Once upon a time, there were two big names in survival horror, one was the Silent Hill series and the other being Resident Evil. Resident Evil (known as Biohazard in Japan) began on the Playstation platform has spawned numerous sequels and related titles. Today we will look at the latest version of the series – Resident Evil 5. This version is set in an African desert area known as Kijuju. You play as protagonist, Chris Redfield and have a new partner, Sheva Alomar who is a newcomer to the Resident Evil universe. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of familiar names and faces as you progress into the game.

As a fan of the Resident Evil series, my main issue with this game is that it is not scary. There are no jump out of your seat moments as in prior Resident Evil games. Games such as F.E.A.R and Deadspace have usurped the survival horror crown and Resident Evil 5 does nothing to try and take back its crown. That being said, Resident Evil 5 is not a bad game, in fact it is quite good. It just does not match up to its predecessors in the scare department which may disappoint some hard core Resident Evil Fans.

Here are some box shot of the game and the declassified booklet on Resident Evil 5 sent over from the good folks at Capcom.

Please check out these game play videos before we get to the rest of the review.

Specifications:

Resident Evil 5 (PS3)

Somewhere in Africa, innocent villagers are transforming into ruthless abominations. Chris Redfield and his new partner, Sheva Alomar, must stop whatever is causing the disturbing turn of events. Now featuring online co-op, players can experience the next generation of fear together as terror moves out of the shadows and into the light of day.

Product Features:
* Two Playable Characters – Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns and is joined by new playable character Sheva Alomar, an African BSAA agent tasked with investigating the epidemic

* Two Player Online Co-op – New cooperatively-focused gameplay revolutionizes the way that Resident Evil is played. Chris and Sheva must work together to survive new challenges and fight dangerous hordes of enemies

* Next Generation of Fear – Features groundbreaking graphics that utilize an advanced version of Capcom’s proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising

* “Quick-Select” Inventory System – Improved inventory system allows items to be traded between characters. To add to the intensity, all inventory management is done in real time; items can even be assigned to the directional pad for instant access

* New Control Schemes – Features new modernized third-person action game control variations as well as the return of the traditional Resident Evil 4 control schemes

* New Enemies Bring New Challenges – Enemies boast increased speed and intelligence, making them as dangerous alone as they are in groups

* Powerful New Weapons – The number of weapon variations has been greatly increased providing new ways to keep enemies at bay

* Fear Light as much as Shadow – Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense as players attempt to survive in both harsh sunlight and extreme darkness

The basic game premise involves Chris Redfield, one of the original characters from the 1^st Resident Evil game, working for a group known as Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). He is sent to investigate a possible weapons deal set to occur in Kijuji.

At the beginning of the game, Chris is teamed up with Sheva Alomar, a member of the BSAA African branch. Your original goal is to capture Ricardo Irving who is helping to distribute B.O.W.S (Biological Organic Weapons) to the indigenous population. Along the game campaign the player will discover that things are more insidious than originally expected.

During most of the gameplay the player will be facing off against the Majini who are humans infected with the Las Plagas parasites. As the game progress these Majini become tougher opponents to face off against as there are various types of Manjni ranging from Town Majinis to Chainsaw Majinis to Gatling Gun Majinis. These Majini are not your lumbering zombies of old as the Las Plagas parasite possessed humans react with intelligence and awareness of their surroundings.

Earlier versions of Resident Evil featured fixed camera angles and limitations on how and where the characters could move. Resident Evil 5 like the acclaimed Resident Evil 4 does not have these limited boundaries as the characters can now move more freely.

Gameplay in Resident Evil 5 will feel very familiar to those who have played Resident Evil 4 as they closely resemble the latter’s control scheme. Players are controlled in the third person with an over the shoulder camera view focused behind either Chris or Sheeva. When aiming a weapon, the camera will zoom in and add a laser site to help aim at targets. Shooting enemies knocks them off balance allowing the characters to perform physical attacks which helps conserve ammo.

Once enemies are defeated, they will disintegrate into goo and most times leave behind some sort of loot whether it is ammo, gold or other supplies. In addition, supplies can be found by breaking objects such as vases, food stands, tribal masks as well as in chests and cabinets scattered throughout the various levels.

Context sensitive controls make their return as Chris and Sheeva can interact with their environments by pressing the circle or square buttons. Some examples of this include dodging attacks, jumping through windows or down from heights, climbing ladders, etc. Some puzzles need team interaction to solve, such as assisted jumps can help Sheeva get to points otherwise unreachable. Even boss battles involve these context controls as in one battle where you fight a Giant from behind a turret at the end of the second chapter.

Resident Evil 5 can be played in “Rogue” which is single player mode or in co-op mode locally with a split screen or online through the Playstation Network. In co-op mode players can enter or leave gameplay at any time and can separate at different junctures in the game.

Graphically, the game is stunning. Played on a large screen 1080P screen the game is fantastic to look at and play. In the past, the cut scenes were generally much better looking than the actual games. This is not the case with Resident Evil 5 as the game looks as detailed as the cut scenes. Like most next generation games, the game includes Dolby Digital, so get those 5.1 surround systems ready for a work out as the audio is almost on par with the graphics.

As I previously mentioned, Resident Evil 5 is not a survival horror game as it is an action game. That does not mean that Resident Evil 5 is a bad game. In fact it is quite enjoyable, as long as you do not expect jump out of your seat thrills. The other main complaint I have about the game is the control scheme was irritating. There were many times when I was in the middle of a battle and ended up pulling out a knife instead of a gun. What do they always say about bringing a knife to a gun battle again?

In the older Resident Evil games, ammo was precious and hard to acquire. Luckily in Resident Evil 5, it seems to be omnipresent which is good because you WILL need it. Weapons range from Handguns such as the classic M92F to Shotguns to Machine Guns, Rifles and more. Each weapon can be purchased and upgraded in the Play Game menu or before a mission starts. Obviously, not all the weapons are available initially and need to be unlocked as the game progresses.

Besides weapons you will need recovery items such as First Aid Sprays and the familiar Red and Green Herbs. During gameplay you will treasures that can be sold for gold and then used to stock upon on equipment and weapons. Of course there is also plenty of gold to be found on each level.

To help the player navigate the Kjulu territory, there is a map place in the upper right hand corner of the screen. On this map we can see Character Icons, Enemy Icons, Locked Doors, Objectives and Documents. This can be a life saver at times, so pay close attention to it.

On the bottom right of the screen we find Sheeva and Chris’ health and weapon meters. The outer rings show the health of each character, while the inner circle shows the weapon and amount of bullets in that round. Outside of the circle is the amount of extra ammunition and below the secondary character is the status of their actions; whether they are in Cover or Attack modes. When either character is in extreme danger, there will be a flickering Help icon inside the ring meaning the other character needs to get to the endangered character before they shuffle off their mortal coil.

As with most video games, death is not final in Resident Evil 5. Chris or Sheeva’s death will fail the mission and bring the player back to the mission start up screen. Here you can change your supplies and upgrade weapons in the shop if needed then return to the last saved checkpoint.

Of course, it would not be a Resident Evil game without the requisite Boss Battles and there are plenty of these in Resident Evil 5. As with most games, each Boss Battle requires a little different approach or tact to defeat the big bad. Sometimes the environment will be used as a weapon or hold the key to defeating these foes. So pay careful attention.

Once you finish the Resident Evil 5 campaign, there is an additional The Mercenaries mode. This game is reminiscent of Horde mode in Gears of War 2. Your goal is to survive an incoming scourge of enemies until your retrieval team arrives. This mode can be played Solo or Duo as the main game. In addition, there are Combo Bonuses and Time Bonuses which help increase your scores, but must be searched for through the board being played. Performance is ranked based on enemies exterminated, overall score and maximum combo count.

Conclusion:

Resident Evil 5 is another winner in the Resident Evil series. While it is not a direct descendent of the original Resident Evil or Resident Evil2 as it tends to borrow more from games such as Drake’s Fortune or Gears or War, it is still a fun game. Plus there is plenty of Resident Evil history scattered throughout the game to know you are still in the Resident Evil universe. Plenty of familiar names and faces will be brought up through out the campaign.

My main issue with the game was the control scheme was a little complicated and there were plenty of unnecessary deaths due to wrong button presses on my part. The good news is that dying will bring you back to the mission set up screen for retooling Chris and Sheeva and returning to the level of your last demise.

Overall, Resident Evil 5 is a fun game, but may disappoint hard core Resident Evil fans who expect to be scared out of their pants while playing. Watch out there is a Majini behind you!

Pros:
Beautiful Graphics
Intense game play
Co-op campaign mode (both local and online)

Cons:
Controls can be frustrating
Not a survival horror game

Grades:
Overall
Design
Performance

Resident Evil 5 PS3 is a post from: Testfreaks | The Blog

LEGO Batman: The Videogame is the third LEGO adaptation from Traveller’s Tales. They previously took the Star Wars and Indiana Jones universes and converted them into the block form we know and love from our childhood.

In this version, Batman faces his biggest nightmare ever, the jailbreak from Arkham Asylum of every known villain from the Batman universe. Traveller’s Tales has brought the comic book sensibilities of the 70’s version of Batman, added the classic scoring of Danny Elfman distinct music from the Tim Burton interpretation and mixed it together with breakable blocks!

Those familiar with the previous LEGO games will have no problems picking up the nuances of LEGO Batman, while the game is simple enough for the beginner to pick up and learn quickly on the fly.

One of the best features of LEGO Batman is the ability to not only play as Batman or Robin, but the ability to play as both heroes and villains. Who wouldn’t want to play as their favorite super hero or super villain, if you prefer.

Game play starts with a cut scene where the Villains are breaking out of Arkham Asylum. From here you can play as Batman or Robin, switching back and forth between characters performing various tasks to complete the level. Those who have played previous LEGO games will be familiar with the nuances of breaking LEGO scenery to build up vehicles, suits and equipment. Each character has different suits that enable abilities to complete the various levels.

The characters are controlled with the X button for jumping, the square button for attacking, the circle button for grappling and the triangle button for tagging. The left stick moves the character around.

In addition to using the LEGO blocks to build things, there are also LEGO studs that you must collect through out the game. These coins allow the player to unlock other characters such as Nightwing and Batgirl, acquire vehicles or discover facts about Batman.

The Batcave is the base of operations for the good guys and for picking the various missions. This is where the player can buy additional character. There are three vehicles in the Batcave – the BatMobile, the BatBoat and the BatWing. Each of these vehicles is tied to five missions. For instance, the BatMobile leads to an eventual Boss battle with the Riddler. The other two Bosses are the Penguin and the Joker. For the Villains, Arkham Asylum is the main base of operations.

Overall there are thirty levels in the game with a few secret ones thrown in for good measure. Fifteen levels are designed for the do-gooder and the other fifteen are for the nefarious folks.

The tech suits range from a Glide, Demolition, Heat Protection and Sonic suits for the Batman and a Water, Magnet, Technology and Attract suits for Robin. Each of these suits adds special abilities needed to accomplish various tasks throughout the game.

Once you defeat all the baddies as the Caped Crusader, then you can play the rest of the game from the Villains perspective. Each Villain has a unique super power and this makes playing with each one a unique experience.

LEGO Batman has two play modes: Story Mode and Free Play. After missions are completed and characters are unlocked, Free Play allows the player to replay the level with any character (hero or villain) they have unlocked. This gives the player the ability to reach goals that are not obtainable with some characters. For instance Posion Ivy’s skill set allows her to reach a point on one of the boards that other characters are not able to reach.

Pressing the L1 or L2 allows the player to switch between the two characters in the free play mode.

In addition to unlocked characters, the player can purchase Nightwing, Batgirls, Man-Bat and others with the LEGO studs collected on each level. In addition to buying known characters, there is an additional character customizer which can be used to make the greatest hero or the baddest villain ever! The more characters that you have bought, the more options you will have to build your new character.

LEGO Batman does not have to be played solo, as a second player can jump in and out of any mission. All LEGO studs and items collected are pooled to a single active total in an active game save. Unfortunately, there is no online mode. This is a shame since this is a great co-op game and having another human being playing adds to the fun and eliminates some of the frustration of working with a dense AI.

The game is kid friendly where the characters are non-threatening as LEGO blockheads. Even young children can play without worry of having nightmares after meeting the Joker.

Specifications:

LEGO Batman: The Videogame

The Villains Are On The Loose

Take control of the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, as you build, drive, swing, and fight your way through Gotham City capturing escaped villains and putting them back in Arkham Asylum where they belong. Battle against legendary villains including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman and more to keep the streets of Gotham clean. Then, for the first time, jump into the story from the other side and play as Batman’s foes. Enjoy the power you wield as you spread chaos throughout the city.

Fight for justice as Batman and Robin or create chaos as The Joker, Catwoman and other villains, as you save or destroy Gotham City.

Rocket through sewers and bound across rooftops as you take the fight to the criminals across classic locations in Gotham City.

Fight on land, sea and in the air using a number of powerful Batman, Robin and villain-controlled vehicles, including the rocket-powered Batmobile, sleek Batboat and stealthy Batwing

Enhance the abilities of the Dynamic Duo with all new power suits, including the Magnetic Suit

Enjoy numerous game modes and levels:

-Play through the game in Story Mode from both the hero and villain sides
-Replay any level in Freeplay Mode with any characters you’ve unlocked. Access previously hidden areas to find additional rewards and bonus content
-Collect LEGO studs and special LEGO bricks throughout the game to unlock tons of extra content including special power-ups and bonus levels

Play as Batman, Robin or more than 12 dastardly villains — all in super-fun LEGO form

Master special superhero power-suits and new moves, along with the weapons unique for each character

Build and drive Lego versions of favorite vehicles like the Batmobile, Batboat and the Batwing

Customize characters, build and transform game environments, and challenge yourself with multlayered collectibles and rewards

Designed for standard two-player, drop-in/out cooperative play

Cast of Characters

Game Screen Shots

Game play is definitely fun, but sometimes the AI is lets say a bit lacking. Puzzles can be frustrating as the AI tends to do the wrong thing when trying to solve puzzles unless the player is positioned correctly for the AI to carry out the specific action needed to solve the puzzle.

Also, some of the levels are not clearly designed and finding the solution can lead to some frustration to the player. For instance, levers are sometimes not readily apparent, causing the player to flounder around looking for it for a prolonged period.

The cuts scenes are entertaining and the characters have their own unique personalities. While the game is not based on any specific representation of Batman, it seems to mostly adhere to the 70s take on Batman with violence and whimsy at the same time.

The game play and presentation is the same as the PSP version. Obviously the graphics and sound are obviously better on the more powerful PS3 system. The game can be played in either 780p or 1080p without issue.

Conclusion:

What makes LEGO Batman different from other than previous LEGO games is that Traveller’s Tales have come up with an original story instead of one which was based on previous canon such as the Star Wars Trilogy. While the story is not complicated, catch the bad guys, send them back to Arkham, while smashing objects and beating bad guys senseless, the game is fun to play. Plus the ability to play almost any character makes replaying the same levels seem fresh and different.

LEGO Batman is an entertaining take on the genre and offers a fun and unique interpretation of the Dark Knight’s universe.

Pros:
Almost every major Batman character represented

Lots or replayabilty

Plenty of unlockables

Danny Elffman soundtrack

Kid friendly

Cons:

Lack of online mode

Not much innovation from previous LEGO videogames

Grades:
Overall
Design
Performance

LEGO Batman: The Videogame is a post from: Testfreaks | The Blog