst this is certainly not favorable, I can see WHY this would be done. Imagine how complex the control system would be to move and knife with the default control set they have assigned. It would just make for clumsy and uncomfortable gameplay. That being said, having completed the game, in hindsight the knife really isn't that important unless you're going on a knife only run.

I do have to agree with you. While I would like something a bit different than it being stationary, I can't imagine how complex it would be to actually do something like that and to be able to do it right. Not even to mention to do it so that the player can do it with relative ease. The only reason I really make mention is because I think the knife can be, despite being pretty much useless, a rather large part of battles. I am, however, glad that they improved the addition of optional melee attacks and that Sheva can join in as well.

Deerstalker

Not meaning to be harsh but to be fair completely fair, Resident Evil's gameplay, art design and layout was exactly the same in every game until Resident Evil 4. I don't really understand why people are complaining so much about this, why does a game need to re-invent itself every iteration despite having a great system going for them already? They've added new elements so it isn't exactly a copy and paste job they've done, no-one complains about COD games being pretty much the same nor MGS games being the same or Gears of War or Halo games being the same as the previous game so why is Resident Evil getting slack?

Oh no, I do agree. For roughly a decade, minus those horrible rail shooters they did, Resident Evil went through little change. As I did point out in my previous post, that was a very welcomed addition. I felt that Resident Evil, roughly after the third game, was getting stale and fast. Veronica, RE-make and O helped with improvements, but they still were basically the same thing with only a new set of paint. I do completely agree with you as well on the fact that those titles you had mentioned really haven't gone though much of a change over the years. Though, I'd argue that Halo has actually gotten worse with each installment and that Call of Duty has become more refined and while keeping a rather similar style of gameplay, made a huge change when they produced CoD : Modern Warfare. Metal Gear Solid has made advancements since the first title, though since MGS 2 there has only been graphical changes, MGS 3 did focus far more on stealth and I felt that four was more of a return to it's action roots, while still requiring the player to be stealthy, but not nearly to the extent of the previous titles (personal opinion). Resident Evil 5 really does feel like RE 4 to me. It doesn't help that I was playing RE 4 a few days before I picked up RE 5 as well, because those things are quite noticed. Now, obviously if something isn't broken, don't fix it. The mechanics work well, but I felt that controls could of been tightened a bit more as well as a few other tweaks here and there. It's not that I think it's bad, far from it. I just personally feel that they could of tweaked more aspects of the RE 4 style.

Deerstalker

I'm not defending the game or saying it's God's gift to gaming but I do think it's getting some unnecessary slack. It's not a masterpiece when it comes to story and the pacing is pretty poor and there are some bits of the game where I shake my head in disappointment but it's still a fantastic game which hasn't really changed much of the formula shown in past games. As for the 'horror' complaints, I'm sure if you go back and play the old ones that most of those scares were cheap scares so it's not exactly a huge loss. But if you still want that, Dead Space should be out in a game store near you

I didn't mean to knock the game at all. Honestly, I give RE 5 a hard time because I know it can be an even better game. Even despite what I've said, RE 5 is probably one of my favorite games so far this year and I don't think that's going to be changing anytime soon. True, the scares the older titles offered were rather cheasy and more of jumping moments, I more of felt that the entire atmosphere of the game is what really offered that element. Resident Evil was always about jump moments. Catching you off guard or surprising you. However, it was because of the atmosphere that was created that it did such a good job with that. I will admit, RE 5 has those horror-ish elements, but without atmosphere it just doesn't drive the effect. I more of was getting after that because I have seen a fair amount of people continuing to call RE 5 survival horror and while it's a personal and anal nitpick, I just felt like it regardless.

Oh my god! the game is freaking awesome!
amazing graphics and yes the co-op just makes this game even more...awesome!
i didn't get to play that much of it yet,but i can't wait to see what happens it it story wise.