9 points
Ranked by: Slappy, Scotsman, Shaft, Boner and Nibbles
Highest Rating: #3 by Boner and Scotsman
Metacritic Rating: 360: 85 PS3: 86
Written by Nibbles
Resident Evil 5 succeeds in staying close to what gamers loved about the last title, but it also takes risks that pay off in unexpected ways. Co-op changes your approach to survival horror, and the masterful pacing ensures you never take your eye off the action. Like its predecessor, Resident Evil 5 is destined to be remembered as one of the best games of its time. – Game Informer
I played it start to finish in three sittings, have played it extensively in other capacities while working on this review, and still can’t wait to go back and play through it again cooperatively on higher difficulties to open up more of its goodies. If that’s not the definition of a fine action game, I don’t know what is. – Giant Bomb
RE5 is a success, and there’s a wealth of replayability through item collection, weapon upgrades, score chasing and the unlockable Mercenaries mode. But this is no gentle nudge to the formula of the previous main RE games; it’s an evolution. – IGN
Coming in at number ten on NPP’s game of the year is one of 2009’s first blockbuster releases, third-person shooter Resident Evil 5. Released on the 13th of March 2009 Resident Evil 5 had some pretty big shoes to fill, been the sequel to a game regarded by many to be the game of the previous generation, Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 5 reunited players with Chris Redfield, one of the protagonists from the first Resident Evil game. Taking place in Kijuju, a fictitious African nation, we learn that Chris is now working for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), a division set up by various pharmaceutical companies to prevent the trade and use of bioweapons in a response to the bad publicity Umbrella’s conduct had brought to the industry from previous games. Joining another BSAA agent, an African woman named Sheva Alomar, the pair have arrived in a small town to arrest Ricardo Irving, an individual who is apparently attempting to sell a bioweapon on the black market.
Progressing to the site of the deal, the pair witness a local being fed a parasite, which takes control of his body and turns him into a Majini (evil spirit in Swahili), which like the Ganados in RE4, are those under control of the parasite effectively turning them into zombies. Progressing further, Chris and Sheva find all the locals have been turned into Majini, leaving them underequipped, outnumbered and forced to fight onwards as they lean more and more about the plot that is taking place in Kijuju and expose some of the biggest secrets of the series.
Resident Evil 5 really is a beautiful game to play, and extremely atmospheric. The environments are varied and immaculately crafted with an obvious amount of care been taken to the design, lighting, smoke and particle effects and other ambient elements that bring each environment to life, along with the amazing job done on the creature and boss designs.
The design really comes into its own during the real-time cut-scenes which are among the most impressive in gaming to date. The use of motion capture, facial animation, eye movements and many other subtle touches makes the character shockingly believable, and there are some very impressive fight choreography and intricate action sequences that make the cut-scenes a joy to watch.
One of the cornerstones of Resident Evil 5 is the co-op play. Sheva’s presence provides a partner that very rarely leaves your side, and doesn’t go far when she does. Whether you play with another person or alone, Sheva’s with you from start to finish. While built to play with two people, playing alone with the AI is certainly not a bad experience as most of the time the AI is quite good. There are the odd annoyances, mostly due to the AI been trigger happy, healing you at the slightest scratch or picking up ammo, however been able to control your partners inventory means you can generally avoid these problems by controlling what items the AI has, and also allows you to effectively double your inventory.
Sheva is much better when she’s been controlled by another human in the co-op play that works online, by system link or split screen. Online is really the way to go though, as having a full screen to yourself allows you to take in the deep environments.
The game has a lot to offer. The variety of weapons, collectibles and ability to upgrade means that multiple playthroughs are rewarded and the ability to carry over objects from previous games gives you the necessary edge to take on the game at higher difficulties. You can replay any chapter from the game at any time, provided you’ve completed it to gain more munitions or cash and treasures that can be spent on a huge amount of goodies. These include upgrading guns, special versions of guns, infinite ammo, new costumes and figurines of every character in the game.
The popular Mercenaries mode from RE4 returns, giving you 10 characters to throw against a series of time attack challenges across the games environments where you attempt to kill zombies in quick succession to score points and create combos before time runs out.
Resident Evil 5 received across the board praise. From the stunning graphics and music to the assortment of weapons to the unlockables encouraging multiple playthroughs, the game ticked many boxes. Combined with gameplay that encouraged cooperative play while having a strong enough AI that playing alone was still enjoyable, it’s no surprise that this game received high acclaim and was present on many NPPers list giving it the position of NPP’s 10th game of 2009.
Nibbles gave me the egg glitch, a hero.
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I had it at #5 and it would've been higher if the Mercenaries mode was as much fun as it was in RE4. One of the few games that I've put the time in to get all the achievements in (minus the DLC ones, that is). I didn't even use the egg glitch!
Gonna play some of this today, from the little I've tried so far I really like it. Didn't do a list because I really haven't anything new til now.
It was kinda up there by default for me, as this was quite a weak year for games. 2010 is already shaping up to be a lot better. I liked RE5 but you gotta play it in co-op for sure, and it was a bit bland.
I picked this game up a few weeks ago, but got stuck at the part where the huge guy with the axe attacks us. Haven't picked it up since. Need to get back on the horse.
That's like the very beginning right?
Whatever happened with all the uproar about this game being racially insensitive or whatever?
Yup. Never played the RE games before, so took me a bit to get used to everything. I only played it for like five minutes, got to that part, died twice and then put it down... Then Halo 3 and COD got in the way or me going back to it.
I don't know if I can kill that big guy yet, I think I have to escape or something. This article motivated me to try it again tonight.
PRO TIP: Don't try to kill that guy just run past him and climb on a roof. That part is timed so you just have to last until the copter guy comes.
I asked about the first time I tried this, then noticed a white guy and an asian guy coming after me in the first wave before this part...
Downloaded the demo and didn't like that I couldn't run and shoot at the same time.
Haven't played it, no real interest in playing it. I've played like three Resident Evil games on various systems and each one got me frustrated with the game mechanics within the first hour or so and I vowed each time not to buy another Resident Evil game.
Even though they completely revamped it for 4.
There's some additions coming to the game in early March. Not to sure if it'll be a retail release outside of Japan, but Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition is been released there, and at the very least it'll all be available as DLC everywhere else.
There are a couple of new scenarios. 'Lost in Nightmares', which is a throwback to previous events and involves Chris and Jill infiltrating the Spencer Estate and 'Desperate Escape', where Josh and Jill journey to assist Chris and Sheva. Also available will be new costume packs and another 8 new characters for Mercenaries mode.
I HAVE A FUCKING XBOX
you said games are for poofs, no you don't
Not a 360, like. Got an XBOX when I was an appropriate age to play video games.
appropriate age? we're not playing with comic books or wrestling figures, this is motherfucking adult gaming in twenty10, perfectly acceptable
Aye, sure it is.
Hun I am gonna put the Sega Megadrive emulator on my netbook for London. Be sure to pack an extra controller so we can play Streets of Rage 2.
You're like King of the Bairns. No wonder Brando enjoys spending time with you.