Resident Evil 5
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| Resident Evil 5 | |
|---|---|
 North American cover | |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Distributor(s) | THQ (Australia) |
| Designer(s) | Director Kenichi Ueda Yasuhiro Anpo Producer Jun Takeuchi Masachika Kawata Sound Designer Hideaki Utsumi Yoshihiko Wada |
| Writer(s) | Haruo Murata |
| Composer(s) | Kota Suzuki (lead composer) Wataru Hokoyama (orchestral) |
| Series | Resident Evil |
| Engine | MT Framework (enhanced) with Havok Physics[1][2] |
| Version | 1.03 |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows[3][4] |
| Release date(s) | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 JP March 5, 2009 NA March 13, 2009 PAL March 13, 2009 Microsoft Windows JP September 17, 2009[5] NA September 15, 2009[6] EU September 18, 2009[6] |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror, third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, online and offline co-op |
| Rating(s) | BBFC: 18 CERO: D ESRB: M OFLC: MA15+ OFLC: R18 PEGI: 18+ |
| Media | DVD-DL, BD-ROM, Steam (PC US and UK Version) |
| System requirements | 4900MB HDD space (PS3, required) 1099KB Per save file (PS3) 6.8GB HDD space (Xbox 360, optional) 76KB Per save file (Xbox 360) |
| Input methods | Gamepad, Keyboard & Mouse |
Within its first three weeks of release, the game sold over 2 million units worldwide and became the highest selling game of the franchise in the United Kingdom. As of June 1, 2009, Resident Evil 5 has sold 5 million copies worldwide since launch,[11] becoming the best selling single title in the series.[12]
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Gameplay
The player can control Chris Redfield or Sheva Alomar in a similar fashion to Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil 4,[13] with the same over-the-shoulder perspective.[14] Once again, the game's environment plays a significant role.[13] The Mercenaries minigame, featured in previous Resident Evil games, is present in Resident Evil 5.[15] At launch, the multiplayer in the minigame was offline only, but a launch day patch gave the game online multiplayer.[16]
The game features new types of enemies called "Majini", meaning evil spirit in Swahili.[17] Furthermore, they are different from the previous ganados.[13] The number of weapon variations has been greatly increased compared to the previous games in the series; there are now several varieties of the handgun, shotgun, submachine gun and rifle to choose from.[18]
The game features some online elements.[19] Resident Evil 5's main story mode can be played with two players, in a co-operative online mode. The feature will allow players to enter or leave anytime during the game. Players will not always stick together, and can be separated at points during the gameplay.[15] An offline co-op mode is also in the game with the same co-op experience offered by the online co-op mode, only with two local players controlling the action in split screen.[20]
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Setting
The setting of Resident Evil 5 has a similar feel to the film Black Hawk Down.[9][21] Takeuchi added that the development team is composed of staff members who worked on the original Resident Evil.[9] The game is a direct sequel to the Resident Evil series,[9] and continues chronologically after Resident Evil 4.[22] The player characters and protagonists are Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar,[13] and the game takes place roughly ten years after the events of the original Resident Evil. The story explores Chris' life during the ten year interval between the two games. During the game's events, he is a member of a group known as Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), and sent to investigate a terrorist bio-organic weapon threat in an African desert area in Kijuju, that serves as the game's setting.[13] The antagonists of the game include Albert Wesker, a returning antagonist to the series, and Excella Gionne, a relative of the founder of the Tricell Pharmaceutical Company who operates the company's African branch.[23] Ozwell E. Spencer, the founder of Umbrella Corp. and a key figure in the background story of the series since the original Resident Evil, is also included in a flashback.[24][edit] Story
The game begins as Chris Redfield is deployed to Kijuju, Africa, to join Sheva Alomar and apprehend Ricardo Irving, who is attempting to sell a bio-organic weapon on the black market. Along the way, they witness a local being fed a parasite, which quickly takes control of his body, turning him into a Majini. From here on, almost all Kijuju locals seen by Chris and Sheva have been turned into Majini. While moving to the location of Irving's deal, Chris and Sheva find Alpha team dead, except Captain DeChant, who gives them a hard drive containing data about Irving before he dies. As the duo progress, a friendly helicopter is downed, and all nearby BSAA units are ordered to go to the crash site. At the crash site, the duo is ambushed by Majini on motorcycles, but are then saved by Delta team. Among Delta team is Josh Stone, Sheva's mentor who gives Chris data from a hard drive that contains a picture of Jill Valentine, his old partner, who was presumed dead after a confrontation with Albert Wesker. Chris does not tell Sheva about the image and they continue, and eventually confront Irving. During this confrontation, a hooded figure arrives to aid Irving's escape. Irving leaves behind files which indicate that an oil field in the Marshlands, which was used to test out bio-organic weapons, is the actual deal location, the previously suspected one having been a hoax to slow the BSAA while the actual deal was taking place. The duo report this to headquarters, then attempts to regroup with Delta team. Upon arriving at the rendezvous point, they find that Delta team has also been killed by a bio-organic weapon, but Sheva cannot find Josh among them. After defeating the bio-weapon, Sheva suggests reporting back to HQ, being the two sole survivors, but Chris admits to Sheva his true reason for participating in the mission, and expresses his determination in finding out if Jill is still alive. After a brief argument, Sheva concludes that they are partners, and she will help him all the way. They continue on to the Marshlands, eventually finding Josh alive. They pursue Irving on a boat, but he escapes again and the oil field is blown up while the two escape with Josh on a speedboat. The trio locate and catch up to Irving's boat, and Chris and Sheva board it. Irving confronts the duo, and then injects himself with a virus, which causes him to mutate into a gigantic beast. Chris and Sheva defeat the mutated Irving, who is detached from the gigantic beast body, and upon death, he tells Chris that he will find answers to his questions in a nearby cave.Upon arriving in the cave, Josh leaves the pair in order to report to HQ. The cavern leads Chris and Sheva to the underground kingdom of the Ndipaya tribe. Upon exploration, the duo find an underground base, one of the first to be set up by Umbrella, but currently operated by Tricell. Chris and Sheva find evidence and documentation that the Progenitor virus, which is the component in both the T- and G-virus that controls a subject's body, was found and manufactured here. The Progenitor virus was manufactured from a plant residing in the Ndipaya kingdom, called the Stairway to the Sun. The plant was used in Ndipayan ceremonies, but Ozwell Spencer took interest in it, and drove the Ndipaya out to build a base and study the plant, which eventually yielded the Progenitor virus. Chris and Sheva progress through the underground laboratory, and find a massive chamber with thousands of capsules containing human test subjects. The facility is documented in one of the hard drives, so Chris searches the computer database for an entry about Jill. The elevator takes them to the capsule in which Jill was being held, while they defeat the bio-organic weapon, U-8. The capsule opens, but it is empty. Excella Gionne then appears on a computer screen and warns them to leave. The duo later intercepts a radio transmission of Excella talking to Wesker, indicating Wesker's survival. Sheva and Chris confront Excella, but she infects a test subject with the Uroboros virus, which turns him into a bio-weapon. After killing it, the two pursue Excella, eventually catching up to her. When interrogating Excella, Chris and Sheva are attacked by the hooded figure who aided Irving's escape. Wesker then reveals himself and unmasks the hooded figure, Jill, who is hostile and fights alongside Wesker. After a short fight, Wesker escapes and the duo are left to battle Jill. They spot a device on Jill's chest, which they remove. Jill then regains control of her body, apologizes for her actions and urges Chris and Sheva to pursue Wesker. Chris, who is reluctant to leave Jill, grudgingly agrees.
Chris and Sheva and emerge on the surface. They spot Wesker and Excella boarding a cargo ship, and follow. On the ship, the two find Excella, but she escapes, dropping a case of full syringes, which Sheva collects. Meanwhile, Wesker reminisces about a confrontation with Spencer, who tells Wesker that he is the only surviving subject from the "Wesker Plan," which was an attempt to create the ideal human being for Spencer's envisioned utopia. Spencer fantasizes about being the god of this utopia and Wesker impales him, declaring, "The right to be a god? That right is now mine."
[edit] Development
On January 21, 2009 D+PAD Magazine reported that Resident Evil 5 would be released with Limited Edition Xbox 360 box art,[31] pictures of the Limited Edition box claiming to allow 2–16 players to play offline via system link.[citation needed] Capcom initially responded stating that their "box art isn't lying", but refused to give any more details.[32] However, soon after, Capcom issued another statement that contradicted their original response stating that the information on the box art was an error and that the correct number of players supported by system link is only two.[33]
[edit] Music
The music for the video game was composed by Kota Suzuki, whose previous works include Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004) and Devil May Cry 4 (2008). His score was electronic, but includes 15 minutes of orchestral underscore, which was recorded in Los Angeles at the Newman Scoring Stage at 20th Century Fox Studios with a 103-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony. Additional orchestral arrangements were composed by Wataru Hokoyama, who conducted the orchestra.[34]Capcom recorded in Los Angeles because they wanted a Hollywood-style soundtrack that would increase the game's cinematic value and global interest. The game’s soundtrack features an original theme song as well as live orchestral music compositions, a first for the game series. The theme song is composed by Kota Suzuki and sung by Oulimata Niang.[35]
[edit] Windows version additions
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[edit] Marketing
Capcom revealed a brief trailer for Resident Evil 5 at E3 2007.[39][39] The full E3 trailer for the game became available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network Store on July 26, 2007.[13][40] In late March 2008, the April issue of Famitsu Wave was bundled with a DVD containing a preview of the game. Takeuchi gave new information on the game and showed new gameplay footage. A new trailer shown at Captivate '08 debuted on Spike TV's show Gametrailers TV, on May 31, 2008, as well as the GameTrailers.com website.[41][42] A playable demo of the game was released in Japan on December 5, 2008 for the Xbox 360.[43] The demo was later released in North America and Europe for the Xbox 360 on January 26, 2009, and on February 2, 2009 for the PlayStation 3.[44][45] Microsoft released a limited edition red Xbox 360 Elite console that was sold along with the game. This bundle included a Resident Evil Premium Theme for the Xbox 360 Dashboard and a voucher for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix over Xbox Live. In the Netherlands the limited edition of the Xbox 360 Elite that was packaged with Resident Evil 5 was black instead of red.[edit] PlayStation Home
Capcom has released a dedicated Game Space for the PlayStation 3's online community-based service, PlayStation Home. This space is called the Resident Evil 5 "Studio Lot" (or Biohazard 5 "Film Studio" for Japan). This space is themed around the in-game opening location of Kijuju. The lounge offers Resident Evil 5-related items, a variety of events, a game launching feature, and is the first Home space to offer an in-lounge shop. Some areas in the space are only available to users who own Resident Evil 5. This space is available to all regions of PlayStation Home and was released on March 5, 2009.[46] The game of Resident Evil 5 also supports Home rewards, such as a Chris Redfield ornament for achieving certain trophies in Resident Evil 5.[edit] Downloadable content
Shortly before the release of the game, it was announced that a competitive multiplayer mode, titled Versus, would be available for download in the coming weeks.[47] It was later announced that the content would cost less in Japan than in the rest of the world, but that the release date for Japan had been pushed back to April 9, 2009.[48] On April 6, 2009 Capcom announced that Versus would be available to download in Europe and North America on April 7, 2009 on both the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network.[49] The 'Versus' content contains two different online game types. Slayers is a point-based game that challenges players to kill Majini, while in Survivors players must hunt each other. Players may also play Team Survivors or Team Slayers in which there are four players, two on each side.[49][edit] Reception
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[edit] Downloads and sales
The downloadable demo of Resident Evil 5 exceeded 4 million downloads worldwide during its release on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live services, with over 1.8 million of these downloads taking place in the first three days.[63]The PlayStation 3 version of Resident Evil 5 was the top-selling game in Japan in the two weeks following its release, with 319,590 units sold.[64] Resident Evil 5 became the fastest-selling game in the franchise in the United Kingdom, additionally becoming the biggest Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game launch to date in the region.[65] In France, the game sold 110,555 units during its first week, approximately half of the available stock in the country at the time.[66] As of June 1, 2009, Resident Evil 5 has sold 5 million copies worldwide since launch,[11] becoming the best selling game in the series.[12]
[edit] Reviews
Reviews for Resident Evil 5 have been generally positive. The Official Xbox Magazine complimented the game's fast pace of action and called the graphics gorgeous.[61] X-Play noted that while the game's graphics were exceptional, the single player AI was hard to play through.[62] Game Informer complimented Resident Evil 5 saying it had the best graphics of any game to date and that the music helped make enemies come alive.[56] Edge complimented Resident Evil 5's gameplay calling it exhilarating and frantic, but criticised the control system.[54] IGN stated in their review that split screen co-op was very confusing and that the game had a surprisingly high replay value.[60] 1UP! repeatedly compared Resident Evil 5 to Gears of War 2. But while they compared the games multiple times in their review, they complained about Resident Evil 5's new controls.[53] Eurogamer noted that Resident Evil 5 felt a lot like past games in the franchise and that it is just like any other third person action shooter.[55][edit] Allegations of racism
The second trailer for the game, released on May 31, 2008, revealed a more racially diverse group of enemies, as well as Sheva, a BSAA agent[69] who assists the protagonist.[70] However, designer Jun Takeuchi denied that complaints about racism had any effect in altering the design of Resident Evil 5.[71] Takeuchi commented that the game's producers were surprised by the controversy.[72] In an interview with MTV, he explained that Capcom's staff is racially diverse, and acknowledged that various cultures may have had different opinions on the trailer.[72][73] In an interview with Computer and Video Games, producer Masachika Kawata also commented on the issue, stating, "We can't please everyone. We're in the entertainment business - we're not here to state our political opinion or anything like that. It's unfortunate that some people felt that way."[74][75]
In Eurogamer's February 2009 preview of Resident Evil 5, Dan Whitehead expressed concerns about the controversy the game may generate, stating that "it plays so blatantly into the old clichés of the dangerous 'dark continent' and the primitive lust of its inhabitants that you'd swear the game was written in the 1920s" and "there are even more outrageous and outdated images to be found later in the game, stuff that I was honestly surprised to see in 2009." The article also states that the addition of the light-skinned Sheva "compounds the problem rather than easing it."[76]
Glenn Bowman, Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Kent, Canterbury,[77] has stated that he does not believe Resident Evil 5 is racist. Bowman added that the game presents an anti-colonial theme.[78]
One particular scene in the game, said to show black men dragging off a screaming white woman,[76] was submitted for evaluation to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which deemed it not to be racist. Sue Clark, Head of Communications at the BBFC, stated, "We do take racism very seriously, but in this case there is no issue around racism."[79][80]
