[HEADING=1]~Resident Evil 5~[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Released: September 15th, 2009
Also Available for the PS3, and Xbox 360[/HEADING]
Looking some enjoyment a while back, and having seen Capcom make some pretty good PC ports so far, I decided to give Resident Evil 5 a try (since enjoying RE4: Wii Edition). While many people have had many different views on this game, I thought it was high time to insert mine into the picture. Time for this review to reach..
[HEADING=2]..Complete Global Saturation![/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Story[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Story[/HEADING]
Taking place 5 years after Resident Evil 4, B.O.W.s (Bio-Organic Weapons) are still being sold on the black market and appearing all over the place since Umbrella's demise, plus the discovery of the Las Plagas in the European incident has now escalated the threat. Information has been leaked about a major B.O.W. black market tradeoff in a remote African village, which leads the BSAA (an anti-B.O.W. group formed by the UN) to send one of their best agents, Chris Redfield, along with African agent, Sheva Alomar, in to stop and secure the tradeoff. Little do they know, the threat is a lot larger than it seems, a friend thought dead might still be alive, and to fully complete their mission, they will need to face off again an old enemy...
[HEADING=3]Gameplay[/HEADING]
[img_inline caption="Chris Redfield, and his new partner, Sheva Alomar"]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z279/Posse_Freeze/chrissheva.jpg?t=1271862325[/img_inline]
Keeping with the same sort of gameplay as the series's previous title, it is more a survival action game, then the survival horror game type of the first few games. Also new in this runthrough, is having a partner to accompany you on your mission. Sheva will help you survive again the B.O.W. hordes, heal you if you're wounded, or accompany you in various actions. Her AI is really well done, but there are some occasional hiccups in it, and if that isn't your taste, you can hook up with someone online for some co-op play (there is no offline co-op like the console version). The inventory system is also upgraded for the PC version, applying each spot to a number/num-pad button, allowing for faster, on-the-fly item selection. The quicktime events also return from RE4, which will either result in fun times, or frustration when unexpected.
Upon beating the main game, you will unlock a new mode known as "The Mercenaries", a survival mode with a time limit to test your skills and see how long you can last and how many B.O.W.s you can kill. Offering many levels to play, you will continue playing this minigame, trying to rank up high-scores, which are placed online on a virtual leaderboard, and unlocking new characters for the mode. Also, a PC exclusive for the game, is the addition of No Mercy to "The Mercenaries". No Mercy pits you solo into the same Mercenary levels you played before, only now with vast amounts of enemies, using the PC's rendering power to the fullest.
[img_inline caption="FALCON PUNCH!!!" align="left"]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z279/Posse_Freeze/re5punch.jpg?t=1271863511[/img_inline]The game also sports 4 difficulty modes to play though to extend it's gameplay, as well as achievements via Games for Windows Live, if you want some more challenges. There are also extra objectives, such as acquiring a certain amount of medals hidden throughout the game, or completing all missions on A rank, which will unlock figures (sort of like trophies from Super Smash Bros.) ,unlimited ammo for specific guns, or special filters (such as Horror, which will make them game black and white with a film grain, making it look an old fashion horror movie).
The PC version of the game comes with all the DLC costumes(from the console version) plus 2 new ones already loaded into the game, but require certain things to be accomplished to be unlocked. Unfortunately, none of the new DLC (Versus, Mercenaries Reunion, Lost in Nightmares, and Desperate Escape) is included, and Capcom has stated they don't plan on adding it anytime soon. Overall, the game is long enough due to replayability and bonus challenges, and is a blast to play depending on who you are.
[HEADING=3]Sound & Music[/HEADING]
All of the game sounds you expect to hear are there, the huge explosions you hear and see when launching a rocket, gun fire, the explosion of heads, and the ghoulish shouts and noises of the various B.O.W.s. The music is also very well done, fitting each situation accordingly, as well as some finely done orchestral pieces for some of the major parts of the game. A good example would be Deep Ambition, the final boss theme, which provide exactly what it says in the name; hard bass, and brass, with feeling of desperation against impossible odds. All of it is enjoyable to listen to, to say the least.
[HEADING=3]The Final Verdict[/HEADING]
A fun game to play, though the appeal might be different to different people. Old school RE fans might not enjoy it since it takes a heavy emphasis on action, while anyone else, or fans of RE4 should have a great time with this title. Not as frighting as it's predecessors, it tries to make up for this with unmatchable odds in places, or some smaller frighting areas in between. I enjoy it for it's more arcade shooter play mixed with survival elements...that and RE4 scared the $%#@ out of me most of the time....
And yet again, another review is at an end. I hope all you Escapists enjoyed it, and I hope to see you next time! And yet another gift...a stunning video of man vs. his oldest foe.
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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice For All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Elite Beat Agents
Wii
Castlevania Judgement
DJ Hero
Sonic and the Black Knight
PS2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
PC
Devil May Cry 4