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PS3 | Action | Resident Evil 5

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 09/15/2008
Genre: Action
Number of Players:
ESRB Rating: R/P
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AVG USER SCORE 4.7
AVG CRITIC SCORE n/a

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Preview: The 18 biggest surprises in Resident Evil 5

Preview by Todd Melick | 04/22/2008 | 16:21:30 PM PST

Resident Evil 5 is one of the most talked-about gaming sequels, but most previews have only scratched the surface. GamePro editors Todd Melick and Sid Shuman have researched every screenshot, video, and interview to bring you a definitive list of known facts...and new theories.

Resident Evil 5 is the latest game in a series that has defined and mastered the "survival-horror" game genre. Players guide a lone human, in this case a former special forces member, through a hostile environment teeming with vicious zombie-like adversaries. The game is played from a behind-the-shoulder view, and you use the analog stick to aim at and shoot enemies with a variety of high-powered weapons. You'll need to fight off constant attacks from hordes of enemies and keep a close watch on your supplies and ammunition in order to survive this Evil.

Resident Evil 5 will be released simultaneously on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. When? We don't know, but we're guessing early-to-mid 2009 based on the utter lack of updates from Capcom. Resident Evil 5 will also be the first multi-platform launch for a Resident Evil game ever.

Africa is the confirmed location of RE5.

Resident Evil 5 is officially set in Africa. This has been a lingering point of confusion, with gamers and writers guessing Haiti, the Caribbean, and a host of other tropical locales based on the early videos. But Resident Evil 5's producer recently set the record straight. In an interview with Famitsu, Jun Takeuchi explains that Resident Evil 5 is set in Africa because it is considered the cradle of humanity...and thus, we presume, an excellent chance to explore inhuman themes as well.

We're betting this is a Las Plagas victim.

The Las Plagas will likely return. Takeuchi says that Resident Evil 5's designers "wanted to show the origins of the virus" in Resident Evil 5, though he doesn't specify which virus. The bioengineered T-virus (as well as its G and NE-T variants) is a reoccurring "villain" in the Resident Evil games, turning humans into shambling zombies and animals into grotesque mutations. But Resident Evil 4 changed the formula by focusing on a new threat: the Las Plagas, a prehistoric parasite that grows inside its host and controls its actions. Though Las Plagas hosts are zombie-like, they tend to be faster and more intelligent than the old-school T-virus zombies from early RE games.

Judging by the evidence we've seen, we think it's a safe bet that the Las Plagas will return as the chief threat in Resident Evil 5. In the trailers, note the glowing eyes of the African villagers; this is a known symptom of Las Plagas infection, along with extreme sensitivity to light. According to RE4, Las Plagas is commonly spread via injections; in the RE5 trailer, you can see a man bleeding from his eyes after being injected with an unknown substance. Finally, Las Plagas hosts retain their speed and agility...and as you can see, the villagers in RE5 are quite a speedy bunch.

Don't get mobbed!

Enemy mobs will play a larger role. Judging by early video andscreens, and considering the processing power of next-gen systems, these mobs will only get larger in Resident Evil 5. These mobs are likely to shift combat dynamics, too, as players may no longer be able to charge head first into a confrontation. Tackling 10 enemies with a handgun is one thing; tackling 100 is quite another. We're thinking that evasion will play a bigger role in RE5 than in any other RE game. Metal Gear Evil? Only Capcom knows the truth.

There's more than one way to tackle this.

A less linear gameplay style. Early footage shows a sweeping environment that appears to have multiple paths, a distinct change from Resident Evil 4's mostly one-path-fits-all approach. The winding alleys and paths of the village look like they will provide a multitude of choices for the players to get to their goal, placing a greater emphasis on strategy.

The weapons look more realistic.

A wide array of powerful, realistic firearms. From the screens we've seen, these guns - including the SPAS 12 shotgun, Colt 1911 handgun, and FN SCAR assault rifle -- are modeled more closely on real-life guns (as opposed to Resident Evil 4's mostly fictional weaponry) and will be available earlier in the game. Realistic weapons will appeal to both series fans and newcomers. Making these weapons available early in the game will also place a greater emphasis on modding, a philosophy shared by Metal Gear Solid 4.

Hand-to-hand combat gets an upgrade.

More robust hand-to-hand combat. Details are still scarce, but we know that Resident Evil 5 will offer a more robust melee combat system. In his interview with Famitsu, Takeuchi says the game play will be similar to Resident Evil 4, but that the designers will "include a system that is unique." He also says that the "quick time event" sequences from RE4, where players must tap specific buttons to defeat an enemy or escape from danger, will return and that they are increasing the number of variations.