Well with the big release of this year Resident Evil 5 sending a demo this week I thought I post back my views on what is undoubtedly the most hyped game of the year.
Resident Evil has always been renowned for it's survival horror elements but took a step away from that with Resi 4 and if you didn't like that then you will hate Resi 5 as it is no longer a survival horror game. Most of this stems from the fact you are given a A.I partner to work with. This is the one decision I was fearful of as I believed she would be incompetent like most A.I partners but mainly because I thought she would take away the suspense and I was proved right on both accounts. Sheva is fine in general shooting in fact she does it so well you don't have to do too much at all but the problem is that she follows you everywhere like a trained dog, while she should be flanking and taking some of the heat off you that is when a good A.I partner becomes a great one. Also when she dies you die and that completely baffles me, why is it my fault that she can't run past a lumbering man with a chainsaw, surely this can't be my fault and if she must die why can't I carry on by myself like how this game is meant to be played. Still I am been overly mean the inventory system works well between them and she is responsive to a point but you get the feeling she has been tacked on to incorporate a Co-Op mode which isn't really necessary after all there is already a good Co-Op zombie game out and that's Left 4 Dead which is as good as Co-Op is ever going to get.
One of the general gaming public's main criticisms has come from the shooting mechanics which have stayed the same as from Resi 4 so that you can't move while shooting. Now I don't have a problem with this as it is the only time you feel any suspense but I do think they should have included a shoot from the hip option for when it's getting really claustrophobic. Another control problem is that Chris Redfield can't run very fast, I mean Christ some of the zombies (sorry infected) can run faster than he can and they aren't trained special operatives. Also why do you have to hold the A button to run but can only turn the camera with the Right Stick do the developers at Capcom have a third hand because otherwise it is not possible to do.
On the plus side the game looks fantastic and basically plays the exact same to Resi 4 which was brilliant and when you start to get into it the game is action packed with some great set-pieces and that is just from the demo. I still have high hopes for Resident Evil 5 there are tweaks to be made (the target laser reticule could be a bit more defined) and a mode without Sheva would be brilliant but come the 13th March I'll still be picking this one up and check back a few weeks after for a full review!
BTW I hope no-one is expecting a good storyline from Resi 5 after all Capcom are famed for terrible writing in Resident Evil games and this one looks set to follow that trend admirably after all it's got Albert Wesker in it and every line that man says is solid nuggets of crap.
BTW BTW I miss Leon Kennedy's stupid haircut it gave me a chuckle every time.