Audio:		10.0
Visual:		10.0
Gameplay:		9.0
Story:		10.0
Replay:		10.0
Score:		10.0

Platform:	X360
Developer(s):	Capcom
Publisher(s):	Capcom
Genre:	RPG
Players:	2
Website:	http://www.residentevil.com/5/?fbid=8EVmFYYZ37r
Release Date:	March 13, 2009
Rating:

Ah, it is upon us in all its glory, Resident Evil 5 brings all us fanboys back to our knees with the re-introduction of Chris Redfield and the brand new introduction of Sheva Alomar. RE5 fallows after Leon Kennedy’s scrape with Las Plagas and Las Ganados and the new look at the new bio-weapon since the Raccoon City zombies. The RC zombies were slow, lumbering and dumb and possessed little threat alone, but a mild threat in numbers. In both RE4 and RE5 with Las Plagas, your advantages of organization, agility and strength are all but taken away. While as Leon you had no info on what was going on with the cult Los Illuminados and the use of Las Plagas, but in RE5 Leon’s success and information gained are truly indispensable information. Where RE4 was a pinnacle of horror genre gaming, can RE5 continue it and even add upon it in this installment of Resident Evil?

Story:

You are Chris Redfield (or Sheva if your playing online and P2) and you have been sent to the city of Kijuju on a BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) mission to investigate on a terrorist threat with Umbrella B.O.W.’s (Bio Organic Weapons). You meet up with your contact fellow BSAA agent Sheva Alomar who is native to the surrounding area and will serve as not only your guide, but your partner.

You are also accompanied by Alpha Team to work together to stop the illegal weapons deal that involves former Umbrella weaponry. You are looking for a man named Irving who is seemingly the beacon of this deal in Kijuju. Irving is a known terrorism weapons dealer and has been tracked to Kijuju, Africa. After you get your information and supplies from your local contact known simply as The Butcher you go on to witness two villagers force a small object into another villagers mouth which he swallows reluctantly and in mere seconds is turned into a Majini. If you played RE4 you remember that Ashley was infected with Las Plagas virus throughout the game, but you were able to cure her before it could overtake her mind and body. That was a long amount of hours from her contact with the parasite and still being able to kill it off. In RE5 it takes mere seconds for the parasite to overtake the human body. This creates a much harder challenge. They infected Majini also are stronger, faster and work with better organization than Las Ganados. To fill you into the lingo of the past two games, Las Ganados are basically first tier Plagas infected which takes from hours to days to force the host to succumb to it. The Majini however, are a second tier and are much stronger, faster and succumb in mere seconds after infection. They are also more violent and powerful and have varied mutations in their hosts. One variation bursts from the head of the infected and swings around trying to hit you (known as Cephalo), another bursts from the body completely and takes flight (known as Kipepeo), and the final blows the body up above the torso and attempts to eat your character (known as Duvalia). So needless to say, Las Plagas has evolved.

From here you must continue your mission to retrieve whatever Irving has and also to stop him from whatever he is doing. The parasite has been apparently synthesized and matured so that it is able to infect and overtake the host’s body almost immediately and now you’re facing a stronger enemy that wants nothing more than to cut you six ways to Sunday. Your only hope is that you and your partner are able to be strong enough to take down this new threat.

Gameplay:

RE5 delivers well, but not without its own falters. Let’s look at the good first, shall we? The game has a great upgrading system that allows you to make a pistol that can take down huge enemies with small amounts of fire. You can upgrade your critical hits chances; reload time, and even magazine size in the same style as RE4. Sheva’s AI is fantastic and by far one of the best AI components in gaming history. She does relatively nothing incorrectly, she watches your ass and most importantly she actually heals you! I know, an AI character that has some brains is rare, but Sheva is by far one of the best AI’s I have come across. She conserves her ammo, she watches you and makes sure that any enemies in your area are downed ASAP and most importantly she actually listens to your commands. Sheva knows when to back off and flee and will even dust your ass in the free for all get the hell outta here moments.

The weapons are variable and fire wonderfully. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but ammo conservation is seriously important in this game and head shots are a must. You’ll find your pistol and shotgun most accurate, but the machine guns are reserved for bosses or large groups of Majini that you’re forced to fight. Also having a side weapon (machete) helps fight singular Majini so you don’t have to waste precious ammo on them. It takes one or two headshots to take them down, compared to about four or five chest shots. When a Majini grabs you it sends you into a mini battle when you must shake the left stick back and forth to shove them off of you. When you hit a Majini down to the ground and they don’t die you can stomp on them to finish the job. If your partner is being restrained by a Majini, press B to knock off their attacker. With the basic Majini suppressed you really need to pay attention to the stronger majini (i.e. the Executioner, Big Man, Giant) who can take an over the top amount of damage.

The game advances wonderfully allowing you to back track a decent amount in case you missed anything. The aiming for your weapons is still very good and it's easy to get many head shots. Finding ammo and other items is pretty good and somewhat easy to find throughout the game. While the ammo and whatnot is easy to come around you use it quickly and you really must keep conservative with your rounds.

Now, onto the unfortunate bad, with today’s upgrades and abilities that gaming allows you would think they would let you do simple things, things like shoot and move at the same time. I know, it is so hard to do two motor functions at the same time, but I think in 2009 we can achieve that goal. On that note as well, attempting to take cover is pretty much useless. Nearly all of your enemies use CQC kind of weapons or their own fists and claws. You more need to rely on your speed and agility as well as your accuracy with your weapons. You’ve got to stay sharp with your weapons. The inability to use duel motor functions really keeps this game from total greatness just a little and the terrible cover system doesn’t help either.

The other big problem is a bulky inefficient items area for your characters. It is small and difficult to deal with during fights. You can use the four directional pad buttons (left, right, down, up) to switch items/weapons quickly, but it would have been better to utilize all eight directions for easier item use.

Other than those minor problems the gameplay is very solid. The weapons are easy to use and the game is quick paced allowing you a good eight to fifteen hours depending on your difficulty. The gameplay is awesome and very enjoyable and definitely up to date minus the few flaws. It is still Resident Evil and it is still amazing and delivers great gameplay.

Graphics:

The graphics are really great. Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar are well defined and have great characteristics. Chris has a 5 o’clock shadow that is well done and both Chris and Sheva have awesome muscle definition. The Majini are just as good looking and there are many different styled copies so that you don’t feel like your fighting the same three looking characters. All the boss and mini boss characters look bad ass to say the least, add that in with the beautiful graphics of the landscape and structures and this looks scary real.

The lighting effects are simply wonderful. The game itself is straight up a beauty in the graphics department. The definition of everything and lighting effects added in with the pure ecstasy of the Resident Evil environment and this adds up into a big graphical love.

Sound:

The sounds are utilized very well. The weapons have distinct sounds and the Majini are defined in their mob rambling. All the enemies have distinct sounds and the musical scores fit perfectly into each and every experience. The sounds and music fit each and every scene and leave you in the grip of the moment each time. You feel your muscles pulsate in each battle and the sound instills all kinds of fear into your system to the point that you feel exhausted, but you continue to go on.

The sound is simply one of the best and most attractive features of the game. The quality of the sound is astounding and one of the best I have had the chance to check out in a long time. With the game itself being very exceptional and the addition of this quality of sound creates for a fun and exciting game.

Replay:

With the online co-op play added in with the single player campaign and the upcoming match making multiplayer need I really say more? The game offers a lot of incentive to keep playing it and when its RE do you really need more than that? The game truly has expanded upon the Resident Evil series into a great online player and a multiplayer for RE and match making coming, how can you not be interested in playing it over and over?

Final Analysis:

The game is one of the best of the series. It expands upon the actual series of games (not RE: Outbreak series or RE: Umbrella Chronicles) and fallows our favorite characters in Chris Redfield and several others I won’t name as to spoil the game for you. With the addition of the new character Sheva Alomar, it expands our knowledge of the Resident Evil world. It explains the BSAA and gives a wonderful synopsis of how the T-Virus and such were in fact created and information about the RE series up to this game.

The graphics and sound effects are some of the most effective and best utilized among games today. The sheer magnitude of awesomeness is unparalleled to most games out today and it is what truly makes this Resident Evil game a Resident Evil game. The graphics are perfectly shaded and built in such a wonderful run down look that really makes the area realistic. The fictional city of Kijuju is set up wonderfully and landscaped to pretty much perfection. The sound effects are strewn and weaved into a wonderful web that created this great game.

Resident Evil 5 is a culmination of everything you love and know about the series and expands further into Las Plagas virus story and turns the page into the next chapter of the Resident Evil saga. This game is astounding and one of the best survival horror games ever made easily. You get a much wanted reunion with Chris Redfield and a fresh face to the epic in Sheva who also contributes very well to the game and to the series as a whole. This game is well worth any price and is a game that not only will get fans of the series, but will also get those not exposed to the series (if there are any) and give them that extra boost to try it out. The game is a must own and simply the best bang for the buck right now. It will go down as a great game and by God it is a damn good one.

	Completed Chapter 1 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 1 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 1 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 1 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 2 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 2 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 2 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 2 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 2 - 3	15
	Complete Chapter 2 - 3 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 3 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 3 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 3 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 3 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 3 - 3	15
	Complete Chapter 3 - 3 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 4 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 4 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 4 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 4 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 5 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 5 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 5 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 5 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 5 - 3	15
	Complete Chapter 5 - 3 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 6 - 1	15
	Complete Chapter 6 - 1 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 6 - 2	15
	Complete Chapter 6 - 2 on any difficulty setting.
	Completed Chapter 6 - 3	15
	Complete Chapter 6 - 3 on any difficulty setting.
	Recruit	15
	Complete all chapters on Amateur.
	Soldier	15
	Complete all chapters on Normal.
	Veteran	30
	Complete all chapters on Veteran.
	War Hero	70
	Complete all chapters on the most difficult setting.
	Egg Hunt	15
	Find all 4 types of eggs.
	All Dressed Up	30
	Purchase all available alternative costumes in Bonus Features.
	Stockpile	30
	Obtain all available weapons.
	Take It to the Max	30
	Completely upgrade all weapons.
	They Belong in a Museum	30
	Obtain all treasures in the game.
	Badge of Honor	30
	Find all the BSAA emblems.
	They're ACTION Figures!	30
	Collect all the figurines.
	A Friend in Need	15
	Save partner 10 times when HELP is displayed.
	Lifeguard	15
	Save partner 10 times when DYING is displayed.
	Exploding Heads	15
	Pull off 20 headshots.
	A Cut Above	15
	Defeat 5 enemies with the Knife.
	Cattle Prod	15
	Defeat 30 enemies with the Stun rod.
	Crowd Control	15
	Defeat 30 enemies with the Gatling gun.
	Bull's-eye	15
	Defeat 30 enemies with the Longbow.
	Get Physical	15
	Defeat 20 enemies with physical attacks.
	The Works	15
	Chain the maximum number of combos together in one go.
	Lead Aspirin	30
	Defeat a Majini with a headshot while it's jumping.
	Fireworks	15
	Shoot an enemy Molotov cocktail, dynamite stick, or hand grenade.
	Be the Knife	60
	Deflect a bow gun arrow with your knife.
	Meat Shower	15
	Defeat 3 Majini with one grenade or proximity bomb.
	Go into the Light	15
	Defeat 2 enemies with one flash grenade.
	Ride the Lightning	15
	Defeat a Majini using the electric current from a transformer.
	Stop, Drop, & Roll	15
	Defeat 3 Majini at once by setting oil canisters on fire.
	Baptism by Fire	15
	Defeat 3 Majini at once with a drum or gas tank explosion.
	Masters of Removing	15
	Work together to save someone special.
	Bad Blood	15
	Inflict a set amount of damage to your greatest enemy.
	Drive By	30
	Stop an armored truck by taking out the driver.
	Egg on Your Face	15
	Defeat a Majini with a rotten egg.
	Heart Stopper	15
	Defeat a certain enemy by stabbing it in the heart.
	Who Do You Trust?	30
	Build up a certain level of trust with your partner.