It didn’t seem like it at the time, but Resident Evil 5 was the game that put the franchise in an identity crisis for an ongoing seven years. To put it in a nutshell, the strong sales, addictive cooperative gameplay, and fulfilling tenseness put Capcom in an awkward spot for fans who wanted the series to divulge into classic horror roots, resulting in the mess that many consider to be Resident Evil 6.
Now, countless spinoffs, episodic titles, and DLC packs later, Resident Evil 5 is now part of Capcom’s remaster package for current gen consoles, serving as a sort of middle ground for casual players. And the game wasn’t just heralded for it’s graphics back then, but can it go beyond that and rebel against the naysayers who don’t think it will stand the test of time? Here’s our verdict on whether a simple remaster did zombie-killing justice.
Gameplay:
You know when a game makes a turret section the exact opposite of novel, you’re in for a good time, and this is exactly the case with the action packed portions of Resident Evil 5. Melee is hard-hitting, and the cover works no matter where you are. And while you won’t expect the same one bullet no miss mentality of the past titles, the gunplay is rather extensive, ranging across a sea of upgrades.
The game however, could be a lot firmer with it’s use of AI. The bosses all have their range of challenging encounters, and each horde has it’s own push of invigoration. Playing alone, can yield a much different story, especially with in-game companions. Imagine the annoyingness of an escort mission, compounded into unresourceful weapon management. It’s almost like the exact opposite of Ellie from The Last of Us.
Story & Design:
Another flaw that weakens the game is the controls. Unlike a game like Mirror’s Edge where they take time getting used to and flow perfectly, Resident Evil 5’s make my hand cramp as bad as sprinting continuously in Call of Duty. This is a major setback for anyone who wants to spend a couple hours with buddies grinding through zombie hordes, icepacks not included.
The story is wholly forgettable, from beginning to end. Have you ever watched an action movie and ponder why a character made such a stupid decision? Expect to gain these sentiments a lot more. Dialogue is less cheesy and contrived, but they are still weak and devoid of true conflict or characterization.
Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:
However, graphics buffs will still have reasons to watch the game’s cinematic sequences. The game runs at a full 1080/60 and adds a level of visual finesse that doesn’t always cooperate with a remaster. QTE’s still don’t feel as upgraded though, and I definitely found myself battling with the clunkiness/awkwardness of them in the otherwise fast gameplay.
However, Capcom did add a considerable amount of extra content, with Mercenaries, and DLC that was included with the original release. None of it is as mind-blowing as the Raid Mode in Revelations 2, but it still is worthy to be included into the main package. (Besides for the story, that is)
Conclusion:
Resident Evil 5 is an acceptable, compelling, but not immediately outstanding addition to the franchise. The remaster certainly doesn’t give it that underrated feel, but if you happen to come across it in a sale or packed with another RE game, it’s definitely worth a shot. And if you’re bored during the summer, why not give zombie-killing another shot?
Resident Evil 5 gets a 7/10 (Average)
We’d like to thank Capcom for giving us a code!
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