Resident Evil 5

- Reviewed on PS4 -

Resident Evil 5 released on March 5th, 2009.

This installment in the Resident Evil series, that I adore, is filled to the brim with non-stop action, suspense, horror, and everything else a Resident Evil game is known to have. 

Although it is debatable if this game is one of the best, Resident Evil 5 definitely provides a heart racing, jam-packed campaign (story) that may or may not be memorable to some.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

Taking place in a fictional region of Africa named Kijuju, you take control of lead protagonist Chris Redfield.

Along with you, as Chris, you can also make your game a multiplayer session and invite a friend to play as the second protagonist, Sheva Alomar. 

I (as of writing this blog post) have only played Resident Evil 5 in single player mode (sessions) and because of that (this) I had Sheva controlled by a computer and it was actually (surprisingly) a decent, if not great, experience because she didn't act as a clueless NPC. 

As mentioned earlier, the main plot of Resident Evil 5 may or may not be memorable to some players, but for me the main aspect of the game that really stood out, was the very satisfying combat.

Resident Evil 5 had the same combat controls / feel as Resident Evil 4 (at least for me it did) but with a lot more detail and a lot less repetitiveness. 

Sheva, for example, would perform unique wrestling type moves on enemies, allowing Chris (you) to take them out for good.

Chris himself could also punch bigger enemies to stun them and eventually take them out when / if needed.

Teamwork (even with a computer, by yourself) is essential to your survival in Resident Evil 5.

The gist of Resident Evil 5's story is that Chris is sent to Kijuju to investigate a possible threat.

You (Chris) will meet with Sheva extremely early in the story, and she will be your main second hand. 

The voice acting is not the greatest but that may just be because of its time / era. 

Although it's not bad most of the time (throughout the plot), when the voice acting is bad in certain moments, it can / could take you out of the moment and you're all of a sudden not invested in the scene(s), at least for me. 

The other characters in Resident Evil 5 like Josh Stone, Excella Gionne, and shockingly (SPOILER) Jill Valentine make the essential plot points very clear and easy to follow along with. 

One of my favorite features / aspects to Resident Evil 5, is its inventory management system.

After each chapter (and if you possibly die mid chapter) you can manage all your weapons, ammo, items, and first aid and easily swap between the two characters (Chris and Sheva).

You can buy items as well if your running low. 

Lastly, you have your own side inventory (at the bottom) where you can store items that you still want but can't carry due to space management. 

It's no surprise that Resident Evil does an exceptional job at its monster designs and this installment is no exception.

Although the normal human enemies are similar to Resident Evil 4, even mentioned by Chris himself during the game, all the other monsters that roam Kijuju are unique, and all have their own weaknesses for you to figure out and do trial and error (if needed). 

As you travel, you will have a very helpful mini map that you can toggle on and off. 

There are breakable boxes, crates, and even fruit piles for you to collect items mid game. 

The main antagonist (SPOILER) and returning character Albert Wesker, in Resident Evil 5 is a lot of fun to take on and really does require performing trial and error (unless you are really good beforehand) if this was your first time playing. 

The virus inside Wesker, named the Uroboros Virus is the main focus / goal for Chris and Sheva to get rid of and eventually (SPOILER) do at a volcano of all places.

For me personally, Resident Evil 5 was a blast to play, and even with its extras, like the two DLC missions and the files / figures to collect, Resident Evil 5 unfortunately just feels like another Resident Evil that will be lost in the shuffle of my mind / memory (as of writing this blog post).

I still absolutely recommend this installment, but the replayability might not be the best it could be (in my opinion).

Pros: 

    - Fun / Action Packed Combat

    - Good Graphics

    - Great Single Player, Computer Ally

    - DLC that Covers two Story Plot Holes

    - Extras like Figures, DLC, Costumes, and more

    - Inventory Management System 

    - Monster Designs

Cons:

    - Bad Voice Acting (at certain times)

    - Not as Memorable Story

    - Same Default Type, Human Monsters (Enemies)

My Rating for Resident Evil 5 (on PS4):

4 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.