Resident Evil 5

Giant Bomb

I played it start to finish in three sittings, have played it extensively in other capacities while working on this review, and still can't wait to go back and play through it again cooperatively on higher difficulties to open up more of its goodies. If that's not the definition of a fine action game, I don't know what is.

ZTGameDomain

The co-op implementation is great and the extra unlockable provides more than enough incentive to play the game through multiple times. If the controls don't bother you, anybody can have a great time playing through this adventure.

AceGamez

The gorgeous graphics, the superb sound, the great (if sometimes twitchy) AI of your partner and the jaw-dropping gameplay take everything that was brilliant about Resident Evil 4 and ramp it up to the next level, making for one of the best gaming experiences ever!

Planet Xbox 360

After beating the game every way possible in each and every mode (in co-op and on the solo) we can honestly say that we want more, more zombie killing please?

Console Monster

While lacking in any real puzzles at all compared to the confusing tests of the Playstation days, RE5 is not only a masterful piece of gaming experience but also technical art. Probably one of the best looking games on next-gen consoles to date. It has a story that is still gripping, if not outrageous, and gameplay that has me wanting to finish this review up to play some more!

Game Informer

Co-op changes your approach to survival horror, and the masterful pacing ensures you never take your eye off the action. Like its predecessor, Resident Evil 5 is destined to be remembered as one of the best games of its time.

Gamers' Temple

Resident Evil 5 digs deep into the series' origins with its overall story and slightly enhances the overall addicting gameplay that left its mark with Resident Evil 4.

AtomicGamer

RE5 will no doubt please those who unknowingly unleashed hell when they pried open the doors of that mysterious mansion more than ten years ago. But it should also satisfy unseasoned zombie slayers as well with its rich mix of gory action, creepy storytelling, and blockbuster production values.

InsideGamer.nl

Resident Evil 5 is like an expensive diamond. The outside is polished well and the inside is strong enough to go through iron. The graphics of the gameplay and the cinematics are beautiful and full of detail. We can understand the criticism of the controls, but you can easily get used to it. The co-op is an exciting feature and when you are without a friend it turns out that Sheva is a great companion. Resident Evil 5 doesn’t revolutionize the series, but it is still a fantastic game to play.

SpazioGames

Resident Evil 5 carries on the same action path started with its predecessor. The main innovation is of course co-op mode, which delivers good fun if played online, but due to glitches in the friendly A.I., spoils the single player experience. Die hard fans will be happy to know that the story goes deep, and it's well connected with the last chapters of the series. Graphics and sound are simply stunning. If you miss the old survival horror genre you will surely be disappointed, but Resident Evil 5 is still a great action game, especially if enjoyed all the way through with a friend.

Xbox360Achievements

Filled with epic boss encounters and memorable battles, RE5 provides a thrilling ride, supported with enough extra content to keep the game interesting for a long time.

NZGamer

Resident Evil 5 offers some great level designs as well.

WonderwallWeb

There is no doubt that whatever way you play through Resident Evil 5, it is packed with action and intense combat from start to end. Each of the chapters you will play through are packed with frightening and challenging enemies, however to combat this you are armed with well balanced weapons, a decent AI controlled team mate and plenty of healing aid.

Gaming Age

If you have a friend to play along with, then that's obviously the way to go, but don't let the thought of playing with the AI deter you from picking this up. It's a great game, and well worth your time.

GamingXP

Graphics and appeal of Resident Evil rock! The basic game construct didn’t change very much, but never change a winning team … too much.

Impulsegamer

In conclusion, Resident Evil 5 may have slightly moved away from the original premise of the game but it’s good to see the developers try a different path for this series.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

While not a groundbreaking game like its predecessor Resident Evil 5 offers up one of the most fun co-op experiences to date. Any fan of the RE franchise or action games in general will find a lot of enjoyment in RE 5.

Deeko

With stellar production values, a storyline that ties many of the series lore together, a plethora of replayability in Mercenaries mode, unlock-able characters/costumes and the addition of online co-op; RE5 is one of the best in the series.

GamingTrend

Resident Evil 5 doesn’t revolutionize Resident Evil 4’s gameplay, but it does provide a solid and entertaining entry in the series.

Gamervision

It’s presentation, mixed with the absurd amount of polish makes it a must own. Resident Evil 5 is a great conclusion to the series, and an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

GamingExcellence

I personally found Resident Evil 5 to be a great addition to a beloved franchise that has been going on for nearly fifteen years, even if it doesn’t represent the series’ finest hour.

MondoXbox

Stunning graphics and an adrenalinic gameplay make Resident Evil 5 one of the showcase titles for this generation: its mainly action foundation could disappoint who was expecting a more atmospheric and purely horror game, but it is undoubtedly an extremely entertaining, cinematic and satisfying experience, with many surprises and great variety. A must buy.

Kombo

It's not refined enough as an action game to contend with the likes of Gears of War, it's been usurped in the survival horror category by the stellar Dead Space, and it's such a deviation from the franchise's foundation that it's almost certain to alienate a large contingent of diehard fans.

Level7.nu

The fifth installment in this long running and popular series is likely to split its fan base in two camps: the ones that dislike the more action oriented gameplay and those who just wanted more of the same sweet stuff they experienced in part four. Resident Evil 5 is in every aspect a natural progression from the previous installment. Updated visuals and fabulous environments do a great job of framing the intense action. The entire game has been modeled to be played in co-op, and playing through the game with a friend is truly a great gaming experience. It might be quite the leap from the first Resident Evil game, but it's an amazing experience none the less.

GameSpy

It's hardly the dramatic revamp that RE4 was for the series, but it marks the first time that co-op play has been implemented. As a result, the overhaul makes it a good single-player game, but a great multiplayer one. Thanks to its persistent approach to weapon upgrades, it's well-suited to replay. It's a visually splendid game with gorgeous cinematics that evoke the same awe as previous games did in their time.

GameTrailers

You'll get a lot more out of it than you do from typical games with no competitive multiplayer and while played cooperatively it really sings. It's lost a lot of what has made the franchise a pins-and-needles experience, but that sense of dread has been replaced with pure action that's hard to match.

Gamers.at

Missing out on Capcom's extraordinary fifth part of the Biohazard series would be a crime. Brilliant presentation, adrenaline pumping action and zombies everywhere. RE5 is worth every last of your hard-earned pennies.

MS Xbox World

Capcom have done wonders with keeping the elements that made RE what they are, but also moving it forwards just enough to remain fresh.

VideoGamer

With a whole heap of content to unlock, including the brilliant Mercenaries mode (playable cooperatively off and online), a campaign that begs to be replayed and top of the line production values there's very little to be disappointed with.

Vandal Online

The setting change works well, and the story will please series followers, with surprises and comebacks which will thrill Resident Evil fans. Resident Evil 5 offers a quality experience, despite some incongruities - all of them can be overlood -, which will engage us in front of the TV for hours, thanks to its gameplay and its high doses of action, tension and fun.

Cynamite

Lots of action and stunning visuals, but fans of the earlier RE episodes could be disappointed by the lack of goose-bump moments.

Games Radar (in-house)

Resident Evil 4 taught the industry so much, and in turn we expected RE5 to at least learn from what others have since added to those accomplishments. Instead, it jams the series full of gasoline-enriched testosterone, keeps outdated inventory and control ideas and refuses to admit the franchise is now more action-adventure than survival horror. Don’t let the negatives fool you though – it’s still one of the best balls-to-the-wall co-op excursions you can buy.

Official Xbox Magazine

For those new to the series, Resident Evil 5 may not be what you expect. It's neither scary nor survival horror, and though its story throws plenty of love to longtime fans, you don't need to be one to enjoy it. Ultimately, it's an action feast for two - with just a little gristle amid all the delicious blood, bone, and brains. [Mar 2009, p.58]

GamePro

Hardcore fans may be disappointed by the departure from the traditional survival-horror roots but trust me, the game delivers enough thrills that you probably won't care. [Apr 2009, p.68]

IGN

The creepy suspense of the earlier games has been replaced with an action-packed intensity that will instantly appeal to some gamers and disappoint others. As an action game, RE5 is a success, and there’s a wealth of replayability through item collection, weapon upgrades, score chasing and the unlockable Mercenaries mode. But this is no gentle nudge to the formula of the previous main RE games; it’s an evolution.

IGN UK

While it's occasionally hampered by outdated controls and problematic AI, it's the near-mandatory co-op and bombastic assault of visceral silliness that earns Resident Evil 5 its stripes. Sure, it might just be a shinier, snazzier retread of Resi 4 - and certainly, it lacks its forerunner's impressive sense of invention - but this is still big, dumb Grade A entertainment.

XboxAddict

While the series may be a different entity now than it was over a decade ago, it has evolved and changed, yet still does superb at delivering an interesting and deep story with exceptional production value.

Game Over Online

All in all, the game is a total blast and thoroughly enjoyable, with a frenetic pacing that doesn’t let up for the entire run of the game.

ActionTrip

Resident Evil 5 has some of the most impressive character models we've ever seen in a video game. Some of the indoor and outdoor environments are literarily stunning - our compliments to the designers in that respect.

XGN

Resident Evil 5 is a beautiful game with a super good co-op. The singleplayer is not as good as other games in the franchise and the real fans will miss the survival horror, which has been replaced by a lot of action.

Games Master UK

Play with a friend and it's a blast, but playing solo makes its faults harder to ignore. [Apr 2009, p.68]

Gamer 2.0

It’s the crux of the gameplay that matters and Resident Evil 5 has chosen a path more brazen, more gung-ho than we imagined. The co-op campaign makes inviting a friend over for a double dose of zombie-extermination possible, and while this should get old, it doesn’t.

3DJuegos

Resident Evil 5 is “only” an amazing game, a label that 90% of the third person shooters would want for themselves. The cooperative mode is just sensational and the story mode is filled with non-stop action. The huge amount of contents will make you forget the lack of any kind of innovation in its concept.

IGN AU

This review has been quite negative but that’s unavoidable when you’re discussing a good game that follows on from an incredible one.

Multiplayer.it

After almost all of the survival horror aspects have been removed, what's left is just another action game, which is a bit too similar to the fourth chapter. Cooperative play is what makes Resident Evil 5's day, but fans' expectations were really high and this new episode is "just" an excellent and fun game, especially for the ones who fell in love with the saga some years ago.

TeamXbox

If you can’t deal with the combat gameplay in the RE series (there’s a demo to save you potential naysayers a few bucks), then there’s a good chance that you won’t be buying what the boxed copy of Resident Evil 5 is selling. But if there’s even the slightest amount of indifference in your brain about the aiming and gunplay of RE, then RE5 is worth your time.

Gameplanet

It manages to stay feeling fresh and thrilling all the way through to the final battle, and it looks absolutely incredible. The story is mostly well paced and told with cinematics of extremely high production value. While the co-op is not exactly game changing, it is a very welcome addition to the series and the game is definitely a lot more fun when played this way.

GamerNode

Despite shortcomings and trying to fit into impossibly large shoes, RE5 is an undeniably enjoyable game, especially with a friend. RE's age of survival horror is sadly laid to rest, but the 3rd-person action taking its place is still worth playing.

Destructoid

It’s not going to revolutionize videogames and is definitely not a huge step forward in the series, but it contains some of the coolest set pieces and most incredible boss fights I have ever seen in my entire life. And that makes me very happy.

GameZone

The fact that Resident Evil 5 was worth playing through twice in one weekend shows how compelling the gameplay is, and how it's able to rise above a number of disappointing flaws.

GameSpot

Though the slow, deliberate movement and shooting may not appeal to everyone, this new sequel’s frequent large-scale battles and co-op play still offer a fun and exciting adventure.

Play.tm

The bottom line here is that Nintendo's supposedly underpowered home console remains the single best option for a pure survival horror experience thanks to the vastly superior controls, taut gameplay and fright value of Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition.

Game Revolution

If Resident Evil 5 is a new flavor of game for the long-running franchise, it's also a strong, spicy one—with occasional chucks of co-op wasabi to goad your inner action hero into fits of running and gunning... albeit, not at the same time.

Cheat Code Central

A very fun game that pays fan service to the faithful through its engaging, answer-filled story, and it modernizes the series through an amazing, cinematic presentation. Where the game seems to get bogged down is in its attempt to appeal to everyone. The hybridization of survival horror mechanics with action-shooter gameplay doesn't work out very well - making it suffer from the jack-of-all-trades syndrome.

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Co-op? Great. Single-player? Not so much. Not nearly as good as we hoped - but you'll still love it with two. [Apr 2009, p.62]

X360 Magazine UK

The real problem lies with RE5's focus. Played with two people it's a delight, showing the world that co-op in campaign modes is becoming a necessity in any game that can incorporate it. Even played on the same console, with the most hideous splitting of the screen we've ever seen, it works. Unfortunately, a vast array of individuals will play this as a lone wolf and, to be honest, done this way it can be aggravating. Sheva is simply not competent enough, and her irregular bouts of hopelessness transform a sublime portion into a testing run. [Issue#43, p.76]

Meristation

Resident Evil 5 is a great game without any doubt. With a new storyline, it offers fans of the series the epic end of the Umbrella arc that they were hoping for. Great visuals and many extras, but the use of RE4's control scheme feels old, and doesn't work too well to this new 100% action style the game embraced instead Survival Horror. You would expect something better from Capcom nowadays.

Total Video Games

The sheer emphasis on action, coupled with the dated gameplay mechanics and inability to show any advance beyond the Resident Evil 4 blueprint is possible to overlook if you're happy with state-of-the-art visuals and zombie slaying.

D+PAD Magazine

It may be hackneyed, past its sell-by date and a tad too over-reliant on its predecessor’s successes, but when RE5 remembers that it’s Resident Evil and not, say, Gears of War, it’s nothing less than sublime. But unfortunately for the most part, Resident Evil 5 seems to be suffering from a rather harrowing case of identity crisis.

GameDaily

While the developers' decision to copy elements from Resident Evil 4 make it feel less original (despite better visuals and a new location), you'll have a blast (especially with a buddy) but after waiting four years for a sequel, we expected better.

Wired

The game completely lacks scary moments; there is nothing going bump in the night. Actually, most all the levels take place in the daytime. They are very pretty levels, yes, although the RE5 team hasn't yet learned the tricks of the trade that other developers use to seamlessly blend them -- there are lots and lots of loading screens.

Worth Playing

If you played RE4 to death like I did, play RE5 on Veteran with a like-minded friend and you'll probably have a blast, but keep in mind it's not as good as its predecessor. The real question about Resident Evil 5, though, is whether or not you'll reach a point with what's happening where you just have to walk away.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

Resident Evil 5 has to unfortunately go down as one of the biggest gaming disappointments in recent memory, simply because it's merely great rather than unbelievable. It lags behind 2008's better games in each and every facet it seeks to excel in - Dead Space is scarier, Left 4 Dead is a superior co-op experience and Gears 2 is still the best third-person, cover-based shooter money can buy.

Eurogamer Portugal

Even having the necessary quality to live among the best of this generation, it is strange to see that Capcom kept some values of the past and risked in others that can’t work as expected. Sponsored by wonderful new generation visuals, Resident Evil 5 seems stuck to the previous generation in elements like the gameplay.

DarkZero

It is a great game, one that is a faithful update to a game that only four years ago attained universal acclaim, but in that time, things have changed and, for better and for worse, Resident Evil 5 has only made baby steps when compared to the giant leaps that its predecessor made, and because of this, won’t be getting near that perfect 10. The issues with A.I and the controls will put off some of the more fickle gamers, but for those of you who part with their £40, like an A.I controlled Sheva to a horde of zombies, you’ll find plenty here to get your teeth into – fans and newcomers alike.

Armchair Empire

Resident Evil 5 will obviously appeal to long time Resident Evil fans, particularly those that enjoyed Resident Evil 4 because a lot of what the previous game developed for the series has been honed by Resident Evil 5, giant cockroaches, mutant dogs, Las Plagas victims, inventory management, unexpected quicktime events, and bizarre story points included.

Telegraph

At its best it’s a cinematic, bombastic and brilliant video game jam-packed with outstanding moments that culminate in a wonderfully thrilling finale. The thread that ties it all together occasionally frays under pressure from the games its forerunner brought to bear, but never enough to stop Resident Evil 5 being an exceptional piece of interactive entertainment.

Game Positive

From start to finish, RE5 is a shorter, sloppier take on RE4, but winds up being a lot of fun regardless.

Gaming Nexus

Resident Evil 5 is a lot of things - it's a great action game, the multiplayer is a lot of fun, the graphics are unequaled and the story is a lot of fun. There's just one thing Capcom's newest survival horror game isn't: Scary!

GameShark

It’s still an enjoyable experience, but multiplayer is the absolute reason to pick up RE5. It’s the feature that we’ve been wishing for since day one (Outbreak didn’t count), and Capcom delivers a fine show.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

It’s tough seeing horror give way to more action, but patience with gunplay would come easier if the basic design were as compelling as the early survival-horror concepts.

Everyeye.it

Resident Evil 5 is not a masterpiece. It lacks originality, and reuses old gameplay mechanics that seem too scheming and stiff for the next gen standards. RE 5 stands in a sort of Limbo: it doesn't have the dynamism of an action game, and it lacks emotional transport typical of a survival horror. Despite this, it is still a good gaming experience, thanks to the excellence in graphics, the solid plot, the variety of the situations. It's a good ending for a series that needs a refreshing twist.

1UP

Ultimately, Resident Evil 5 shouldn't be looked at as a failure in the series, merely too ambitious, inconsistent and uneven. Earlier entries in the series benefited from their simplicity and focus, and while it's laudable for RE5 to try and include so much variety, perhaps a little more of the same ol' same ol' would have resulted in a slightly better game.

Edge Magazine

It’s not even surprising,‭ ‬despite all‭ ‬this,‭ ‬that Resident Evil‭ ‬5‭ ‬is a good game.‭ The surprising,‭ ‬and sad,‭ ‬thing about‭ ‬Resident Evil‭ ‬5‭ ‬is that it feels old.

Gamer.nl

Resident Evil 5 starts with bang. An original setting and zombies that are just waiting to get shot are a perfect start. But a soon as your surroundings changes from a beautiful African landscape to dark and boring industrial complex, the gameplay turns a bit sour and transforms into a standard action game. An action game with the limitations of the horror genre. Resident Evil fans are probably dying to know how the story unfolds, but gamers with little knowledge of the previous games will find it nothing more than an average action game.

Eurogamer

Thanks to the game's stubborn loyalty to stop-and-shoot, the result is distinctive, but with suspect partner AI to contend with, this is a game that only truly comes into its own with a friend who's up for a challenge.

GameCritics

Players curious about the recent activities of Albert Wesker and the legacy of the Umbrella Corporation can dive right in and enjoy without fear; those new to the series might be surprised at how dated it feels once the high-polygon glamour wears off.

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Survival horror fans will feel cheated while the rest of gamers can enjoy a fast and fun game, especially when you have someone to co-op. Don't forget to enjoy the breathtaking graphics while not slaughtering any zombies. [Apr 2009]

Absolute Games

To avoid the risks while working on an expensive next-gen sequel to Resident Evil 4, Capcom recycled the previous game. The developers moved the action from Spain to Africa, replaced Leon Kennedy with Chris Redfield, brought back Albert “Duke Nukem” Wesker as the main baddie, added co-op, and rested. Look past the pretty graphics, and you will see a shameless clone.

Thunderbolt

If you can treat and accept it as a balls-to-the-wall action blockbuster, Resident Evil 5 is, if nothing else, a great looking and decent entry into the third person shooter genre with a great co-op mode that’s worth at least one play through. It’s just a shame Capcom has forgotten what it is to make me scared of the dark.

Gamestyle

Underneath the layers, there is some semblance of a good game here. It's very ambitious and we applaud that. But ambition doesn't always equal a good game, and while RE5 is nowhere near a disaster, the disappointment we felt is made worse due to our lofty expectations.

G4 TV

Resident Evil 5 is mired in poor design decisions that drag down the experience and render single-player campaign a tedious exercise in working around the game. It’s frustrating to see a game that I so looked forward to playing and carried with it such potential, sabotage itself in so many ways. Compared against the ambition of games like Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Assassin’s Creed; Resident Evil 5 seems timid, unwilling to move out of its comfort zone. It’s a shame.