Resident Evil 5

After almost endless delays the stupidly hyped Resident Evil 5 has come knocking on our doors! Was it worth it? Honestly... Of course it was, no matter how many growing numbers preceed the title this franchise is always going to have a huge following. Not because we're all jumping on the wagon like a dog missing it's masters leg, but because Resident Evil is a great game and hopefully it always will be though there are a few things that I'm going to be brutally honest about as it isn't all good news and I'm a devote fan!

Be prepared to grind your teeth with frustration at the irritating aiming system, I think it's safe to say we're all getting fed up with having to be glued to the spot whilst lifting a gun! Why on earth the developers thought a gun toting statue would enhance gameplay is beyond me, what's wrong with being able to fire off the hip? you cant even walk backwards and fire! I know many are going to hate me for saying all this and sure side-stepping and hip shooting… more »

After almost endless delays the stupidly hyped Resident Evil 5 has come knocking on our doors! Was it worth it? Honestly... Of course it was, no matter how many growing numbers preceed the title this franchise is always going to have a huge following. Not because we're all jumping on the wagon like a dog missing it's masters leg, but because Resident Evil is a great game and hopefully it always will be though there are a few things that I'm going to be brutally honest about as it isn't all good news and I'm a devote fan!

Be prepared to grind your teeth with frustration at the irritating aiming system, I think it's safe to say we're all getting fed up with having to be glued to the spot whilst lifting a gun! Why on earth the developers thought a gun toting statue would enhance gameplay is beyond me, what's wrong with being able to fire off the hip? you cant even walk backwards and fire! I know many are going to hate me for saying all this and sure side-stepping and hip shooting are really for FPS's but come on guys you must agree a little? Then we come to your NPC ally 'Sheva', I don't think it would be possible to have a more useless and annoying aid as she somehow manages to get in the way almost constantly and has a habit of absorbing fatal blows in Boss battles meaning all your careful work had gone to waste, however! The new character interface is brilliant to use, very simple, fast and efficient and although NPC backup is an occasional pain it is a great change to gameplay creating a new formula of strategy to the many, many confrontations that lie before you! For all the moans I have, connect to XboxLive and the co-op experience is re-defined in an instant and my mouth is forever glued shut, I promise! Without a doubt one of the best titles for cooperative gaming to date and being able to share such an in-depth game with a friend is fantastic fun and provides a much more enjoyable experience. I would advise first time gamers to play with other first time gamers as to avoid the online clans habit of telling you the story before you know it yourself, you have been warned!

Don't misunderstand me, I still love every aspect of Res5 but I wish it wouldn't be so afraid of change, Res4 was massively different and was a global phenomenon and there's opportunity for that here though these small complaints may hold it back a touch!

Enough of complaining though as I don't like slating a game that is awesome in it's own right! The visuals are beautifully crisp and gameplay is fluid, furious and very, very violent, exactly what us Res fans want from Capcom, many thanks guys! Sound effects are terrific (massively so on 5:1!), from the all out gun fights to simply creeping around a dark corridor and hearing your own footsteps... or something else's?! As always, Resident Evil's immersion factor is off the chart! After the first 5 minutes of play you won't want to turn off your console in anticipation of what lies ahead.

So to sum up, firstly to Res fans out there who may be plotting to rip the skin off my back for a few negative comments, Sorry but I'm a critic!... Resident Evil 5 though is a fabulous title that fans are going to salivate over and newcomers be made converted to the franchise! Capcom's brainchild is still going from Strength to Strength and this is the penultimate icing on the series so far. Once again, lights off, surround sound up high and charge the battery packs for a hideously graphic and mammothly enjoyable thrill ride! Go for it, everyone!