Since 1996, Resident Evil has held a special place in many a gamer’s heart. We’ve explored the lonely halls of the Arklay Mansion and the burning streets of Racoon City, leaving no stone unturned. Until 4, the series followed a strict formula; strict ammo conservation and puzzle solving were the keys to progression through the games’ main areas. Fixed camera angles also heightened the tension: you couldn’t always see what was around the next corner.

In 2005, Capcom released RE4. This series entry focused more on action, opting for an over the shoulder view. While puzzle solving remained, there was considerably less emphasis on it. The enemies were quicker and ammo was more common.

Capcom have maintained the action-oriented style for RE5, adding one bold new element: co-operative play. Joining Chris Redfield (one of the original game’s protagonists) is Sheva Alomar, his new partner. Both are operatives of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, an group set up to combat biohazardous threats around the world. From a gameplay perspective, this means that the player is never alone. Sheva can be controlled by another player (online or splitscreen) or the AI. While previous entries in the series have been mostly solitary affairs, co-operation is an important element of this game.

In the months leading up to the game’s release, gamers were divided on a central gameplay aspect: the inability to move while shooting. Since RE4’s release, we’ve seen many third person shooters where players could run and fire simultaneously. Many bemoaned the fact that RE5 was ignoring all of these games, complaining that the static shooting style was flawed. On the other hand, RE traditionalists were glad to see the series’ individuality maintained.


If you’ve played RE4, you’ve got a good impression of what this game will be like. Gameplay is very similar, with more enemies to compensate for Sheva’s presence and aid. Ammo must now be distributed between Chris and Sheva, so there is no real shortage. The enemies are suitably aggressive and sneaky, so they pose a sizable threat. The frequent boss battles are varied and imaginative. They usually revolve around finding a weakness to exploit, while dodging attacks. Gold can be used to buy and upgrade weapons at a shop that can be accessed when loading a save, between missions and after death. This micromanagement is a fun and essential aspect of the game.

Each player’s experience will vary greatly depending on how they play with their partner. When playing with another person, they will have to talk strategy and divide up weapons and ammo suitably. Ideally, AI Sheva would be used similarly. However, many players will choose to use Sheva as a portable item box, giving her no weapons. This approach will take away from the game somewhat. She may go through ammo quickly, but she’s a good shot and can be very helpful. Ideally, she should be equipped with a powerful sniper rifle and be carrying many health items. Occasionally, she will stand in the wrong place or not heal you quickly enough, but these instances are few and far between.

In general, the storyline moves more quickly and the locations change more often than 4. This keeps the game going at a good pace, the player is unlikely to get bored at any stage. Like the rest of the series, the plot is utterly ridiculous, but quite deep and compelling. The characters remain memorable and interesting. Certain cutscenes are punctuated by Quick Time Events (QTEs), forcing the player to stay on their toes at all times. Some of these are quite difficult and frustrating, while others are very effective and maintain a sense of player involvement in the most dramatic segments.

Another aspect worth commenting on the replay value. As usual, Capcom intended that this game be played long after beating the main storyline for the first time. The basic unlockables include difficulties, weapons and costumes. However, worthy of note is the Mercenaries minigame. In this, players are forced to kill as many enemies as possible within a given time limit. There are time bonuses dotted around each area and extra points are given for killing enemies in quick succession. While it may sound simple, it is hugely addictive and skilful. Like the main campaign, it can be played with a partner. Achieving the highest rank (SS) will require clever strategising, extreme skills and many hours of play.

All in all, RE5 has been worth the long wait and is another excellent entry in the long-running series. The co-operative gameplay was a bold move from Capcom, but one that has worked out extremely well. The old-school gameplay may turn off gamers used to the speed of newer games, but those willing to invest themselves will find a rich and rewarding experience; one worthy of many hours play.


SCORE 90%