SPOILERS! Don't read this if you don't wish to have parts of the game ruined for you.
Well, now that we got that out of the way, here is the game's basic synopsis: Go through cool environments shooting cool enemies with cool guns and being only slightly annoyed that the cooperative system was the only change from RE4. Well that and the ability to skip directly to the bits of the game you actually want to play as opposed to being held hostage by your least favorite segments to get to your favorites. The graphics are superb and the story is your typical RE over the top fare. But I like that! I like how Resident Evil knows its stories are ridiculous and just plays off that to make the game more fun! Well that and the fact that most people, myself included, are willing to forgive a lot if we get to shoot zombies.
The game puts you in the shows of one of Umbrella's greatest arch enemies, other than human rights groups, the world's governments, and every other individual in the series motivated to bring down bioweapons, Chris Redfield. He is joined by a partner, who quite frankly at the beginning feels like an arbitrary and unnecessary addition to the cast of the series. However, once you replace her adequate, but sometimes stupid AI with one of your friends you will want to build an alter specifically dedicated to her and whoever at Capcom decided to put coop into the game. Having a partner to watch your back is so much fun that you will entirely forget about the fact that the RE series used to be horror based and love the direction Capcom took with this one.
Back to the story, in typical RE fashion you find yourself (almost) alone in a hostile environment where every single person apparently has nothing better to do than kill you. But of course as two agents of the newly invented BSAA, you have plenty of guns and ammo at your disposal to make them wish they had decided to stay home and do the dishes. The guns in the game are sweet and most of the time which one is best is determined by your needs and play style and not which one you unlock later like in every other game. All of the weapons can be heavily upgraded without the presence of a smelly redneck merchant. The upgrading system works well and the fact that the enemies scale up as the game goes on, eventually carrying guns of their own, means that upgrading is necessary rather than optional. But of course all challenge can go to hell once you get your first fully upgraded unlimited ammo shotgun. But that's good! Anyone who remembers the feeling of vindication from mowing down a tough boss with a fraction of the shots with the Chicago Typewriter in RE4 knows what I'm talking about.
Major complaints have been levied at this game because series villain Albert Wesker is killed off in this one, but I feel this was a necessary move if Capcom hopes to reboot the series. Although many people hate how Capcom kills him, I feel they did well for what they had to do. Besides, if you really want a feeling of what it would probably really be like trying to kill him, they do give you the option to fight him on pro mode with the base weapons. But I digress. Overall, every Resident Evil fan should pick this up, along with anyone who enjoys shooting zombies, or action games in general.