Resident Evil 5: Imagination and Perfection Come Together

When a series announces it's trying to reinvent itself, things can often go wrong. It's often a misguided attempt to draw a flagging franchise into the modern mainstream; things that were popular ten years ago are not always apt material for comebacks. But Capcom's long running Resident Evil series, which will be in its thirteenth year when the next installment is released, is an example of how to come back with a bang.

The revival began in early 2005 with Resident Evil 4. It was clear by this point that the series, old hand though it may have been in the survival-horror genre, was losing the qualities that made it so influential in the first place. It was retreading old ground and it was time for a change. Instead of reviving the long overused and old-fashioned game play quirks, Resident Evil 4 decided instead to remember what made the original games great and redesign that formula.

Gone, for example, was the frustrating control system, the most cynical of all the genre's long-standing mechanics. Yes, it added to the fear factor and the sense of desperation, but not being able to move around effectively in a game world is ultimately frustrating and ridiculous. In 1996 gamers could forgive such qualms because they did not know any better; nowadays those kinds of mechanics would never even be considered in a developer's meeting. Go back and play the original Resident Evil and you'll see why. A classic though it may be, it's almost unplayable in the context of modern gaming. Even the Gamecube update, sporting shinier graphics and better sound, still did not manage to overcome that fundamental flaw.

But the control system overhaul was only one of the elements that made Resident Evil 4 such a critical success. By removing the fear instilled by incompetent control systems, the focus was placed firmly on action orientated fear, a prospect which had long-time fans concerned in the run up to release. They shouldn't have worried. Context sensitive actions, quick pacing and a variety of meaty weaponry made the fighting not simply an upgrade, but a game play feature in itself, whereas in the past it had always played second fiddle. Enemy designs and animations combined with the trademark Resident Evil atmosphere (which was maintained despite a drastic shift in location) ensured the scares still took centre-stage, however, and the game managed a feat not often achieved in gaming; to fully satisfy fans of both genres at once. Capcom, then, should be applauded for managing to maintain the look and feel of the series despite giving the whole thing a considerable overhaul. Other developers take note: when you do it right, imaginatively updating an ageing franchise will not only keep the existing fans happy, but also bring in a whole new generation.

Now it is time for the next chapter. Given how much of a changed system we saw in Resident Evil 4, it was always going to be more evolution than revolution, but given that game's qualities it doesn't really matter. The player once again finds himself in control of Chris Redfield, who has turned up in various titles in the series, most prominently as one of the main protagonists from the original game. Details of the plot though have not been forthcoming. Producer Jun Takeuchi has revealed that the storyline concerns the origins of the zombie-creating virus that has plagued the series for so long, and that the player will be accompanied during the game by a female sidekick called Sheva Alomar. If this relationship can be fleshed out in a similar fashion to the one exemplified in the Half Life 2 series, for example, then it could make an excellent addition to the action. Preview demos have already shown glimpses of the context sensitive actions available to the player: in one instance, Chris, faced with a chasm too wide to cross, was able to physically throw his partner over to the other side, and provide covering fire from his safe location. Mechanics such as these were part of what made Resident Evil 4 so compelling, those moments in tight areas when you are low on ammo and you anxiously bar the doors with furniture to prevent the hordes outside from getting in, desperately taking pot-shots from the windows made the fast paced action both memorable and, crucially, scary.

Again like its predecessor, Resident Evil 5 makes another considerable geographical leap, this time landing in a mountainous region of Africa, where locals have been transformed into hideous, violent monsters and stirring volcanic activity threatens the spread of a new virus strain. From the promotional material already released, including an excellent and action-packed trailer, the fresh environment seems to suit the game well. It has been proven on many occasions that games do not need to be experienced in perpetual darkness to evoke fear. Sometimes broad daylight, oppressive sun and wide-open spaces are just as frightening. Chris' foes, too, will surely not disappoint. Imaginative creature design has never proved a problem for the series, even in its later, less glorious days, but the monstrosities on show here are spectacularly disturbing.

Tentacles burst forth from villager's heads as they crowd around you, gigantic behemoths lumber around knocking over fences and swinging chains and axes, and, of course, the familiar chainsaw wielding enemies are back once again. Standing out as well as the great design is the host of impressive animations that bring these creatures to life. They lunge, leap, interact with their environment, grab hold of the player; all wrapped up in an engine that looks truly spectacular.

Aside from our two protagonists, Chris and Sheva, the trailer reveals a supporting cast of mysterious, larger-than-life characters, the most sinister of which being a silent, cloaked man hiding his face behind a creepy bird mask. If the game's story can match its looks, Capcom could potentially have a modern classic on their hands.

Resident Evil 5 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting prospects on the horizon for action-horror gamers everywhere. Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners can have faith that they are going to receive, if nothing else, a similar experience to that of the previous game, and that can't be a bad thing. Devil May Cry, Capcom's other long-running action-horror series, has already made a successful transition onto current-gen consoles; it is unlikely that Resident Evil 5 will be any less exciting when it hits next spring.