Resident Evil 5 - first impressions

So Chris is trapped in a house, with zom, er, uh, enemies coming from all sides. You can push a bookcase in front of the door or hop out the window and search for higher ground. In this case, Chris hangs around long enough to see the ceiling collapse under the weight of several enemies on the roof (a startling effect, to be sure). After unloading several pistol and shotgun rounds, Chris darts for the window just in time to see a hulking figure robed in black swing a giant hammer through the wall, crushing it into bits.

This new enemy is capable of chasing you wherever you go and destroying any cover you've found. Chris ran away into another building, searching for a safer location, when this new monster busted in through the wall behind him. If this cat-and-mouse style gameplay persists, it could make for some truly frightening set pieces, even if it is similar to RE3's Nemesis (think a far less subtle Pyramid Head).

Everything else felt right out of RE4. The location is much more vibrant and the pulse-pounding tribal music gets you worked up and ready to watch Chris leap from roof to roof, but yeah, it's kind of the same. The hooded chainsaw enemy, rabid dogs, the same CQC as Leon, same weapons, all that. Granted, Capcom is keeping a tight (make that stupidly tight) lid on secrets, gameplay changes and plot points, so there's every chance in the world something amazing is waiting for us that they're not sharing. Given their track record, we're inclined to believe that's the case.

Right now all eyes are on E3 - if there's anything mind-blowing to reveal, that's where it's going to happen. Have fun waiting for July!

Jun 3, 2008