Game Review: Resident Evil 5

"Fear You Can't Forget." That's what Capcom is promising for the latest installment of their epic Resident Evil franchise. With over 15 games already produced, 34.5 million copies sold (total sales of all Resident Evil games), and 13 years experience, when the king of survival horror makes a promise such as this, one certainly expects them to deliver. After all, these are the creators of a franchise that had us afraid to turn out the lights when we played it back in the day; had us afraid to enter the next room for fear of what lay behind each door, only going forward because of our desire to progress the story; had us standing in one spot for five minutes listening intently while trying to figure out how many of what type of enemy was in the room with us. That was fear (and fun) that you can't forget. What Resident Evil 5 brings us is fast-paced action mixed with an over-the-top story and entertaining gameplay. Not a bad game, but not what one would expect from the inventors of the survival horror genre.

Gameplay: Resident Evil 5 is a game that was designed and built with the multiplayer aspect in mind. In my opinion this takes away any inkling of fear that this game had to offer in the first place (there is something about being alone with limited supplies during a zombie apocalypse that really instills dread in a person), but there is no sense in beating a dead zombie, so back to the gameplay. The game is meant to be played with a friend watching your back at all times, either online via Xbox live or on the same system via split-screen. The split-screen mode is unique in that it is not so much split as it is two smaller screen individually separated on one larger screen. It’s hard to explain, but once you see it you'll instantly understand why Capcom chose this. In a game where you get attacked from all angles, it is essential to have a panoramic view at all times to avoid any unnecessary frustration. Although, like all other online next generation multiplayer games, it is at its best when played online so that you get a larger and uncompromised view of what you are doing. Resident Evil 5 can be played alone, but there is always an AI partner with you during the game. This is more often frustrating than not because the AI is rather incompetent and ends up becoming more of a mule to haul items than a clutch lookout that you can count on in tight spots. The single player campaign would have probably been better off without this (there was no AI partner in Resident Evil 4 and that seemed to work out for everyone). Other than that, the game functions well as a whole. The pacing keeps it moving along nicely and keeps it entertaining throughout. The checkpoints are spaced well too and a death never feels too cumbersome as you don’t have retread too far to get back to where you were. As for the controls, they are pretty solid and didn’t seem to ever be a problem (except for the lame cover system which seldom worked right and seemed like in was tacked on in an effort to capitalize on the success of Gears of War). One other thing I noticed was the HUD. Your health and weapon selection (as well as your partners) are permanently displayed on the screen and I found this to be annoying at times. I understand why its there, but it has been the trend lately to try and eliminate the HUD from gameplay view and Resident Evil 5 doesn’t even bother to try and go along with this. Not to mention the fact that the older games didn't display any in-game HUD information, instead opting to keep it only accessible through the pause menu. In Resident Evil 5 this info is displayed constantly and it really takes away from the game at times, staying in the corner as a subtle reminder that you are playing a video game rather than participating in a immersive experience.

Graphics & Sound: The graphics in Resident Evil 5 are nothing short of stunning. It is evident that Capcom put a lot of effort into polishing this game until it shined. Everything looks fantastic, from the character models to the environments and it looks so real that I no longer feel the need to visit Africa to take in the sights (especially after seeing the welcoming that the natives gave to Chris and Sheva). The lighting effects are also really great in this game and there is a noticeable transition every time you move from a dark indoor area into the brightly lit outdoors, just like there would be in real life.

The sound and music are also really good. They do a nice job of adding to the action packed, tense experience as well as helping to move the game along the way that it was designed. The voice acting is a bad at times and some of the characters seem more ridiculous than believable, but seeing as this is a Japanese game, a bit of cheesy voice acting here and there is to be expected. And considering how far it has come from the narratives of older games in the franchise (Jill sandwich anyone?) it is really not all that bad.

Achievements: If you own an Xbox 360 like me and even care about this sort of thing, then here is a section devoted entirely to the achievements of the game. The Achievements of Resident Evil 5 may not be that creative or appealing, but they are pretty straight forward and can be obtained without too much frustration. They are like the achievements found in most other action shooters and the majority of them can be collected in just one playthough. Achievements are awarded for simply beating each stage as well as completing certain tasks during play, such as defeating 3 majini with one well placed grenade. The harder ones consist of beating the game on the more difficult settings as well as finding collectibles like the BSAA emblems and the in-game treasures. The most time-consuming achievement is probably the one called "Take It to the Max" which requires you to max out all of your weapon's stats. This may not sound all that difficult, but when you realize that there are over 15 weapons and each one can take a considerable amount of cash to upgrade, you're looking at a 20 - 40 hour time investment for one achievement. The good news is that it is incredibly fun and addictive to upgrade your weapons and an additional award for each fully upgraded gun is the ability to unlock unlimited ammo for that weapon in the bonus features of the game, so you'll probably end up doing it for fun and getting an achievement in the process. The fact that it is an online multiplayer game makes the process of getting this achievement all the more enjoyable. Resident Evil 5 is an entertaining way to beef up your gamerscore and a guaranteed 1,000 points if you are willing to put in the work. If you are a fan of the series and are constantly looking to inflate your gamerscore, than I definitely recommend playing this game.

Final Thoughts: The Resident Evil series has been around a long time and has always managed to entertain (even the underrated Outbreak series which didn't seem to be a big hit among most gamers). Evolution is a natural part of any long lasting process, but sometimes it is not always for the better (just ask the T-Virus). Resident Evil 5 is a great game in its own right, but it just doesn't feel like a true Resident Evil game and frankly I find that to be rather disappointing. Maybe it's just me, but I think Capcom really needs to bring back the zombies and return to its survival horror roots that made the franchise so popular in the first place. Ever since the release of the first Resident Evil movie, the series seems to have been on a downward spiral and now it seems the game are starting to follow suit. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for a good action game, but not one that promises "Fear That You Can't Forget" and fails to make good on that promise. According to an interview with Resident Evil 5 producer Jun Takeuchi, the next game in the series will be a complete reboot. Here's hoping that they inject the fear back into Resident Evil and resurrect the unique feel that the series used to offer.

Final Recommendation: If you're a Fan than Buy It, Otherwise Rent It.

Game Review: Halo Wars

When I first heard about the development of Halo Wars my initial reaction was a mix of excitement and concern. Usually when a company tries to capitalize on the success of a franchise by licensing it out to someone other than the original creator to produce, the result is often not one of quality. And with this being developer Ensemble Studios' swan song, the potential for failure was all the more great (or not, depending on how the employees take the closing of their company). The demo was released via Xbox Live back in early February and was met with record breaking success, with more than 2 million being in downloaded the first five days of availability. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the game is good, it just means that people are interested. Well, having now played through Halo Wars I can now officially say that there is no reason to be disappointed. Here is why...

Gameplay: Like any other RTS (real-time strategy) game, the focus of Halo Wars is to build armies and face off against your rival faction, in this case the Covenant. Each level is a square section of land that houses your base as well as the base (or bases) of your rival. There is also a top-down point of view and an emphasis on selecting and managing units of your army. Unlike any other RTS game, there is more of a focus on action in Halo Wars. Being that the Halo series started as a first-person shooter and came to fame that way, it is no wonder that Halo Wars tries to keep the action fast paced and the gameplay equally engaging. And it does succeed. That Halo feel that can be found in all other Halo games is also really evident. All the familiar characters models, sounds, environments, vehicles and other trademarks appear, making it really easy to get absorbed into the Halo universe of this game. Even the ever popular skulls are back this time around; there is one to collect in each stage. Ensemble did a really good job of making sure that this game stayed true to the series. The narrative is also really engaging and makes it hard to stop playing when the story really gets going (around mission #8). The only real complaint I have is that the controls get a little sketchy at times, making it hard to directly select the unit that you intended to. Ensemble tried to counter this by adding a "select all units" button (LB button), but that is only useful if you are conducting an all out assault, not if you want certain units to stay back and guard the base.

Graphics & Sound: The graphics in this game are bittersweet. On the one hand the cut scenes are among the best graphics I have ever seen, period. Better than most (if not all) Hollywood CGI movies, the cut scenes could have easily been stitched together and sold as a standalone DVD movie based on the Halo universe. They really add to the narrative of the game and had me anticipating the end of each level just so I could watch the cut scene of the next. The one in particular where the Spartans and Elites face off is so entertaining that I will probably go back and watch it multiple times before my interest with this game is over. On the other hand the in-game graphics could have definitely used some polish. It was as if Ensemble used up all the disk space with the gorgeous cut scenes and left no room for the in-game graphics which were flat and bland at times, especially up close. The sound, as I mentioned before, is reminiscent of all Halo games and really shines when rolled into the overall experience. Try going to a different section of the map when an all out battle is raging and you can hear the distant explosions of the conflict. It's the little details like that which make the game all the more enjoyable.

Achievements: If you own an Xbox 360 like me and even care about this sort of thing, then here is a section devoted entirely to the achievements of the game. The achievements of Halo Wars are surprisingly varied an can be entertaining to collect. There are achievements for tasks such as collecting all skulls (Graverobber) as well as achievements for simply progressing the story (Ugly is only Skin Deep). Each level also has an achievement for completing a set task while playing it. They are only worth five points each, but can be rather enjoyable to get. After all, who doesn't like to run down Grunts in a Warthog. There are 50 achievements and all can be gotten in roughly 30-40 hours and a couple of playthroughs. Well almost all. There is one in particular (Running the Show) which requires a great amount of time and dedication to obtain and will most likely be skipped by most. For this achievement you need obtain the rank of general, (3,200,000 exp. points) on Xbox Live. Initially it doesn't sound too difficult until you factor in time needed to achieve this. Each match can last up to two hours and only net around 2,000 - 3,000 points. After you do the math and realize that this 50 point achievement could take several hundred hours, suddenly that molehill starts to look more and more like Mt. Everest. If you are a completionist and must get every achievement that a game has to offer, than I suggest steering clear of Halo Wars because of the time investment it requires. If however, you can live with only having 950/1000 points and are looking for an enjoyable way to build up your gamerscore, then by all means go out and get this game.

Final Thoughts: While at first glance Halo Wars seemed like it was destined to be a major disappointment from a company who was on the way out, it in fact turned out to be a parting gift from a much respected developer. Even though Ensemble is sadly no longer around and this will unfortunately be their last game, they stayed true to their fans and put out a Halo inspired game that fits right in with all of its older brothers and sisters. If you are a fan of the Halo franchise and don't mind the occasional real-time strategy game, then you should run out ASAP and pick up Halo Wars. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Final Recommendation: Buy It and Keep It

Game Review: Dead Space

Survival horror is a genre that has been around for quite some time (13 years to be exact) and has seen many different incarnations, some great and others not so much. Starting with Resident Evil back in 1996, survival horror stepped out into the video game world and was an instant success. Like most genres, this one has evolved over the years in order to continue to appeal to the video gaming masses. Over the last few years there has been a survival horror slump though. With mediocre games like Silent Hill: Homecoming and Alone in the Dark representing it, there has not been much in the way of quality entertainment for fans of the genre. Dead Space changes all that though. Although some have argued that it infuses a heavy dose of action into the survival horror gameplay mechanic, this potential franchise has given the genre a much needed upgrade it needed to keep survival horror alive and well.

Gameplay: The gameplay of Dead Space is pretty straight forward. You control deep space engineer Isaac Clarke through the seemingly derelict space ship The USG Ishimura and try to keep him alive throughout the narrative of the game. There are a limited number of supplies (like most survival horror games) and a fair amount of weapons to fend off foes, so discretion in item use is necessary. The story itself is pretty entertaining. Although there is some occasion backtracking and the quests do seem to get repetitive at times, overall it manages to flow smoothly and keep its appeal during the 12-15 hour long campaign. The controls scheme works well and the in-game menu interface borders on genius (even if it is hard to manipulate the 3D map at times). Also, this is a single player game which means it is best enjoyed alone, in a dark room with the sound turned up. Sorry, no all-out frag fests with your buddies this time.

Graphics & Sound: This game is polished and it shows. The graphics are nothing short of spectacular and the sound helps to give it that oh so creepy feeling that survival horror games are known for. The presentation of the game also works well. The screen is not cluttered up with displays or meters and everything you need to know during gameplay is either cleverly blended into the character models or is easily accessible. This new trend of giving games a cinematic feel by reducing unnecessary HUD clutter really adds to the experience and Dead Space makes great use of it. Overall the attention to detail is noticeable in this game and it really helps to immerse the player in the environment, making it all the more unnerving and adding to that "in space no one can you hear you scream" feeling. On that note, the use of sound while in space is another factor that works well in this game. The sounds effects made while in outer space are dulled and intended to remind the player that they are in a vacuum. In reality there could not be any noise made while in space, but the fact that the developer even acknowledged this and tried to implement it says more for the game than can be said for most Hollywood movies.

Achievements: If you own an Xbox 360 like me and even care about this sort of thing, then here is a section devoted entirely to the achievements of the game. The achievements for Dead Space are pretty straight forward and can all be gotten without too much effort or time invested. It might require multiple playthoughs, but since the game is well crafted as well as entertaining, this should be more of a pleasure than a burden. There is nothing innovative or revolutionary about the achievements found in this game as they are similar to many of the achievement tasks found in other adventure/action/horror games. You are rewarded for completing side tasks, killing enemies with a variety of weapons, and progressing through the story. Nothing too out of the ordinary. The most time consuming achievement is probably "Maxed Out" which requires you to upgrade all of your weapons and equipment. I managed to do this toward the end of my second playthough and enjoyed every second of it. If you are looking for a guaranteed 1,000 points (that is of course if you are dedicated to achieving it) and a great experience while boosting your gamerscore, than by all means pick up this game.

Final Thoughts: Dead Space is the much needed overall that survival horror was waiting for. It is the red/green herb mix to its S.T.A.R.S. member that will keep it from dying, resurrecting as the undead, and shambling around aimlessly in search of fresh victims to add to its unholy army. In the wake of so many uninspired games of its kind, Dead Space comes through and shows us that there is still hope for a genre that I have been an avid fan of since its emergence. Even though there are complaints of there being too much action and not enough survival or horror, it still serves its functions well and delivers an engrossing and entertaining sci-fi experience that can be had by all. Hopefully its appeal will be recognized and more tales of The USG Ishimura and crew will soon follow.

Final Recommendation: Buy It and Keep It