More action, less fright in this 'Evil'

 

 

'Resident Evil 5'
Xbox 360/PS3
Capcom
4 globes

The patriarch of the "survival horror" family is back, just in time for, um, St. Patrick's Day.  Through the years, the franchise has had its ups and downs ("Resident Evil:Dead Aim," anyone?), but for the most part has continued to give us thrills, chills and great gameplay. How does this stack up against it's critically lauded predecessors?

First of all, it's not very scary, in the conventional sense at least. You won't be wandering alone through a spooky old castle waiting for zombies to jump out at you. The sequel takes a more action-oriented approach to garner thrills and chills. You'll be scared, but more by the sheer number of enemies than anything else. It's a slight departure and does serve to change the tone of the gameplay. Don't expect to be too scared, but do expect to have fun.

The game's setting has changed, also. "Resident Evil 5" takes you to a fictional country in Africa, where an evil corporation (is there any other kind?) has transformed citizens into mindless hosts for a parasitic infection. This infection, surprise, surprise, turns them into something resembling a zombie.

The graphics and sound are both stellar. This is one of the prettiest games for both PS3 and Xbox 360. The game can also be played by two people at once, be it on the same television or online. This mode works flawlessly, and serves to further illustrate the fact that this sequel is all about action, and not scares.

If you go into this game expecting a typical "Resident Evil" experience, you may be let down. However, if you go into it expecting a polished action title, you just may have the time of your life. It's fast, frenetic and features more enemies than ever before. Give it a chance. Being scared is overrated, anyway.