It might sound a bit pat to call RE5's visuals "RE4 in HD," but it's not far off from the truth. It's a gorgeous game. The environments are beautifully depicted, moreso in the stages after Chris and Sheva leave the shanty towns and dig deeper for the roots of the deadly virus. The game's cut-scenes capture the same sense of awe that past RE titles provided, but the small details give them more character. Sheva's eyes dart around as she barks out orders to Chris. Characters' mouths move realistically. You'll notice this stuff, but you won't have much time to dwell during gameplay, since some disgusting monstrosity is usually popping up to kill you.
Resident Evil games usually have the narrative grace of a bull in a china shop. RE5's no different, but it's still entertaining, whether you've been following the series from the beginning or picked it up with RE4. This game aims to tie up loose ends left by previous games, and it does so effectively, albeit with its trademark pulpy charm.
It's also impossible to ignore the controversy surrounding RE5 prior to release. The game's disturbing imagery and its portrayal of Africans has offended some and stirred up plenty of debate. Not every gamer will be bothered by what RE5 presents in its first few levels, but there are elements that could upset others. In a few sections of the game, Chris and Sheva face off with waves of infected people dressed in tribal garb, and it's quite unsettling if you're familiar with old Hollywood stereotypes of indigenous African tribes as lawless savages, zombies or not.
But as the game progresses, it becomes more apparent that RE5 is an indictment of corporate malfeasance in developing nations. Kikuju and her citizens are being exploited in the name of greed and science gone awry. In a sense, the game could've taken place in another impoverished section of the world, and the ultimate message wouldn't change. But make no mistake: RE5's political statements don't mark a watershed moment for videogames any more than an action movie set in a developing nation condemns sweatshops. It's unlikely to upstage any great literary arguments about corporate exploitation in poor countries. The ham-fisted narrative delves just deeply enough to tie these themes into the events of previous games.
Resident Evil 5 occupies a curious spot in the RE canon. 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. The plot, while containing some potentially uneasy moments, explains many events of the previous games, albeit in RE's trademark pulp fashion. Ultimately, Resident Evil 5 is an intense thrill ride that provides another great experience for fans of the series.
