Granted, some things have changed over the years. Granted, the title of “greatest Resident Evil game” is a hotly contested topic among diehard fans, but this should be seen as a positive sign. If people seem to have trouble deciding which is the best, surely the developers of the video game have consistently dedicated themselves to achieving a high standard of quality. Of course, one of the biggest draws for any game is found in its visual appeal and gameplay. This is one area where Resident Evil 5 shines brightly, without a doubt. Detailed textures in the hair and musculature of characters, dynamic physics and luscious bump-mapping, lifelike animations and intense lighting – the list of graphical goodies is virtually endless. There can be little doubt that Resident Evil 5 has never looked as good as it does on the PC, making this title an outstanding tool for tech demos, or just showing off the power of your processor. Moreover in Resident Evil 5, the number of weapon variations has been greatly increased compared to the previous games in the series; there are now several varieties of the handgun, shotgun, submachine gun and rifle to choose from.

Change can be a painful process. Just ask one of the unfortunate citizens of Kijuju, the fictional region of Africa that serves as the setting of Resident Evil 5, the latest entry in Capcom’s ongoing zombie videogame saga. A power-mad corporation’s evolutionary manipulations have caused a biological disaster that turns people into mindless hosts for a military-grade parasitic infection. And you thought the Swine Flu was nasty.

The citizens of Kijuju are going through some ugly changes, many of which involve tentacles, oozing eyeballs and heretofore unexplored bloodlust. And, as is the custom in a Resident Evil game, you drop into the situation woefully underprepared for what awaits. The resulting experience is an intense, action-packed adventure replete with satisfying combat, tight game play and gorgeous, well-crafted environments. Resident Evil 5 offers all those things and then some, but it doesn’t do many of the things longtime fans of the series expect. It won’t scare you. It won’t fill you with creeping desperation. It won’t have you collecting and counting bullets like they’re precious stones. It won’t, in essence, make you feel like you’re playing a traditional Resident Evil game. But still, it doesn’t take away the credit from the game that it lawfully deserves!

Review Scoring Details for Resident Evil 5

Gameplay: 9.5
Though you can’t run around while firing blindly at incoming zombies, that only makes the experience more harrowing. Great use of varied mechanics and a multitude of gameplay scenarios.

Graphics: 10.0
With a well-powered PC, this is one of the prettiest games out there. Prepare to be amazed.

Sound: 9.0
Great foley work, and the ambience really lends itself nicely to the atmosphere of… well, horror.

Difficulty: Medium
There are definitely some frustrating moments, but the challenge is mostly reasonable.

Concept: 8.5
A sequel perhaps, but a triumph all the same.

Multiplayer: 9.0
This is one co-op experience you will not soon forget. Hopefully the console “versus” element will become available later on.

Overall: 9.3
Resident Evil 5 isn’t exactly perfect, but it’s so close, none of its flaws upset the experience as a whole. Buy it for yourself, but bring a friend for maximum enjoyment.

One of the big frustrations with the console version of RE5 was the inventory system. For newcomers, the system takes some getting used to, because there are limits on how many objects can be carried around. Searching and scavenging are still an important part of the game, of course, and you’ll still be trying to conserve your ammunition as much as possible. That being said, the keyboard makes item selection a breeze. Instead of cycling around with a console controller, you just tap a button to whip out your shotgun, and you’re good to go. Another positive aspect of the PC is the good old mouse control, making aiming and firing at incoming zombies far less frustrating. These improvements might not come as a surprise, but they are certainly welcome and may even persuade console players to give the PC version a try.