posted on 27. 01. 2009 by Lori in PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, capcom

Resident Evil 5 is fucking awesome

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The biggest news of today is the return of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises, courtesy of the wonderful and ever so content-filled Xbox Live Marketplace: Resident Evil 5. Don’t worry, PlayStation 3 only owners, your time will come soon enough — next monday to be more specific, but for now, Xbox Live Gold subscribers around the world are being treated to a 2-level demo of Capcom’s survival horror shooter.

Basically, Resident Evil 5 is an updated, polished version of RE4, however, it brings some new elements to the mix that both help keep the series relevant and embrace, and sometimes alienate, the fans of previous installments. Elaboration time!

One of the most radical changes to the formula is the much dreaded co-op mode, that will sure help increase the longevity of the game, but also alienate some purists, who are afraid that they will have to babysit their AI partner in more hectic and demanding situations. Let it be known, that the inclusion of Sheva, Chris’ sidekick, does not take away any of the tension that the series is so renowed for, if anything, the constant need for absolute cooperation and coordination makes the game feel that much more demanding. Thankfully, you get the chance to invite a friend of your liking to take over Sheva’s role, and we all know that two players equals double the fun and the game is better for it. Personally, I could not be happier about this.
If you loved the ever so amazing Left 4 Dead, there is plenty for you to like here aswell.

Hey Africa, are the girls hot where you are? Of course they are, I mean look at her.

The game does show it’s age: however reformed, the controls feel archaic. Although the button layout pretty much mimics that of the likes of Gears of War and Dead Space (or Resident Evil 4, depending on the setup you choose), the fact that you can not move while you are aiming — a Resident Evil staple — will drive some of the newer audience bonkers.

Graphically, this game is up there with the best of ‘em. Every single polygon of Chris’ bulging body was crafted masterfully (Sheva is quite attractive herself, graphically speaking), and the enviroments, while not as detailed as one would hope, are still through and through next-gen. The fire steals the show though, rivaling real fire in graphical quality and perceived heat.

What the demo does not offer, is any details on the story, although fans and newcomers alike, who are eager to catch up, had the chance to inform themselves with plenty of trailers.

It is good to see, that such a long-running series has still remained largely intact and beloved over the course of almost 13 years. Resident Evil 5 is arguably the biggest release in the upcoming months, and this demo makes the wait until mid-march just that much harder.

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