#8793 - 03/16/09 11:01 AM
Resident Evil 5
[Re: Stefanie]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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Having finished my first play-through this weekend, here are some initial thoughts on Resident Evil 5 (full game, not the demo).
Overall Opinion: 8/10 - The game itself is a lot of fun, but a couple of design issues kept it from being perfect.
RE5 is great as a cooperative, two player game. Gevin and I played some this weekend, and it is a whole different experience than playing the game solo. I wish this had been possible with RE4.
While RE5 is great, I like RE4 better as a single player game. RE4 was more fun, creepier (mainly, thanks to the Regeneradors and Novistadors), and more innovative, as RE5 uses the same basic system introduced by RE4. I think Leon and Ada are much cooler/sexier/more stylish/more interesting characters than Chris and Sheva. Not that I dislike the latter two, but they're a bit dull (in an "all business" sort of way) by comparison. The minor characters are also more interesting in RE4. I especially miss the Merchant ("I've got some good things on sale for ya, Stranga!") when buying weapons in RE5.
It's definitely more of an action game than the others (even more than RE4), but it's a logical continuation of the RE story. While this is a nice diversion, I hope RE6 steers the series back toward emphasizing the adventure aspects of the franchise. Don't get me wrong though; the emphasis on action is entirely appropriate for this installment of the series. It's a lot of fun and it works very well, with a couple of minor gripes.
I like the new inventory system. I think RE4's inventory system is better for RE4, and RE5's inventory system is better for RE5. The games are different, and I think the differences in the two systems perfectly fit their respective games. There's a good selection of weapons, too.
I absolutely hate the save system. It often saves game progress automatically, rather than always asking permission, ala RE4. Also, it doesn't store different games the way RE4 (and all other main RE games) do. I'm sure that has to do with online records, stats, and trophies, but I prefer the old save system.
In solo mode, having a mandatory AI partner has its pros and cons. RE5 uses both of its main characters simultaneously, and the AI of the computer-controlled character is sometimes annoying and irritating. It fights well enough, but it doesn't obey. Unlike RE4, in which Leon could tell Ashley to wait while he went somewhere else, Chris and Sheva don't always listen to each other in RE5. Your AI partner stays with you... except of course, when you absolutely need it to stay. Not being able to control whether your AI partner stays still or follows you can cause unnecessary damage to your health on some occasions, and the AI partner will also grab items or give you items at inappropriate times. Capcom easily could've solved this by having the "Wait!" command from RE4, and having the AI partner strictly obey that command, and the "Go!" and "Come on!" commands.
Some criticize RE5 for not allowing players to simultaneously move and fire weapons, but this has always been the case with the RE series. The first Tomb Raider game allowed it, but this is Resident Evil, so that's not an issue for me. Going forward, it might be an improvement, but I don't think it hurts RE4 or RE5, at all.
I've just unlocked the Mercenary missions, so I can't report on those, yet.
Minor Spoilers:
You can get a Magnum Research Desert Eagle in the game, bit it's labeled "L. Hawk" instead of its real name, unlike 99% of the other weapons, and it's not named in the description, either. Leon used one in RE2, but maybe Capcom couldn't get permission this time around (I would've thought it was public domain). I own a Desert Eagle, so this probably matters more to me than the typical player.
There are no yellow herbs in RE5, and no poison. G+G and R+G are the only combinations (G+G+G and R+G+G are not allowed).
The first set of new costumes is pretty funny. Chris has a "Safari" metrosexual-ish zebra pattern outfit, sunglasses, and different hair color, and Sheva has a tacky gold "Clubbin'" outfit that amounts to a bathing suit with a skirt, complete with gold gladiator sandals and a new hairstyle/color. She doesn't even look like the same person.
Major Spoilers:
Jill Valentine is alive and well. She's still a good guy, though a bit stronger and faster than before (similar to Alice, played by Milla Jovovich in the RE films). Wesker altered her physical abilities with one of the viruses and temporarily controlled her mind by remote, using his PDA (hmm... not a bad idea). It was left a bit vague about whether Jill will maintain her new abilities, and if so, whether she'll remain stable, considering that Wesker had to give himself a precise, periodic injection in order to remain stable.
Speaking of Wesker, his story appears to come to a conclusion, as he was shot by twin rocket launchers while sinking in lava in a volcano. I know he's come back before, but I don't think there's a story line that can bring back anyone from that... aside from using clones or having a digital imprint of his mind stored on a computer, both of which are a bit too clichéd, even for RE.
Umbrella is also dead, but Tricell has emerged as the new evil company. Maybe they'll be driving the plot in RE6. Per Wikipedia: "Resident Evil 5 producer Jun Takeuchi has hinted to Resident Evil 6 in an interview with 1Up by stating that RE6 will be a complete reboot." That makes sense, as Umbrella and Wesker have run their respective courses.
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#8796 - 03/16/09 12:01 PM
Re: Resident Evil 5
[Re: Gevin]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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Take it from me; the only good zombie is a dead zombie! Word is bond!
I haven't heard anything about the new RE5 multiplayer content until now, but I think that's wrong that we have to pay extra for it, especially considering that we bought the Collector's Edition on the first day, instead of buying the standard edition six months later, when the price drops. I didn't like it when The Godfather: The Don's Edition and Super Stardust HD did that, either (although, Stardust was downloaded to begin with).
Actually, I'm not a big a fan of downloadable content, in general. I prefer having everything I need on the disc itself, so that the game will function the same way on different consoles.
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#8836 - 03/18/09 10:27 AM
Re: Multiplaying: PS3 style.
[Re: Stefanie]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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lol - another update, as of March 20
These have been maxed out:
H&K P8 {pistol}
Sig Sauer P226 {pistol, infinite ammo)
Beretta M92F {pistol} <unlocks Beretta M93R>
"Lightning Hawk" {pistol} (Magnum Research Desert Eagle)
S&W Model 29 {revolver} <unlocks S&W Model 500>
S&W Model 500 {revolver, infinite ammo}
Skorpion vz. 61 {submachine gun} <unlocks Gatling Gun>
Benelli M3 {shotgun}
Ithaca 37 {shotgun} <unlocks Hydra>
SIG SG 556 {assault rifle}
H&K PSG1 {sniper rifle, infinite ammo}
Dragunov SVD {sniper rifle}
Sako S75{sniper rifle} <unlocks Longbow>
"Grenade Launcher" (Milkor M32 MGL - ???)
"Gatling Gun" {light machine gun, infinite ammo} (GE XM 214 Minigun - ???)
"Longbow" {bow, infinite ammo}
"Stun Rod" {electric stun gun}
I've acquired these, but haven't yet upgraded them all the way:
Beretta M93R {pistol}
H&K MP5 {submachine gun}
"Jail Breaker" {shotgun} (Armsel Striker/Protecta)
"Hydra" {shotgun} (triple barrel, sawed-off)
AK 74 {assault rifle}
RPG-7 {rocket launcher, single shot) <upgrades to infinite ammo, supposedly by finishing the game in under five hours>
I don't yet have these:
Samurai Edge {pistol} (Beretta M92 customized for S.T.A.R.S.)
Beretta PX4 Storm {pistol}
"Mad Max" {shotgun} (double barrel, sawed-off)
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#8907 - 03/23/09 10:00 AM
Re: Multiplaying: PS3 style.
[Re: Stefanie]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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Samurai Edge {pistol}
Beretta PX4 Storm {pistol}
"Mad Max" {shotgun}
From the "for those who care" department, it appears that the weapons listed above are NOT available in Resident Evil 5, as reported by some online sources. I received a PS3 trophy this past weekend for obtaining all of the weapons in the game (all of which have been completely upgraded), and those three aren't among them.
By the way, the rocket launcher with infinite ammo is just as potent as you would expect, but be careful about firing at close range targets. Once you've beaten the game with normal weapons, it's so much fun to go back with everything unlocked and maxed out.
The differences among the "Amateur," "Normal," and "Veteran" difficulty settings aren't all that drastic, but once you unlock the "Professional" setting, it's a whole different game. It's definitely a challenge.
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#8927 - 03/25/09 09:05 AM
Re: Multiplaying: PS3 style.
[Re: Gevin]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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Regarding the Playstation Network website that can be accessed from any computer, is there a way to look at the games and trophies of other players, mainly those on your friends list? It appears that I can only see my own info, but it would be nice to see the games list and trophies of others.
The games database on that website is incomplete. A handful of my PS1 games (including G Darius and R-Types) don't show up in the database, and the Limited/Collector's Editions of certain games (Fallout 3) aren't listed, but they are for others (such as Metal Gear Solid 4, Resident Evil 5, and Grand Theft Auto IV). Those aside, I've listed all of my PS games in my account (108), but it seems pointless if my friends can't see which games I have.
Speaking of trophies, as of last night, I have three trophies remaining to get the Platinum trophy for Resident Evil 5.
1. War Hero (Gold) - Complete all chapters on Professional difficulty.
2. Lead Aspirin (Silver) - Defeat a Majini with a headshot while it's jumping.
3. The Works (Bronze) - Chain the maximum number of combos together in one go.
I'd like to get the Platinum trophy before April, so I've got only one weekend left. I've already started on the first one, but I haven't even attempted the other two.
I've read that April 9 is the new Japanese release date for the new downloadable versus multiplayer modes. We can already see the ten additional "download" trophies (supposedly, seven Bronze and three Silver) in the trophy list.
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#8930 - 03/25/09 12:39 PM
Re: Multiplaying: PS3 style.
[Re: Gevin]
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UPSF Captain
Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 1424
Loc: Nashville, TN USA
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No, that's in the regular mode, where we take turns beating up the same bad guy with physical attacks. You and I need to get online later and earn that trophy together.
We probably need to start at Chapter 1-1 and get the weak Berettas, so that we can stun enemies with a single shot, but without killing them. Then, I suppose we just punch/kick Majinis back and forth to each other until we earn the trophy.
As for #2, I'm surprised that hasn't already happened in any of our games, based just on the law of averages. Chapter 1-1 might be the best place to try that, where the Majinis jump from the wall, to the car, then to the ground. Any thoughts on a better location?
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