The Review: Sun, Guns, and Two-Player Fun
The Good: A Co-Op Revolution
Let's be clear: Resident Evil 5 is best experienced with a friend. The game’s core design is built around the partnership between the burly BSAA agent Chris Redfield and the local resourceful agent Sheva Alomar. Coordinating attacks, sharing ammo, and reviving each other in the heat of battle is an absolute blast. This co-op focus was a bold new direction for the series and remains the game's most celebrated feature.
The action is polished to a mirror shine. The over-the-shoulder combat from RE4 feels more responsive, the melee attacks are incredibly satisfying, and the set-pieces are huge, cinematic, and unforgettable. From battling a giant snake on a speeding truck to a final showdown on a volcano, the game constantly throws something new and exciting at you.
Beyond the campaign, The Mercenaries mode returns and is better than ever. This score-attack mini-game is ridiculously addictive, especially with a partner, and offers tons of replayability with its unlockable characters.
The Mixed: An Identity Crisis
For long-time fans, RE5 is where the series fully embraced its action identity, leaving much of its horror behind. The sun-drenched African setting, while visually stunning, lacks the creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere of the Spencer Mansion or Raccoon City. The fear of the unknown is replaced with the thrill of a firefight.
The inventory system, while strategic, can feel cumbersome in co-op. Managing nine slots in real-time while being swarmed by enemies is tense, but sometimes for the wrong reasons. This is especially true if you play solo—the AI partner, while serviceable, is infamous for wasting precious ammo and healing items.
Verdict:
Resident Evil 5 is a fantastic action game and a landmark co-op experience, but a poor survival-horror game. Its legacy is entirely dependent on how you play it. With a friend, it's an unforgettable ride. Solo, it's a fun but flawed action game that may disappoint those seeking scares.
5 Fascinating Facts You Might Not Know
- It Dethroned a King: Upon release, RE5 became Capcom's fastest-selling game ever, a record previously held by Street Fighter II.
- A Long Time Coming: The game's story serves as the epic conclusion to the saga of Albert Wesker and the Umbrella Corporation, a plotline that began in the very first Resident Evil in 1996.
- Motion Capture Magic: The character of Sheva was motion-captured and modeled after actress Karen Dyer, who also provided the voice.
- Next-Gen Powerhouse: In 2009, it was considered a graphical benchmark, pushing the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to their limits.
- Global Controversy: The game's depiction of a fictional African nation sparked discussions about racial stereotypes in video games.
Hidden Treasures: The Best Easter Eggs
RE5 is packed with secrets and callbacks for dedicated fans. Here are the best ones to look for:
(Image: Use a screenshot of the Jill boss fight, highlighting the device on her chest)
- The Jill Sandwich: If you leave your controller idle long enough, Sheva will sometimes quip, "I'm not about to become a Jill Sandwich!" This is a legendary callback to Barry Burton's cheesy line from the original Resident Evil.
- Unlock Jill's Gun: During the boss fight with Jill Valentine, you must remove her mind-control device. If you instead shoot the device until it breaks, you'll unlock her custom Samurai Edge pistol as a bonus weapon.
- The Laughing Majini: In Chapter 2-2, in the marshlands, keep an eye out for a specific Majini who will jump out of a shack, let out a manic "HAHAHAHA!" laugh, and run away. It's a brilliant nod to a similar enemy in RE4.
- Classic Costumes: Complete the game to unlock classic outfits. Chris gets his iconic S.T.A.R.S. uniform from RE1, and Sheva gets an outfit reminiscent of Ashley Graham from RE4.
- Mercenaries All-Stars: Getting high scores in The Mercenaries mode unlocks a roster of classic characters, including Barry Burton (with his giant Magnum) and Albert Wesker in his RE1 S.T.A.R.S. gear.
Can My PC Run It? System Requirements
The good news is that since RE5 is over a decade old, it can run on a wide range of PCs. These are the specs for the modern Remastered version (which includes all DLC and runs at 1080p/60fps).
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Specs | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz | Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD FX-8350 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560 | NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 760 or better |
| Storage | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
The Bottom Line: Most modern integrated graphics solutions and entry-level gaming PCs can handle Resident Evil 5 without any issues.
Conclusion
Resident Evil 5 remains a polarizing yet essential chapter in the iconic franchise. It may have traded shadows for sunlight and scares for shootouts, but it delivered one of the most memorable and fun co-op campaigns of its generation. Whether you're here for the action, the lore, or the secrets, there's no denying the impact of Chris and Sheva's journey through Kijuju.
What did YOU think of Resident Evil 5? Was it a brilliant evolution or a disappointing departure? Sound off in the comments below!
0 Comments