Resident Evil 4 was a much needed shot in the arm for the long running survival horror series. The fixed perspective cameras were finally dumped, in favour of a new, over-the-shoulder view, and even the customary zombies were ditched, replaced by infected villagers (who were contaminated by some rather hostile hosts).
Resi 5, the first game to grace HD consoles (and the first to be released for a Microsoft console too), builds on the foundations of 4, and looks set to carve its own place in Resident Evil history. Fans eager for the March release can now sample the delights of the game, thanks to the playable demo available via the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network.
Perhaps the biggest shift is the new emphasis on co-operative play. While 4 had you babysitting the President's daughter Ashley for the most part, this time you're joined by an equally capable ally. Player 1 takes on the role of Chris Redfield, a survivor of the original Resident Evil game. Chris is accompanied by Sheva Alomar (a fellow Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance agent) on his violent travels through Africa. The pair will be required to keep one another alive, whether by providing healing items or just a spot of much needed covering fire.
Sheva can be controlled by a second player (either online or offline), or should you be playing alone, the AI will step in as your partner. This is both a curse and blessing, as while AI Sheva will be able to chip in and help you as best she can, she's also prone to running off and grabbing items and pick-ups before you can. However, the tweaked inventory system does mean that you can make her give you any item in her possession, and likewise you can hand her anything you think she may require.
The inventory itself is now handled in real time, which means the action will continue while you change your weapons, reload or scour for health items. This does, of course, pose potential problems if there are multiple enemies around, which is why you can hot-link four items to directions on the d-pad for easy switching.
There are two levels available in the demo, the first being entitled Public Assembly. After being caught spying on a meeting, where infected villagers are seemingly being controlled and given orders, Chris and Sheva come under attack while pinned down in a fairly confined shack. Players must try to block off the entrances, and then deal with any villagers that make it through. It's very much reminiscent of the segment in Resident Evil 4, where Leon and his allies were forced to defend their position within a house, as villagers scrambled in through doors and windows. Things get decidedly hairy here when the villains come through the roof!
Comments
