Product Description

The biohazard threat has not ended! Just when it seemed that the menace of Resident Evil had been destroyed, along comes a new terror to send shivers down player's spines. Chris Redfield, returning Resident Evil hero, has followed the path of the evil literally around the globe. After joining a new organisation, Chris heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Chris must take on the challenge of discovering the truth behind this evil plot. Promising to revolutionise the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, Resident Evil 5 is certain to bring new fans to the series. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and world of Resident Evil will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

• Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns
• New environments and a diverse assortment of locations
• New enemies bring new challenges - speed and intelligence make adversaries as dangerous singly as they are in groups
• An arsenal of weapons at the players command to keep the evil at bay, including knives, pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles and more
• Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense in both harsh light and deepest shadow
• True high-definition gaming on multiple game platforms, using an advanced version of Capcom's proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the next-gen, million-plus hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Capcom
• Released on: 2009-03-13
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
• Dimensions: .55" h x 5.32" w x 6.77" l, .29 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
The sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed games of recent years is finally here and the world of survival horror will never be the same again. Chris Redfield and new partner Sheva Alomar must face a new menace in Africa, as they take on an even more bizarre range of monsters and mutants.

Series regular Chris Redfield teams up with new girl Sheva

Not only can enemies use weapons but they can also drive

The new enemies are faster than zombies and cleverer than ganados

Now you've got two people to worry about - yourself and your partner

The first Resident Evil for the new generation of consoles doesn't just improve the quality of the graphics but also the abilities of the enemies. No longer do you face off against slow moving zombies, but instead mutated humans who will anticipate your actions and even set-up barricades to block your exits.

To combat this new menace you not only have a permanent onscreen partner but a wide range of more athletic moves, including dodges and the ability to take cover behind any piece of scenery. The biohazards are evolving yet again - and so is the game itself.

Key Features

• The next chapter: Continuing the story from Resident Evil 4 and movie Resident Evil: Degeneration, this has topped gamers' most wanted lists since it was announced.
• Evolving threat: Hugely varied gameplay as you battle motorbikes in the bush, race along deadly enemy-filled rivers and combat some of gaming's biggest bosses.
• Super model: Stunning graphics push the next generation consoles to their limits, with hordes of enemies onscreen at once and a larger, more interactive game world than before.
• Afraid of the dark: Realistic lighting system will blind you in bright sunlight or leave you dangerously vulnerable in the dark.
• Two's company: For the first time ever in Resident Evil you can play the entire game with a friend, either on or offline. Or have the computer back you up as new character Sheva.

About the Developer: Capcom
One of the oldest and most respected Japanese publisher/developers, Capcom are very secretive about their internal studios. Their names are not made public, but they've been responsible for classics ranging from Street Fighter II to Resident Evil and Mega Man to Devil May Cry.

Review:
Recipient of just about every game of the year award going in 2005, Resident 4 wasn’t just one of the best games of the last generation it was also one of the boldest reinventions of a well established franchise ever seen. The only problem was how Capcom were ever going to top it and since almost nothing has been revealed about the game so far that’s still a difficult question to answer.

Some facts are known about the game though, in that it uses the same basic gameplay and controls as Resident Evil 4, as well as some other elements from the very first Resident Evil. The latter isn’t surprising as a different team are working on this new game, many of whom worked on the very first game from back on the PSone.

The trailer shows a desert, possibly Middle Eastern, setting with what appears to be fast moving zombies in pursuit of what may, or may not, be Chris Redfield. What is known is that temperature will play an important role in the game, with characters having to cool down if they get too sweaty – even getting heatstroke or passing out from overheating. The game will also feature online elements for the first time in a core Resident Evil game, although again their exact nature remains a mystery. In fact the only thing that’s known for certain about the game is that with a track record this good it’s almost certainly going to be worth the wait finding out about.

HARRISON DENT

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Customer Reviews

Frustrating and disappointing
The Resident Evil series has come a long way since the original burst onto the gaming scene back in 1996. The graphics have improved, the cut scenes have become more cinematic, the character models have become more expressive, the plot has become more complex, and the voice acting has... well, pretty much stayed the same. But the series has also lost some of its freshness along the way. Resident Evil 4 did a lot to rebuild the series' credibility, combining the very best graphics that could be squeezed out of the Gamecube with a decent plot and pulse-pounding action.

So, here we are in 2009, and it's time for Resident Evil 5 - a game that's been several years in the making, laced with controversy and burdened by sky-high expectations. Does it live up to them?

Taking place in an unspecified African state, Resi 5 follows series stalwart Chris Redfield (now looking like he pours steroids instead of milk over his cornflakes in the morning) as he's sent in to investigate a potential bioweapon outbreak. Needless to say, it's not long before things go wrong, and he's soon fighting off hordes of angry villagers and mutated bioweapons as he tries to uncover the truth of what's going on.

Astute readers will notice I never used the word `zombie' anywhere in there, which brings me to my first gripe about this game (don't worry, there's plenty more to come). I sort of understand Capcom's reasoning for making their enemies more intelligent and hence, more threatening. Resi 4 began this process with the Ganados - semi-intelligent villagers infected with parasites that make them highly susceptible to suggestion, capable of using simple weapons, and therefore effective killing machines. The problem is that zombies are at the core of what Resident Evil is supposed to be about, and removing them is a bit like having a strip club where none of the women actually take their clothes off. It's just not right.

And this pretty much sums up Resident Evil 5 as a whole. It's dropped so many elements from the original that the two games have virtually nothing in common now apart from their titles. Gone is the puzzle solving (apart from a few rudimentary switch-flicking affairs), gone is the exploration and the excitement of unlocking new areas, gone are the tough choices between carrying weapons and key items, and gone is the subtle tension of finding out what lies beyond the next corner. Instead, what we're left with is a highly linear third person shooter with unsatisfying controls, uninspired boss fights and frustrating gameplay mechanics.

Oh yeah, and you've brought a friend along for the ride.

I've always been against the concept of a partner in the Resident Evil games, for all the reasons I highlighted in my Resident Evil Zero review - it kills the tension, it serves no purpose from a dramatic point of view, and it frustrates more than it helps. Not content with making this mistake once already, Capcom set out to do it again in Resi 5. Sheva Alomar is a BSAA agent sent to help you, and forms your backup for the majority of the game.

This sounds like a great idea, which is only hampered by the fact that she's a complete idiot. Her AI often prompts her to target distant enemies, ignoring the mutant dog that's busy chewing her leg off. She also seems to feel so attached to you that she insists on standing DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU during every battle, lending new meaning to the expression `friendly fire'. Lastly, she's incapable of prioritising her weapon use, meaning she'll happily blast away at super-tough bosses with her trusty pistol, despite having an arsenal of grenade launchers and assault rifles at her disposal.

But Sheva's not the only character to annoy. Chris' long-time partner Jill Valentine pops up for about five minutes, only to wander off again with a vague "You're the only one who can stop him" explanation. Really, Jill? Maybe you could increase my odds of stopping `him' by - oh, I don't know - helping me out? Considering I just saved your life and everything? No?

Perennial baddy Albert Wesker also makes an appearance, this time serving as the game's primary antagonist after years of lurking in the shadows. It's a welcome addition, since everyone knows he's pretty much the best villain of the series, and yet it seems like something's missing. He doesn't seem cool or menacing anymore - he's become a pantomime villain.

The inventory system is another big gripe for me. Resi 4's briefcase, while far from perfect, was at least a decent stab at creating a realistic depiction of a character's carrying space. Resi 5 completely abandons this system, instead relying on the simple grid system from the first game. So once again we're left with the ridiculous situation of a herb taking up exactly the same amount of space as a rocket propelled grenade launcher.

I really wanted to like this game, but it just keeps turning me away. The story is lacklustre, simplistic and uninvolving. By the end, I had no more of a clue what was going on than I did at the start, and felt cheated an unsatisfied. Like a bad sexual experience, Resident Evil 5 always feels like its building up to something great, but never quite gets there.

The characters are bland and wishy-washy. And worse, they never have any time to interact with each other. Sheva has the potential to be interesting, but we're never given much insight into her character. Chris, likewise, remains stoically silent throughout most of the game, squandering golden opportunities to use what he learned in previous adventures to his advantage.

Overall then, Resident Evil 5 failed to light my fire. It displays the occasional flash of brilliance, but nowhere near enough to live up to its predecessors.

Brilliant from start to finish!
`Resident Evil 5' is the latest in the series and is the first Resident Evil game on the next-gen consoles (PS3 & Xbox 360). This time it sees Chris Redfield, the star of the original and Code: Veronica, go to Africa to help stop a bio-terrorist threat. Helping him along the way is a newcomer to the series, Sheva Alomar who has his back throughout the game.

I thought I'd wait until I'd finished the main story (on normal difficulty) before reviewing this game and now that I have I'll start off by saying that this game is excellent. The African setting is a great change to the series which has been mainly based in science labs and creepy mansions and is now set in the brightly lit streets, crocodile infested swamps and temples filled with infected tribes people.

THE GOOD:
- The new setting, making it feel like something completely different. Just what the series needed.
- The online and split-screen co-op. Finally! The one problem with the Resident Evil series has always been that it was entirely a one player game. Now a friend can join in the action.
- The action is very fast flowing and intense. There's not a dull moment in this game.
- The visuals are some of the best I've seen on the PS3. Life-like character models and ultra realistic backgrounds make this one of the most stunning games ever.

THE BAD:
- It's pretty short. The levels can be finished between 15 - 45 minutes each and sometimes even quicker in co-op.
- In single player mode, Sheva can get in the way a lot and having to watch her back throughout the whole game can become annoying in the harder sections.
- It's not at all scary. This has gone from being the ultimate in the survival horror genre to now just being an action adventure game.

Overall this is one of the best games so far on the PS3 and I highly recommend it to both fans of the series and newcomers as it really is action packed and such good fun to play. Although the controls and style have not really expanded from Resident Evil 4, this is still absolutely brilliant!

A very very good game
Well out of all my ps3 games this is my second favourite, behind oblivion.
But this game is fantastic , graphically it is very very good but has that rather annoying brown/grey hue of modern games, the story is good in my opinion it follows the story to a climax of chris redfield and albert wesker which i have to admit is pretty epic,the gameplay is great, it is an over the shoulder 3rd person shooter which takes a bit of getting used but after a few hours it becomes a very natural and intuitive style , plenty of little puzzles which aren't to hard but take just the right amount of time to solve, i've heard its not that good compared to the other resident evil games but i haven't played them i have read the first 2 books, people are right in saying that this is an action/adventure game where as the others were more horror based.
The trophies aren't too hard to obtain for the trophy nuts out there takes about 40 hours to get the platinum which i don't believe to be too bad.