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Resident Evil 5: What We Know

By Travis Moses
March 03, 2008 12:03 PM PST
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We have no exclusive; no hands-on; no live demo to reference, but an extended trailer and plenty of screenshots offer more than enough detail to arrive at some at hard facts about Resident Evil 5.

THE ENEMIES

Just like in RE4, enemies will throw knives that you can shoot down in mid-flight.

The enemies in RE5 are not zombies per say, nor are they apart of the Los Illuminados cult from RE4. If RE5 does in fact take place in Haiti, it's likely that Voodoo plays a significant role in the "zombism" of the Haitian people. It is Voodoo phenomenon within Haitian culture that the dead can be reanimated by black-magic sorcerers.

THE GAMEPLAY

An over-the-shoulder camera system is the sweet spot for RE5.

The core feel of RE5 is similar to RE4, using an over-the-shoulder camera to navigate through the game. The close-quarters combat system has been improved upon by adding intense struggle moments between Redfield and enemies, the ability to dodge knife swipes, and a mega punch to disperse crowds of encroaching "zombies." Temperature and sunlight will also play a key role in the game. Just like in real life, sudden exposure to bright light will render Redfield temporarily blind until his eyes adjust, and over exposure to the sun will cause him to hallucinate.

THE SETTING

Haitian Voodoo? We hope so.

RE5 takes place 10 years after the events of Resident Evil 4. Leon Kennedy, however, is a no show. Back from the original Resident Evil, the main playable character is former S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield. The official location is still unknown, but rumors and speculation point to the Caribbean country of Haiti. Oddly enough, RE5 incorporates heavy use of bright daylight, a first for the gloomy series.